As soon as you bolt any Bravo up you've pulled the pin!

Hmmm. Interesting ... I blew two Bravo ones on my Donzi but the XR is on it's 5th season (or so). I would be hesitant to let someone swap in helical cut gears.

Like Articat said it sort of depends. On the OP that has 565HP I doubt he will break a gear tooth off but its not just the gear.

On yours did you have a standard Bravo drive? I ask because those don't have steel towers and are 1" shaft. If that upper flexes a little the non steel tower breaks and you are done. Case flex is a reason a lot of drives fail,,,,,, and why a IMCO SC has XR internals but a stronger case.

When you take a XR drive and put XZ gears in you get the strong steel tower, larger shaft etc but go back to the gear that doesn't pit.

George has said he was going to make XR gears, that would help a lot. If he ever gets around to it.

Or SCX for bigger power.

Drove to Michigan Thursday and picked up the drive at AADS. It took a little longer then initially thought as Merc was slow shipping some bearings. We went with the XZ gears and George's top cap and tower. Also had him install a shower. My marina installed it Friday and we put it in Saturday morning. So far all is good but still in the break in period. Easy starts, vary the speeds and do not exceed 75% power.

Padraig

I do understand your reasoning here and hopefully you will end up with a better drive. I just made my decision based on the fact that my drives were 10 years old, had 340 hours on them and I had no way to know if the cases and main shafts were in good to go condition. AADS has a good rep on here and I have no doubt they do fine work, just did what I felt was right for me at the time.

Thanks Ragged! I sometimes think it a crap shoot. Hopefully I have a good strong drive. Time we tell . I now have about 5 hours on it and still breaking it in. Will be attending the Battleship Run on Seneca Lake this weekend but will be still taking it easy. Back of the pack for me, LOL.

Padraig

Good luck! One other reason I went new was that more than a decade on them my cases were showing a little corrosion and needed some TLC, by the time you factor in refinish you are right there with new. I was very lucky to hit on a special deal that Bam had, got one hell of a deal. These drives also have the SeaCore finish so I should never see any corrosion ever again in fresh water.

Hopefully I can pick up my repaired exhaust tip in the morning and get this Biotch in the water this weekend. I need a boat ride!

Have a good weekend, hopefully on the water!

Padraig

Dropped off mine about a week or so ago, at AADS now getting the Mod phase 4.
2 year warranty, and George comes very highly recommended. (From Joel at Action water sports. Whom I have had VERY good luck with.)

I sure hope its nice out this year in Sept. lol