Originally Posted by northernoffshore (Post 4437347)

#7M DRIVE UNIT RIGHT HAND ROTATION LEFT HAND ROTATION
Reduction/Overdrive 1:1 1:1
1.32:1 1.32:1
1.56: 1.56:1
Transmission Velvet Drive
Kit Unit Weight 320 lbs
OAL 52”
Steering Angle 40 Degrees
Trim Angle 17 Degrees
Maximum Input Torque 850 lbs 850 lbs

from arneson ... maybe 1100 hp is too much??

Originally Posted by Crazy Dayz Skater (Post 4437292)

I have tried to call him 4 times this morning with no response,my wife put a post on his face book page yesterday and he deleted her from his page so the tag was deleted.I sure would like to no what i did to him.

Originally Posted by Marginmn (Post 4437361)

I can't speak to the personal issues he is having with Ric but I have known since the day I put 7M's on my boat that they were a much stronger alternative to XR's - but they are not an alternative to Six drives. It's pretty common knowledge in the Arneson world that if you have 1100 HP mills that you should be running ASD 8's - not 7m's.

Originally Posted by 999JAY (Post 4437356)

My thoughts as well 1100hp+ reduction in gearbox = too much torque for a #7M
Louie why did you not go with ASD8-6 setup these can handle much more HP and torque.

Originally Posted by SB (Post 4437368)

Here's the chart: http://new.arneson-industries.com/wp..._selection.jpg

Now, the #8 says 1200hp for max rating. I thought I saw where his motors where dyno'd to 1205hp or something like that.

Edit in: Post #38 in link below. This was in 2013 so not sure if motors have been changed or detuned or something.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ml#post3940007

Originally Posted by Crazy Dayz Skater (Post 4436939)

I have 2013- 338 Skater that has only 30 hours, with Arneson Marine 7M drives. I would like to know how many other peeps are having manufacturing/set up issues with Arneson Marine drives. During the building process of my Skater, myself, Rik from Arneson and others had numerous meeting and dinners. This way they had an understanding of speeds I was looking to get from my Skater. Remember Rik what you asked my wife and her response. You asked her if I could do it, what did she say, "If you could build drives that can handle it that Louie could drive it." From the very first time and ea time after, drives ever hit the water there has been issues. First time rubber boot fell off taking out one of my props, which I had to pay for prop repair, and Rik was sending me new rubber boots. Well they must be lost in the mail cause I have never seen them, I have asked about new ones over and over again for 2 yrs now. Second time took boat out it blows a trim cylinder and oil was leaking everywhere. after that trim cylinders blew two more times. I have had the boat for 3 seasons now and have yet to have boat set up correctly due to these drives constantly breaking with no help from Rik. I know for fact others are having same issue, cause I have spoken to them (all well known boat racers/companies /people with same boat as mine). All have expressed having the same issues with drives. Everyone of them agree that it is a bad design of drives. Rik @ Arneson has had my drives now for over 4 months after I had one drive break during a poker run,(see attached pics). Rik and I spoke regarding repairs Rik agreed to repair drive for no cost and re-gear drives(I agreed to pay for new gears) and install the stronger cases that he now has(obviously he has built stronger cases for this set up since he has had so many fail ) so I sent them to him. I have called multiple times in the beginning I got run around about waiting to get the gears made. Now Rik won't even answer his phone or return my v/m. I guess since I am just a small time racer and not a big money customer, then he is not concerned with me or my business. I just wanted to warn others about these drives and customer service issues. I don't want to see anyone else losing their hard earned money or maybe even people getting hurt or killed over these drives, he needs to step up to the plate and stand behind his product like a business owner should do.

[IMG]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...psdlpjpf7l.jpg[/IMG]

Originally Posted by Marginmn (Post 4437387)

When you start a thread calling into question the quality of a product you have to realize that your badmouthing will have an impact on everyone who is also running that product. I cannot speak to the personal issues you are having with Rik, but I am sad to hear that your relationship is obviously on the Fritz. Why it is on the Fritz remains to be seen.

IMO, if you are going to start a thread bashing a well-respected product you should have at least have your ducks in a row. Your beef with Arneson is two-fold. 1: that the product is crap. 2: that Rik is dodging your calls and not keeping his promises. I cannot speak to your second issue but can only say that Rik has always been available (within reason) and helpful during and after my 7m install.

As for your first complaint that the product is crap, you are defacto off the mark. As I said in my previous post, it is common knowledge and clearly stated in Arneson's own specs that the 7M is intended to be a much upgraded replacement for a Bravo drive. I have never heard Rik nor seen any literature that claims that the 7m can be bolted to a Merc 1075 and offer trouble free boating - much less to an 1100 hp engine. Neither the drive or the transmissions that fit the 7m are rated for the HP and torque that you are trying to put through them. Everybody knows or should know that! I notice that you didn't include your HP specs in your original post. Maybe for good reason because you know that you are more than pushing the envelope for a bravo conversion drive. You probably also know that Arneson makes a drive that is designed to handle your application but that it costs considerably more than what you paid for your Bravo replacement - as would a Six drive.

I am about as shocked to hear that a 7M won't handle 1100 HP engines as I am shocked when I hear that an XR broke behind a 750+ HP supercharged engines. :eek:

Get real. If Rik made promises to you about the capabilities of the 7m drive then have that discussion - but don't act like your Arneson 7m drive is crap because you are trying to push more HP through it than it was designed or advertised to handle.

Originally Posted by Crazy Dayz Skater (Post 4437394)

Did you see the new 3312 that was at havasu 2 weeks ago? Pretty much same boat as mine with1200/1550 hp sterlings with arneson 7m on the back with the same gearing as mine.Who specked this one out?

Originally Posted by Marginmn (Post 4437403)

Who specked out the 42 Fountains and 38 Top guns with 600's and XR's that broke like twigs? People trying to save money and manufactures trying to sell boats. Some people push the envelope from the factory to save money but in doing so they give up reliability. It's a trade off - a well-known trade off. Your situation is no different than someone who is trying to push too much HP through a bravo drive. Just because someone told you that you might get by in exceeding the manufactures specs it doesn't mean that the product is crap when it doesn't.

Originally Posted by Helt (Post 4436983)

NOT ALL TRUE HERE.
First of all, Louie I have never talked to you about the drives on my boat. Don't be posting **** about me!
I have more hours in a 338 Skater than anyone and anytime I call RIK @ Arneson, he is always helpful in answering my questions and offering help. I have ran my boat with all the big boats right down the channel at LOTO without any problems.
I'm sure your classy post will get you great service from RIK. Just remember he is Arneson so he could tell you to take a hike.

TRUMP for President

Originally Posted by Crazy Dayz Skater (Post 4437427)

As i said before,prior to starting this build i contacted Rik and told him what boat i was building,what Pete said it was going to weigh,and what hp Eddie Young was building me.Rik being the professional drive builder specked the boat out with the 7m.What more should i have done but listen to the professional.

Originally Posted by Marginmn (Post 4437403)

Who specked out the 42 Fountains and 38 Top guns with 600's and XR's that broke like twigs? People trying to save money and manufactures trying to sell boats. Some people push the envelope from the factory to save money but in doing so they give up reliability. It's a trade off - a well-known trade off. Your situation is no different than someone who is trying to push too much HP through a bravo drive. Just because someone told you that you might get by in exceeding the manufactures specs it doesn't mean that the product is crap when it doesn't.

Originally Posted by TCBoss302 (Post 4437437)

If we can take Crazy Dayz at his word, why would Rik be willing to fix the broken drive if the drive is absolutely not designed for, or be able to handle the higher HP? That in and of itself says to me Rik told him it was rated higher than what's advertised or told him the 7 is overbuilt and can handle the higher HP. Would Mercury or IMCO EVER warranty a drive that broke even if the motor in front of said drive was 1 HP over what the drive is rated for.......NOT A CHANCE! And, keep in mind, you didn't address 3 blown trim cylinders and the boot problem.

With all that said, there are 2 sides to every story, so to be clear, I'm not trying to start anything as I don't know either party involved.

Originally Posted by green lightning (Post 4437441)

He might not have put the clamp's on the boot right and the cylinders are done by zeiger

Originally Posted by Crazy Dayz Skater (Post 4437427)

As i said before,prior to starting this build i contacted Rik and told him what boat i was building,what Pete said it was going to weigh,and what hp Eddie Young was building me.Rik being the professional drive builder specked the boat out with the 7m.What more should i have done but listen to the professional.

Originally Posted by TCBoss302 (Post 4437443)

He who? Rik? It was a new build, correct?

Originally Posted by TCBoss302 (Post 4437443)

He who? Rik? It was a new build, correct?

Originally Posted by brentadkins (Post 4437452)

Well..... Ironically both of my trim cylinders lost their oil out the top this past weekend at the Tickfaw 200. On a bright note, I ran them all day without trim, and they automatically come up to about the midway point when getting to around 50 to 70 mph.. Knowing what I now know, I probably should have put it back on the trailer. Either I will be calling Rik or my mechanics will for some new parts/fix.

Originally Posted by CoolSpot (Post 4437468)

I can't help but think that there is something in the "back story" that's not getting discussed in these posts. Rik has been in business for a long time. I don't see other customers taking a swipe at him here. Some months back when a guy had an issue with Cobra Power and posted on OSO, a lot of people who also had issues with them came out and told their story.

Guys like Rik that have been around for a long time usually don't turn into bums as time goes on. It's not typical to start ethically and then become unethical as time goes on. Louie, is there anything going on in the background that would make Rik ignore this issue - like you owe him money from past dealings, you didn't follow some maintenance regimen that resulted in the failure, etc.?

Originally Posted by CoolSpot (Post 4437468)

I can't help but think that there is something in the "back story" that's not getting discussed in these posts. Rik has been in business for a long time. I don't see other customers taking a swipe at him here. Some months back when a guy had an issue with Cobra Power and posted on OSO, a lot of people who also had issues with them came out and told their story.

Guys like Rik that have been around for a long time usually don't turn into bums as time goes on. It's not typical to start ethically and then become unethical as time goes on. Louie, is there anything going on in the background that would make Rik ignore this issue - like you owe him money from past dealings, you didn't follow some maintenance regimen that resulted in the failure, etc.?