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-   -   MDC Drive Guardian Update- One Year Later. (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/320139-mdc-drive-guardian-update-one-year-later.html)

Got Freedom? 11-16-2014 10:23 AM

Correct, the SSM version will fit virtually any transmission / drive combination. We would need to check the input shaft specifications of the MG502 to see if they are the same as a Borg Warner 72C. If not, then we would need a custom damper plate. We also have a shaft mounted version that might be an option for you as well depending on your power levels.

Mike

MILD THUNDER 11-16-2014 11:28 AM


Originally Posted by Philm (Post 4219926)
Gotcha, so each one is custom "tuned" for the engine package it is going on. The peak shock load will always be greater than the peak engine torque anyway, probably many times greater in some cases.

.

The way I look at it, and Mike please correct me if I am wrong on any of this, is that

Its not always the engine's power output at the flywheel that breaks drives, shafts, etc. For many years we've all associated that XXX HP is too much for XXX drive, or we've said things like, "an XR is fine behind a 525EFI",

Each boat setup is different. Speed factors in, water conditions factor in, prop blade count, diameter, slip factor, weight of the boat, all factor in. If flywheel HP was the only definitive of breaking drives, we would never have the scenerios like,

Guy #1 "Well I got 100 hours out of my XR drive behind my 525 before it broke",

Guy #2 "well I got 300 hours from my XR behind my 525 before it broke"

The flywheel output is the same, but that doesnt mean that the drivetrain is seeing the same torque levels. I think its been proven, that say a stock XR drive, can take 525 merc flywheel output. What the XR can't take, is the output from the water twisting the prop backwards. Think of the water as an engine, and the propeller as a the flywheel. At any moment you allow the water (engine) to grab and twist that prop, your actual engine's output becomes irrelevant. That scenerio, can easily supercede your engines flywheel output many times over, which Mike has validated during his development.

If we all had the same hull combo, the same props, the same engines, the same water conditions, maybe, you can get remotely close to what actual flywheel torque level XXX drive can handle. But with so many variables, its simply not possible to establish that number in my opinion. The ONLY constant we have, is the power the engines make. Anything else, we have no control over, as far as what loads the drivetrain will see while in operation. Hull weight, prop style, blade count, slip, speed, and so on. Until now that is. With the Drive Guardian, you now are able to control the maximum torque the drivetrain will see, which will be very relative to the engines flywheel output.

Falcon 11-16-2014 12:00 PM

Inertia!
Engine spins up when leaving the water and then the prop catches again and has to "pull" the engine rpm back down. Result, higher torque than engine rated output. Another scenario is a simple shift directly between reverse & forward or forward and reverse. Two issues: 1) prop may not have stopped turning in one direction before it is reversing direction, 2) the engine unloads briefly between gears and the engine rpm raises above idle. Combine the two and the torque can easily be higher than rated engine torque.

Too Stroked 11-16-2014 01:24 PM


Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER (Post 4220096)
The way I look at it, and Mike please correct me if I am wrong on any of this, is that

Its not always the engine's power output at the flywheel that breaks drives, shafts, etc. For many years we've all associated that XXX HP is too much for XXX drive, or we've said things like, "an XR is fine behind a 525EFI",

Each boat setup is different. Speed factors in, water conditions factor in, prop blade count, diameter, slip factor, weight of the boat, all factor in. If flywheel HP was the only definitive of breaking drives, we would never have the scenerios like,

Guy #1 "Well I got 100 hours out of my XR drive behind my 525 before it broke",

Guy #2 "well I got 300 hours from my XR behind my 525 before it broke"

The flywheel output is the same, but that doesnt mean that the drivetrain is seeing the same torque levels. I think its been proven, that say a stock XR drive, can take 525 merc flywheel output. What the XR can't take, is the output from the water twisting the prop backwards. Think of the water as an engine, and the propeller as a the flywheel. At any moment you allow the water (engine) to grab and twist that prop, your actual engine's output becomes irrelevant. That scenerio, can easily supercede your engines flywheel output many times over, which Mike has validated during his development.

If we all had the same hull combo, the same props, the same engines, the same water conditions, maybe, you can get remotely close to what actual flywheel torque level XXX drive can handle. But with so many variables, its simply not possible to establish that number in my opinion. The ONLY constant we have, is the power the engines make. Anything else, we have no control over, as far as what loads the drivetrain will see while in operation. Hull weight, prop style, blade count, slip, speed, and so on. Until now that is. With the Drive Guardian, you now are able to control the maximum torque the drivetrain will see, which will be very relative to the engines flywheel output.

Don't forget hull weight. A heavier hull with the same power will be much tougher on a drive than a lighter hull. As proof, we have a guy just up the lake from me who owns a 1987 Sea Ray Pachanga 22. What's so special about it? It's got the original 454 / 330 HP big block in front of the original (never blown up) Alpha drive. Sure, he drives is like an old lady, but will sneak it up to the low 70's given flat enough water and a real slow wind up. So he's real gentle on a fragile combination - in a relatively light hull. Every single bigger / heavier hull around here with the same combination blew up eons ago. Of course if the Drive Guardian was around back in 1987 ...

Boxer 11-16-2014 05:25 PM

We installed a Drive Guardian in a 30 foot Sutphen with a 950 HP blower engine. Max torque was 1100 ft. lbs. We completed two races,two poker runs and several trips to Marthas Vineyard. The drive is max machine upper with an IMCO lower. Saris pulled his drives apart last week . We are checking ours this week.

502ss 11-16-2014 06:04 PM


Originally Posted by Got Freedom? (Post 4220071)
Correct, the SSM version will fit virtually any transmission / drive combination. We would need to check the input shaft specifications of the MG502 to see if they are the same as a Borg Warner 72C. If not, then we would need a custom damper plate. We also have a shaft mounted version that might be an option for you as well depending on your power levels.

Mike

Thanks ICDEDPPL!

Freedom - I believe the spline on the BW and MG are the same!

Can someone please PM me a price?

Thanks
Jim

mptrimshop 11-16-2014 06:09 PM

Why is the price top secret?

ICDEDPPL 11-16-2014 07:03 PM

Calm down sparky.
The bravo version is $ 2495

TeamSaris 11-16-2014 07:20 PM

Which is a LOT cheaper than a gear coming out the side of a gearcase... :)

TeamSaris 11-16-2014 07:32 PM

Really thrilled with all the emails and phone calls I've got over the past weekend, a lot of guys are going to have a great, trouble-free 2015 season!

TeamSaris 11-16-2014 07:33 PM


Originally Posted by 502ss (Post 4220314)
Thanks ICDEDPPL!

Freedom - I believe the spline on the BW and MG are the same!

Can someone please PM me a price?

Thanks
Jim

PM box is full.
Email me at [email protected]

502ss 11-16-2014 08:30 PM


Originally Posted by TeamSaris (Post 4220389)
PM box is full.
Email me at [email protected]

Email sent - pm box cleared!

onesickpantera 11-18-2014 07:18 AM


Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER (Post 4219523)
and the enormous torque spikes that occur when the prop aerates for a millisecond and grabs again.

I think this is the part many don't realize. It's not always getting "big air". Running WFO and getting air under the prop for a split second, or even partially getting air, also cause huge torque spikes.

sbracing 11-18-2014 09:06 AM


Originally Posted by onesickpantera (Post 4221061)
I think this is the part many don't realize. It's not always getting "big air". Running WFO and getting air under the prop for a split second, or even partially getting air, also cause huge torque spikes.

We run into that when racing in calm water. The prop breaks free and grabs again before I can pull back on the throttles. Now, with the DriveGuardian, I don't worry about it. In the big water, you have some time to pull back, but with the DG, we have the confidence that if I miss we are protected.

scarab63 11-18-2014 09:10 AM

Does it rob anymore h.p. in comparison to a rubber coupler????
Does it have a max h.p. rating? ???

Pretty cool idea. Sounds like it's doing a good job so far!
Congrats!

ICDEDPPL 11-18-2014 05:10 PM


Originally Posted by scarab63 (Post 4221140)
Does it rob anymore h.p. in comparison to a rubber coupler????
Does it have a max h.p. rating? ???

Pretty cool idea. Sounds like it's doing a good job so far!
Congrats!

Yes, it robs the transmission and drive of horsepower during spikes that exceed the DriveGuardian rating :D Otherwise there is no loss.
They are on the Qatar boat so I think a horsepower rating may not be an issue for you but I could be wrong :drool1:

scarab63 11-18-2014 05:33 PM


Originally Posted by ICDEDPPL (Post 4221361)
Yes, it robs the transmission and drive of horsepower during spikes that exceed the DriveGuardian rating :D Otherwise there is no loss.
They are on the Qatar boat so I think a horsepower rating may not be an issue for you but I could be wrong :drool1:

true. I've got outboards so I think I'd be shat out of luck. It looked a bit bulky, I was wondering if it has more rotating mass, than a coupler, and exactly how it works? Like a cush drive on a motorcycle? Either way pretty interesting product for sure

Got Freedom? 11-18-2014 06:24 PM

MDC has designed and fabricated components that are being used by Spirit of Qatar but the team is not running DriveGuardians at this time. The Bravo version is nearly the exact same physical size as the stock coupler but does weigh a little more. Even so, the Moment of Inertia is relatively low since the mass is close to the center of rotation, which is the opposite of a flywheel. The NXT and SSM version have a lower Moment of Inertial than the stock setup. There is no added friction and no loss of HP.

Mike

ICDEDPPL 11-18-2014 06:38 PM

My bad, thanx for the correction Mike.

TeamSaris 11-18-2014 08:54 PM

If there is a loss it's extremely small. We didn't lose any MPH. Not at all.

turnerrd 11-18-2014 09:51 PM

Planning to install this winter and fix my broken NXT transmission problem. I hope this is the answer.

turnerrd 11-19-2014 07:27 AM

..

turnerrd 11-19-2014 07:30 AM


Originally Posted by Boxer (Post 4220289)
We installed a Drive Guardian in a 30 foot Sutphen with a 950 HP blower engine. Max torque was 1100 ft. lbs. We completed two races,two poker runs and several trips to Marthas Vineyard. The drive is max machine upper with an IMCO lower. Saris pulled his drives apart last week . We are checking ours this week.

Curious how yours looked?

TeamSaris 11-19-2014 08:46 AM


Originally Posted by turnerrd (Post 4221536)
Planning to install this winter and fix my broken NXT transmission problem. I hope this is the answer.

I bet it will be!

Back4More 11-20-2014 11:44 PM

Great thread...!

Boxer 11-21-2014 06:27 AM


Originally Posted by turnerrd (Post 4221630)
Curious how yours looked?

Not sure what you mean, but the DG takes the place of the stock coupler. We checked the DG for runout and balance before installation. The unit was perfect. The stock mercury alingment was too tight, but the drive slipped right in. The DG is custom designed for the particular installation.

Boxer 11-21-2014 08:07 PM


Originally Posted by turnerrd (Post 4221630)
Curious how yours looked?

Sorry, I was half awake this AM. The drive will be apart beginning of next week. Will post results. As for slip factor. The last run was up the Conn. River. 5800rpm,1.35 drive,24inch prop, 89MPH. Works out to 9% slip. This was with 1300 lbs of passengers and fuel.

ThisIsLivin 12-19-2014 08:19 PM

Can we work out an OSO volume discount?

TomR 12-22-2014 06:14 AM

The Drive Guardian seems like an innovative idea, just a little pricey!

MILD THUNDER 12-22-2014 06:29 AM

How much is a typical rebuild on a XR Due to broken gears or snapped vertical shaft?

Unlimited jd 12-22-2014 06:34 AM

I think the last lower I did was $2200. It was worn from hours not broken from a shock load.

ICDEDPPL 12-22-2014 08:45 AM

Just the upper gear set is $1600.

buck35 12-22-2014 09:12 AM

Seems like the thing to do would be to put a sacrificial bravo behind 550 to 600 hp go wave hopping and see if you can break it, or at least how long does it take. That would answer a lot of questions for the average throttle jockey whose timing is not always what it should be.

TeamSaris 12-22-2014 10:38 AM


Originally Posted by buck35 (Post 4238459)
Seems like the thing to do would be to put a sacrificial bravo behind 550 to 600 hp go wave hopping and see if you can break it, or at least how long does it take. That would answer a lot of questions for the average throttle jockey whose timing is not always what it should be.

It would help immensely.
For the pricing on breaking an XR, it depends on how much carnage. If you put a pinion through the side of the case, it's going to hurt $$$

BenPerfected 12-22-2014 12:31 PM

We have had great success including the Drive Saver in-line with Bravo XR's and extension boxes. https://www.gcsmarine.com/content/dr...rs/drivesavers

buck35 12-22-2014 01:17 PM


Originally Posted by TeamSaris (Post 4238513)
It would help immensely.
For the pricing on breaking an XR, it depends on how much carnage. If you put a pinion through the side of the case, it's going to hurt $$$

I'm sure it does, that comment was directed at the good folks building and selling the drive guardian. A utube video showing a boat getting aired out with poor throttle control would be a nice way to show off the product to those maybe on the fence about justifying the cost.

ICDEDPPL 12-22-2014 05:24 PM


Originally Posted by buck35 (Post 4238597)
I'm sure it does, that comment was directed at the good folks building and selling the drive guardian. A utube video showing a boat getting aired out with poor throttle control would be a nice way to show off the product to those maybe on the fence about justifying the cost.

Mike did a lot of testing .. one of the test was just what you describe...I wish I knew how to post a pdf. file but i don`t.
Here is a few excerpts:



On Water Test results
The following data was collected in a 42’ Fountain Lightning with HP700SCi engines, SSMVI drives with 6-blade Hering propellers and without a DriveGuardian installed. A video of the run can be found at http://youtu.be/7s2NbrbGc6E
The boat was fitted with a number of sensors and a Data Logger to collect and store the information. Once back on shore the data was downloaded to a laptop for analysis. The parameters collected during the test run included:
 Throttle Position – This information was used to measure the reaction time of the operator and determine the exact amount of throttle applied during each Synchronization Event.
 Vertical Acceleration - An accelerometer was used to determine exactly when the boat began to leave the water after hitting a wave and the force experienced re-entering the water.
 RPM – The crankshaft speed was captured to determine the peak RPMs when the propeller was out of the water and how far they dropped when it was re-submerged.
 Boat Speed – A GPS sensor was used to determine the exact speed the boat was traveling during the run.
 Torque & HP - A Strain Gauge was fitted to the port engine’s driveshaft that accurately measures the output of the engine and the torque spikes generated by the propeller. This technology is extremely accurate and similar to what is being used in Formula 1, NASCAR, & NHRA. Once downloaded to a laptop, the engine’s horsepower can be calculated using SAE J1349 JUN90 to correct for atmospheric conditions. Essentially this device functions as an onboard dynamometer with a data logger to collect the information for analysis.


Test Data – (no DriveGuardian)
This test was conducted in 1’-3’ waves (per the NOAA near shore forecast) on Lake Michigan, with Northwest winds at 10-15 knots. The purpose was to confirm the existence of torque spikes and to measure the peaks and durations of the Synchronization Events.
Figure 3: Three Second Snapshot Shaft Dyno Data
At a test boat speed of approximately 65MPH, two torque peaks (yellow plot line) are visible in the Shaft Dyno output in Figure 3. Both of the spikes in Figure 3 are 60% more than the engine’s peak output and beyond the stern drives maximum input rating of 1,160 ft-lbs. it is interesting that the throttle position (blue plot line) at the peak of the torque-spike had very little effect on the severity of the spike. This makes sense if you recognize that the torque-spikes are a direct result of having a large mass (engine, flywheel, coupler, drive shaft, U-joints, gear sets, etc.) rotating at high RPM (red plot line) and then being suddenly slowed down by the propeller.




In the highlighted area of Figure 4, a drop of 193 RPM, (red plot line) resulted in the torque jumping from 263 ftlbs
(propeller nearly out of the water) to a spike of 1,278 ft-lbs (yellow plot line) in 0.08 seconds. In this example
the event duration is so short that the operator was unable to compensate and the throttle position remained
essentially constant at 55% open (blue plot line).

Table 1 is the results of a mathematical model of the 1,278 ft-lb torque spike that is highlighted in Figure 4.
Based on the1.52:1 gear ratio for the drive, you can see that the propeller shaft sustained an even greater
torque spike of 1,918 ft-lbs.



In the highlighted area in Figure 5, a drop of 863 RPM (red plot line) resulted in the torque (yellow plot line)
jumping from 103 ft-lbs (propeller out of the water) to a spike of 1,262 ft-lbs in 0.129 seconds. Operator
reaction time was relatively good with the throttle position (blue plot line) dropping just before the propeller
left the water and then increasing to 44% less than a 1/10th of a second before torque spike.
As a great example of rotational inertia, please notice that immediately following the highlighted torque spike in
Figure 5, the throttle position was held at 10% for more than 2/10ths of a second. At this point the propeller is
in the water and the torque spike is gradually dissipating, but the RPMs barely change for a full the full 2/10ths
of a second, even with the throttle practically closed.





Test Data – With DriveGuardian
DriveGuardian was installed in the same boat as in the previous test (42’ Fountain) and run on Lake Michigan in
a NOAA recorded wave height of 1’ with a southeast wind of 5-10 knots.

In the highlighted area of Figure 6, a drop of 621 RPM (red plot line) resulted in the torque jumping from 155 ftlbs
(propeller nearly out of the water) to a DriveGuardian regulated spike of 1,130 ft-lbs (yellow plot line) in
0.095 seconds. Boat speed was 85MPH and the throttle remained approximately 85% open (blue plot line). So,
with an RPM drop of more than 3X the highlighted area of Figure 4 and over roughly the same period of time,
the torque spike was still 12% lower. This plot clearly indicates how effective DriveGuardian is at regulating
torque spikes




Using the same mathematical model as the previous test and based on the data from the DriveGuardian test,
Table 3 shows that it would require an Inertia-Induced Torque of 3,316 ft-lbs to decelerate the rotating mass of
the engine from 5,408 RPM to 4,787RPM in .095 seconds. While some of this energy would have been
dissipated by the propeller, clearly the data proves that DriveGuardian regulated the torque spike to a preset
value of 1,130 ft-lbs and protected the stern drive from a damaging torque spike.
In conclusion"
Drive it like you stole and the Drive Guardian will do the rest :D

buck35 12-22-2014 07:25 PM

I'm not a doubter by any means as I work with and on equipment daily, also seen many 3pt implements with a similar setup as I live on an orchard.
Just saying a moving picture says more than any chart can :cool-smiley-027:
beat of luck to all of you, I think its a great idea, but you got to get em out there, then voila!

TeamSaris 12-23-2014 03:21 PM

The first set of pictures is our pinion gear from 2013, it has 3 races on it. No Drive Guardian.
The second set of pics is the pinion from this year, same side, same drive. 5 races with the Drive Guardian. I assure you we ran just as hard, coming second in points and winning another World Championship. Same props, same engines. It does have some wear, hence the sheen to it, but no big dents or dings from impact like the first one. Fantastic results.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...psa52be8fe.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...psd152d448.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps28d08862.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps02172db1.jpg

Second set

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps98604e6a.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...psa6ed8822.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...psc53506a2.jpg

Happy to snap some more if needed.

pstorti 12-23-2014 04:16 PM

Wow the second set looks like new parts compared to the first!


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