Just blew a drive....hard to believe at only 500hp...
 

One of my drives let go this weekend. Looks like something in the upper section. I baby these drives just for this reason, I'm very gentle coming up on plane and am careful to throttle smoothly when the boat leaves the water, which is rare anyway. They are XZ's and I only have 500EFI's. But I know these 382's are HEAVY. I had just switched to Hydromotive P5's but had not done any real testing with them yet, just feeling them out. I have some questions for those of you who run these 382's in big water (where props leave the water alot):

- Is it common to loose drives around 250 hours?
- I understand that the 5 blades load the drives more, is it significant enough to be the cause of loosing a drive like this? I like the mid range with the 5 blades but don't want to be loosing drives...
- Is it worth the extra $ to upgrade to XR type gears in the upper section since I will have the drive apart anyway? If so, should I do the other drive or wait til it goes.
- Would drive showers help or is this not a heat related problem....just too much loading....?

One of the reasons I sold my hotrod Scarab was to avoid all these part failures, although I never broke one of my SSM V's. Thanks OSO for the advise.

Some say the 5 blades load the drive more, some say it is better balanced and better for the drive. I believe the extra blade gets a much better bite on the water which gives you better mid-range with less slip. My problem with that is sometimes you NEED the drive to slip some and it can't. My 382 came with XZ and the original owner put 8 PSI Prochargers on the boat before he took delivery. Supposedly they didn't last very long and XR's were put on soon after.
I hear that XR's will rob the motor of up to 30 HP. If your not planning on upgrading power I'd probably put XZ pars back in it. (assuming the case is un-damaged).

Good Luck

drive showers are a must-have
no, not common it seems Bravos life-span is more often than not a result of it's life-style, and of course HP.
the great majority of them live a long time with good sense and good maintenence up to about 600HP.
did you buy the boat used? do you know what kind of life and maintenence it (the drive) had previously?

I lost a drive on the 2001 500's, XR's and under 75 hours on it-Bearing gave out at 70 MPH. It was ugly. I bought it used and prior owner had no paperwork on service.

I would say 250 hrs on an XZ is alot especially for a heavy performance boat.

I think the 5-blade prop (added bite) increased the stress on the drive, which MAY have been weak due to its age.

Sorry to hear of your issues and hope you can get back on the water quickly!

Skip the crap and put the arnesons on it.

This guy did and he has your exact boat.

copy and past whole thing

http://www.arneson-industries.com/pr...asd6kit/TA-382[1].jpg

According to speedmaster inc in florida the XZ drive is better,he gets XR drives in all the time.Someone posted a thread on the differences between the 2 drives helical cut versus straight cut teeth on them do a search.I have a 382 with 500 efi's still running 4 blades 28 inch.How did your 5 blades work?

pic

With the 5's Bring it to 3000 and the hook up is nice.
I have some lab 29 hydros that tend to chatter and need more finesse which taxes the uppers, I Think age and hours play a role there.

The 5 blade 27" P5's were amazing at cruise speed and hooked up much better out of the hole. Lost a couple on top end. I also tried some stock (non-labbed) 26 Maximus and had significant vibration, or chatter as another put it, while coming on plane. They might need some work first. Will still do a propapalooza test soon using 28 Bravo's, 30 Bravos, 27 P5's and 26 Maximus. Will post all results. I had ALOT of slip with the 4 blades, like 26%, kinda ridiculus. I can feel the 5 blades are much less slip but need some hard test numbers from my upcoming prop testing. Thanks for all the advise. I am starting to think the drives were just worn out and ready to break, maybe the 5 blades just pushed it over the edge... based on all the advise I've gotten here and more conversations with others, I will stick with XZ gears and use better oil (Amsoil) and add drive showers. Will play with the props a little and see what works best. If I end up using 5 blades, I'll just have to drive it a little more conservatively to make up for the lack of slip.

Any more advise?

Yeah, do what I do.......keep a spare!! :cool-smiley-011:

he's not kidding about the spare...drives break no matter how easy you are on them...its a matter of when not if.

I have a spare, I also change drive oil every other trip. I think that helps. 05 382

Since you're about 10 minutes from me I think I'll come over and borrow one....:D

I have like 6 customers , maybe more, with your boat. 382 Formula.

Power ranges from 500 efi's to 1100 hp blower motors.

Here is the latest one, 1100 hp blower motors. 113 mph first time in the water.

All these boats picked up 10 mph in the mid range and 8-12 on the top end.

No failures.

Another view

I'm assuming they get that nice rooster tail as an added bonus with these drives too. It seems planning would be more difficult and docking would be a bit(h with the props even further back but the speed increases are certainly appealing. What about costs? How many XR's do I have to break to pay for the switch-over. (I'm running 540's putting out 700lbs TQ)

Its a good thing you just bought three.:D

Thanks Nick. I'm picking them up today.....let Tom know it's OK if you don't mind. (and 2 of them are for someone else!!!!)
Yeah, I figure my regular Bravo spare wouldn't have lasted if I needed to put it on the boat (700ft/ TQ). One of these will become the spare and I'll unload the regular bravo that's sitting in the garage.

I already did that yesterday. Are you driving up or you sending a truck?

Overnite (UPS freight). I visit Jersey enough going to see the In-laws!!! :violent040: :D

No, docking is easier with the Arneson's. Everyone states that.

Getting on plane only takes a bit more RPM

Are the Arneson's cost prohibitive, or why don't more offshore use them?

I was only spectulating on docking. I had shaft drive cruisers for years where the props were UNDER the boat. Compared to bravos behind the boat the cruisers wre much easier to pivot and dock.
What about costs. You've done at least 6 382 Formulas.....(what I have). Can you PM me some ball park figures on costs, I have no idea what these systems go for. We pull the motors regularly (unfortunately) so I can probably handle the install.

my 353 500efi runs labbed 30's. I have a fair amount of slippage as well.
Lost an XZ at 110 hrs, bought a reman XZ and had the orig one rebuilt for a spare. Would like to try 5 blade Maximus, as I'm sure it will reduce slip a bunch and cruise speed should increase, but I am worried about the load on the drives.