800hp through an xr drive
03-24-2015 | 09:43 PM
#21
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 279
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
IMO, the number 1 killer of drives, isn't the engine. Its coming out of the water. I'm not talking about jumping a cruiser wake every once and a while for a photo opportunity. Im talking about the guys who boat in rough water, or even "choppy" water if you will, where for 30 miles, his props have broke the surface 287 times, and the tachs, nor the human ear barely picked up. This is why on oso, we have guys coming on saying how their bravo's have lasted many many hours behind big power, and other guys come on oso, and can't get a bravo to live behind a 525 boat. Well, the guy who boats on smaller inland lakes, may not be breaking the props free every single weekend in rougher waters. Right off the bat, guys start saying 'he cant drive' or 'hes not good on the sticks'. It has nothing to do with that. The simple hammering effect on the drive components in rough water, destroys them.
800HP and an XR is a bad idea any which way you look at it. But, I would probably rather take my chances running 800HP thru an XR, on a Cat that never leaves a small inland lake, than 600HP on a vee that see's rough waters every weekend.
800HP and an XR is a bad idea any which way you look at it. But, I would probably rather take my chances running 800HP thru an XR, on a Cat that never leaves a small inland lake, than 600HP on a vee that see's rough waters every weekend.
My two cents....
03-24-2015 | 10:47 PM
#22
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,612
Likes: 372
From: Traverse City MI
ANY Bravo based drive (bravo, x, xz, xr, teague, imco sc, bmax lower, max machine, all american drive service, etc) WILL break or at least prematurely wear out with anything more then 500hp, and there are plenty with less power still breaking and wearing out.
03-24-2015 | 11:08 PM
#23
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,195
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
We have 750+ HP @ about 6500 RPM but only have 500 CI with a flat torque curve from about 4000-6000. The more CI the more torque so the 540+ CI motors are more stress on the drives in the low to midrange. IMO, it is difficult to run hard in the bumps, hold on, steer and work the throttles. Besides good parts, a separate throttle position plays a a part in Bravo longevity. The longer the boat, more weight (passengers, big cooler, etc) the more likely the drive is to fail. We haven't had to rebuilt our beefed up Bravo 1's in 5-7 yrs with virtually no wear showing on the magnets. We run the boat at two speeds....no wake zone and GO. We also have an excellent water cooling system on the drives.
What is the single most important reason our drives live?.......no clue.
What is the single most important reason our drives live?.......no clue.
03-25-2015 | 09:38 AM
#25
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,612
Likes: 372
From: Traverse City MI
No offense to any one person but claiming that an overpowered drive can last without listing how many hours, how its driven, what conditions, what type of boat, means NOTHING.
Frankly its pretty sad how short of a hour life these high performance engines have. Even worse that bravo based drives don't even last as long as the engines they are behind!
SERIOUSLY! These are high performance OFFSHORE Powerboats and OSO thinks it's OK to drive them like a KIA, avoid rough water, sit at the sand bar, and say a prayer every time we get on plane??
Just to squeeze another hour out of an Bravo based drive.....sad.
If anyone wants to start a beware thread about a marine manufacturer that has screwed us it should be about Mercury........
And my proof....older bravo gears last LONGER then the more expensive, higher HP rated, newer XR JUNK sold to us today.
Frankly its pretty sad how short of a hour life these high performance engines have. Even worse that bravo based drives don't even last as long as the engines they are behind!
SERIOUSLY! These are high performance OFFSHORE Powerboats and OSO thinks it's OK to drive them like a KIA, avoid rough water, sit at the sand bar, and say a prayer every time we get on plane??
Just to squeeze another hour out of an Bravo based drive.....sad.
If anyone wants to start a beware thread about a marine manufacturer that has screwed us it should be about Mercury........
And my proof....older bravo gears last LONGER then the more expensive, higher HP rated, newer XR JUNK sold to us today.
03-25-2015 | 09:53 AM
#26
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 210
From: Grand Haven, MI
I boat on Lake Michigan every weekend and I haven't broke a bravo drive in 6 years. I change oil every 20hrs and drives are tore down every 100hrs or two years, whichever comes first. I just had my xr's done and they needed it for sure. I'm fine with this maintenance schedule and I can re build a lot of drives for the cost to upgrade. If I wanted different drives I would rather buy a different boat than spend the money to upgrade mine. As far as putting 800hp through a xr, I wouldn't even think about it, no way.
03-25-2015 | 10:06 AM
#27
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,407
Likes: 797
From: Central IL
We got a 33 Outlaw on our local 6K acre pond that is anything but rough. 500 EFI's and XZ's. Guy went thru three drives stock. Had Brad Smith modify 500's to 600 HP. Has gone thru another drive. All of the drive failures occurred cruising down this flat water lake around 45 - 50 MPH.
03-25-2015 | 10:17 AM
#28
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11,424
Likes: 3,953
From: Midwest & T-Rock
03-25-2015 | 01:57 PM
#29
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 2
From: Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
Read if you want. Guys in OPA using them and swear by them.
http://forums.boatfreaks.org/showthr...drive+guardian
http://forums.boatfreaks.org/showthr...drive+guardian
