Survey- Bravo x drive reliability??
#1
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,213
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From: Tulsa, OK, Grand, Beaver, LOTO
Cobra Marty had a great thread last year on Bravo's failures and factors. Many of us now have or are considering x drives (x,xz or xr) in the future. It would be great to hear from those who have accumulated some hours on these drives and learn how they are doing. If I remember right there were some reports of gimbal hsg failures and also short lives when pushing a heavy boat. I believe Goodfella @ Dollar even reported the xz upper gears holding up better in the factory racers. For those of you with some hours, please report what you can:
Which drive?
still alive?
hrs on drives?
hp/tq?
single/twin/triple?
prop pitch/gear ratio?
showered?
length/wt of boat?
v or cat?
internal inspections and results?
lube used?
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks?
frequent air time?
Thanks for your help!
Which drive?
still alive?
hrs on drives?
hp/tq?
single/twin/triple?
prop pitch/gear ratio?
showered?
length/wt of boat?
v or cat?
internal inspections and results?
lube used?
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks?
frequent air time?
Thanks for your help!
#2
Which drive? XZ
still alive? No problems to date
hrs on drives? 50+
hp/tq? 600+ twin turbo
single/twin/triple? S
prop pitch/gear ratio? 30 bravo 1, 1.36
showered? Yes
length/wt of boa t? 26',
v or cat? Cat, 2001 daytona 26
internal inspections and results? not yet
lube used? stock
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks? gentle to average
frequent air time? maybe 3 times
Last edited by Turbojack; 03-18-2002 at 12:54 PM.
#3
Which drive? xz uppers/ imco 2 inch shorter lowers
still alive? yes
hrs on drives? 35
hp/tq? 725 hp 509 eickerts w/prochargers
single/twin/triple? 2
prop pitch/gear ratio? 30 1.36 97 radar
showered? yes
length/wt of boat? 32 8500
v or cat? v
internal inspections and results? no
lube used? merc high performance
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks? gentle
frequent air time? very little
went with xzs because the gear 1.36
still alive? yes
hrs on drives? 35
hp/tq? 725 hp 509 eickerts w/prochargers
single/twin/triple? 2
prop pitch/gear ratio? 30 1.36 97 radar
showered? yes
length/wt of boat? 32 8500
v or cat? v
internal inspections and results? no
lube used? merc high performance
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks? gentle
frequent air time? very little
went with xzs because the gear 1.36
#5
XR drives
no failures, yet
or possibly
.........
Triple 700(s) supercharged (Whipples) 500 EFI's
showered
Vee bottom, step, notch, extension box
boat weight app. 13,500 pounds
1.36 ratio
31 pitch Hydromotive 5 blades
length 43'
gentle on the throttles
app. 100 hours run time
Merc. green gear lube
Taken off and lubed at 50 hours, everything OK, and again at 100 hours all OK except Pinion seal shot on Port outside drive (Apparently common problem on XR drives) When this goes, it leaks drive fluid into the bellows and then the bilge.
Air time, some, most trips are lengthy to Bahamas or Keys.
no failures, yet
or possibly
.........Triple 700(s) supercharged (Whipples) 500 EFI's
showered
Vee bottom, step, notch, extension box
boat weight app. 13,500 pounds
1.36 ratio
31 pitch Hydromotive 5 blades
length 43'
gentle on the throttles
app. 100 hours run time
Merc. green gear lube
Taken off and lubed at 50 hours, everything OK, and again at 100 hours all OK except Pinion seal shot on Port outside drive (Apparently common problem on XR drives) When this goes, it leaks drive fluid into the bellows and then the bilge.
Air time, some, most trips are lengthy to Bahamas or Keys.
#6
Registered
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Redlands Ca
Which drive?
XZ
still alive? Yes
hrs on drives? 65
hp/tq? 700 HP500 whippled
single/twin/triple? s
prop pitch/gear ratio? 1.5 labbed 32
showered? y
length/wt of boat? 27 4300lbs.
v or cat? cat
internal inspections and results? small shavings at break in and minmal shavings at 40 hr lube change.
lube used? merc grn.
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks? average
frequent air time? little air.
Steve ..
Did you get the 31s from Gary yet?
XZ
still alive? Yes
hrs on drives? 65
hp/tq? 700 HP500 whippled
single/twin/triple? s
prop pitch/gear ratio? 1.5 labbed 32
showered? y
length/wt of boat? 27 4300lbs.
v or cat? cat
internal inspections and results? small shavings at break in and minmal shavings at 40 hr lube change.
lube used? merc grn.
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks? average
frequent air time? little air.
Steve ..
Did you get the 31s from Gary yet?
#8
Registered

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 2
From: Cora
Which drive? XR
still alive? Yes
hrs on drives? 135
hp/tq? 500 EFI's
single/twin/triple?Twin
prop pitch/gear ratio? 30 1.5
showered? Intercooled at 120 hours
length/wt of boat? 35 Cig 8,300
v or cat? V
internal inspections and results? Good
lube used? Mercury & Royla Purple
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks? Average
frequent air time 25 % Ocean rest on small lake.
Did have a problem with seals at 100 hours as Steve described.
still alive? Yes
hrs on drives? 135
hp/tq? 500 EFI's
single/twin/triple?Twin
prop pitch/gear ratio? 30 1.5
showered? Intercooled at 120 hours
length/wt of boat? 35 Cig 8,300
v or cat? V
internal inspections and results? Good
lube used? Mercury & Royla Purple
gentle/ average or madman on the sticks? Average
frequent air time 25 % Ocean rest on small lake.
Did have a problem with seals at 100 hours as Steve described.



