Bravo XR’s Need Refreshing
 

Have them redone. They are a known entity to you.

Have them dis-assembled and gone thru, you will be $ ahead.

MasterTech Marine @ LOTO

Drives
 

I would call georGe at all American drives mines there now very easy to work with and very knowledgeable and honest looked at alot of places and I recommend them been in business for alot of years

Where are you located???

Outside Pittsburgh pa

Sorry, I was asking about 1MOSES1.

I caught that after I hit reply dummy me sorry! Lol

Don't know anybody out that way to recommend.
The others already listed are good choices and add OSO "Mr Gadgets" Dick Tryce to the list as an option. I think he is in MI as well.

Went thru this same decision myself just about a year ago, came to the conclusion that buying new XR's then selling the used off for what they were made the most sense for me. Bought the new ones from Bam, best price I could find, full warranty, knew exactly what I had when all was done. Sold the used drives to a member on here, he is nearby, came checked them out, drove home with them, he was good, I was good, worked fine for us. I spent a lot of time making that decision. Much like I am now on servicing my 525's. We all go at things differently, good luck with your drive project.

The member that bought my drives is in the Lake George area, he does work on drives for Merc dealers in that area. Goes by Clustergear on here, if you are interested.

I had one drive that had just started making noise in gear, metal on the magnets and presumed to be spent, other was working fine but had been same distance so was assumed to be ready for a complete refresh. These drives had served me well for over 300 hours.

My math here,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, rebuild two drives, complete, all new gears, upper and lower, everything except cases and shafts replaced with new, my thought was about 7thou each, times two, or 14thou plus the always something. Then throw in refinish the cases to like new at who knows how much.

Two brand new Bravo XR low water pickup drives, and with the SeaCore option thrown in, full Merc warranty, shipped to my door by Bam Marine for 17,800 and change vs the 14 - 15 to rebuild. Choice in my mind was simple. I did not get big money out of my used drives, my choice, had a solid buyer that came, checked to verify that what I said was true, handed me cash money, and parted a friend. I sold him what we agreed were the good parts left with no BS.

What did it cost me out of pocket to have brand new drives with a full warranty from Merc vs my old chit rebuilt with no warranty and in need of refinish???? Very little, and the peace of mind that all was new was just like a freebie.

Bam buys Merc chit in bulk all the time, they buy overstocks, manufacturer returns, on and on. This chit is often the buy of the year. I worked for a decade in sales for a sizeable Merc dealership and could not beat the Bam deal at our cost. You just need to be active and watch their site, they move some serious Merc parts, and their service is second to none based on my experience with their staff. Money wired at 10, drives in the little brown truck by noon, these people do not mess around.

Sorry for being long winded here, good luck.

All American is $4800 each for fully rebuilt XR's with 2 year warranty

AADS cost me just under $4,800 for a standard Bravo. New upper and lower gear sets, new cone clutch, all new bearings and seals, input and prop shafts resized and re-chromed, 2 year warranty.

I just shipped two shorty sportmasters to AADS - in addition to the standard rebuild, they have some options to strengthen the drive, and help increase the longevity of the gears. They warranty up to 650 hp I believe.

The question was posed, I answered you. Just threw in my thinking about why I did what I did.

I understand the 4800, but how? Upper and lower gear sets and a cone clutch are almost 3800, Merc price. I don't doubt they do what they say, don't doubt they stand behind what they do, just can't see how they can give you all new parts in your, or any used case, for that money. The splines on your propshaft are twisted just a little, new one is 900 bucks.

New, used, rebuilt, exchanged. All have their pros and cons, individual choice, good luck with your project.

I think you are quoting list prices - I would assume that a business like AADS would buy those parts in such volume as to get some kind of discount.

I do not doubt that they are a Merc dealer and buy at dealer prices, yes my numbers are list. I am in no way trying to say that they can not do a rebuild at their stated price, I have looked at their site and have even called in the past about their upgrades, years back I trashed five Bravos with my Velocity.

I base my comment on my drives, my thought that they were spent and needed everything, turns out they did, and that for that money I could never get new, all new parts, equal to new perfect flawless cases, mine were in need of some love after 11 years of service. Simply stated my thinking, or some might say the lack of, in replacing mine. Bravo drives are what they are, eventually they all reach the point of no return, or at least limited return, mine were there, so I just bit it and replaced them.


Just a side here did your 35 come from Sutters Marine in Canadaguia NY, talking original first sale?

Your reasoning for new drives seems sound, not trying to say it wasnt. No my boat originally was sold by Shogren.

rEvery situation is different, I've had reduild not make it thru a weekend, sorry no warranty on that, it's high performance you know, not our fault you broke it. Had one case I had to have a freshened lower redone before it ever got wet. Lucky me, I live in the butthole of the world.

Ask because just a few days after buying this boat Sutters called me about a new listing they had, staggered 35 with the same graphics as yours. Had been looking for a staggered boat but just could not find one for the right money.

I'm sure AADS does fine work, good luck with your deal, some of their upgrades do look interesting.

Thanks - I will let everyone know how it goes, so far so good, George is easy to talk to and seems very knowledgeable. The staggered boats do seem to command a premium - things just worked out for me when I bought mine in 2016.

I've had great luck with Victory Marine in Houston TX!

Victory Marine ? High Performance Racing

The great thing about this forum. Post what you have experienced, explain the how and why of what you did. The next guy might not agree with your take on things, his experience might be somewhat different, his approach to remedy might be different.
Listen, discuss, learn.