strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

My motor produces 1150 hp and 1100 ft lb's of torque. What is the stongest drive besides the #6 drive? Currently have an IMCO SC.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

I have heard of a couple of guys here running big power like yours through a B-Max drive.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Have you broken anything yet,just curious,Smitty

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

there is a long thread on the imco you need to read for me i would go with the maxx machine works drive a lot less reported failures on the maxx drive

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

I have seen several guys on here who have had the IMCO Extreme SC drives who haven't had very good results/success with them. At least they sure haven't sounded too happy about the IMCO drives. Many of these guys who have or have had the IMCO drives have engines with power much less than what you say you have. If you do a search within the tech Q & A section you might be able to find a few threads regarding some of these issues. I think there even may be a pretty big thread in the General discusion section not too long ago of some pretty unhappy boaters who have used the IMCO dirves and didn't get the attention from IMCO that they thought they should have. However, I think there may be some guys who have had success with the IMCO drives, but it seems like you hear more about the failures stories than you do of the successful ones.

Some of these guys who had problems with the IMCO drives have went out and bought the B-Max drive and some have bought internal parts with better materials and design/engineering from a company called Max Machine Worx in Havasu, Arizona. I personally haven't heard too many failure or complaint stories with these drives/parts.

Don't exactly know if this is a rumor or not, but I heard that Konrad is supposed to be coming out with there own bolt-on version of the Merc Bravo One drive that will supposedly be stronger, still bolt right up to the Merc Bravo One extisting gimble/transom assembly. Like anything else I guess we'll find out. Any of you guys hear anything about this?

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Max Machine all the way. Drives are great, and great customer service.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

How about the Arneson conversion? But it may cost as much as a #6.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Thank you.... I have blown everything up at one time or the other. As a matter of fact I blew up the max machine drive in approx 10 minutes. This was three or four years ago and max still has done nothing about it. Not that I have pushed it, I don't work that way. I was very upset with their total lack of responcibility. It was the large nut that holds the drive together that backed out... They did not tighten correctly... That year I blew 5 drives up from stock to max's... I was only pushing ( I am guessing because my motor builder did not dyno) 750-900hp no idea for torque. I was running a 1:50 ratio drive with a 32p lab four blade 100mph 27 foot conquest deck boat. Felt the large pitch prop was part of problem. Bought an IMCO SC drive with a 1:25 (I think) any way the lowest. And used a smaller pitch prop, a 28... Same speed snd the drive has held up since. This new motor (same motor new builder Fast Fred Motors of Lake Havasu) a 581 Merlin is night and day different at 90 you stab it it will pin you in the seat. We are currently running the 28 for drivability. We tested with a 30p prop at 3/4 throttle 103mph gps 5600rpm... Don't think I will ever know what top speed is... It will turn my 32p with no problem just can't drive it or the 30p at idle speeds as I am producing a wake and most others are not, and they don't understand.

I have blown so many drives and I have this feeling this one will not last. Well if I could take it easy it might last, but the power is so incredible and fun I AM GOING TO STAB IT.

Thank you for your responces and please keep them coming. I am going to look at the Konrad as it looks promising. Or detune an incredible motor. It is a shame this weak link has not been perfected.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Chip,

This drive issue is a hot subject. I guess a lot of it depends on how the drive is assembled as well. I suppose that no matter who's parts you have, if it is not assembled correctly or something was overlooked during the assembly process, then any drive can/will grenade. From what I can remember about Max Machine is that they told me their parts are better quality even than what they were a few years ago.

I am going to give the Max Machine parts a go only because I haven't heard much in the way of failures from their stuff, however I will have my own drive tech/man "Dick's Performance Marine" do the assembly. I think that is the name of Dic's business, but not exactly sure. He's also known as "Mr. Gadgets" here on OSO. He mics everything, and does a complete blueprint for proper fit, and assembly. With his own Merc Bravo drive equipped boat, and before he started his own drive building business, he went through several genaded drives himself from other drive shops, mods, etc. So, based on his own personal experience with several drive failures he started rebuilding his own drives, and has had much better success---hence now he has his own drive building business. That boy can tell you A LOT of drive failure story's. Of course there are many other variables, and factors that play into the survivability of a drive as well such as power to weight ratio, maintenance, and driving habits, etc, but I think good quality parts are a major of the equasion, and the major part is the care, precision, and how well the drive is assembled. I hope things go better for you, and your drive(s) in the future.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

One thing to remember is that every drive out there is being successfully run behind big power. None are 100% bullet proof! I have heard good and bad about every aftermarket company out there, and like KAAMA said there are a lot of variables that contribute to those experiences. I think the B-MAX upper is still the strongest, but I have heard guys having to go through hoops to get them right. Once they are right they seem to hold up. You have a lot of power and like to use it so you will break drives! Consider which is the cheapest to fix while making your decision.

KAAMA - How are the motors coming?

Craig

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

weismann outdrive!!!! call and get the lowdown on them. www.weismann.net

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

A pair cost as much as a single #6.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

All Depends On The Weight Of The Boat!!!! If It's Heavy( 9000-over V Bottom) B-max Is The Only Drive You Can Use!!! Or Buy A #6. Only Giving You The Facts. Ron Bender

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Ron- Are you saying that for a heavy V-bottom that a B-max is better than a SSMV, Arneson or even a Konrad?? You're losing me. Lou

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Ron,in your opinion is a b-max stronger (in this order) than a
1.3a
2.Konrad
3.merc#5
They (the b-max) seem beefier than any upgraded bravo,even the xr,but isn't the lower on a b-max still only a xr lower esentially?Thanks for any input,info and facts you can tell us,Smitty

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

chip12345: Give Max Machine a call. They had some new stuff at the Miami Show in the Doller Offshore booth that looked good. (928) 505 - 7860. Also, I sold our supercharger system to a customer that had Bmax drives on a 43 Black Thunder. He said that Bmax asked him to provide a dyno sheet that showed no more than 830 HP as condition of warranty.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Yea, I'm lost to as we have applications with the V bottoms weighing over 100,000 lbs and they use Arneson Surface Drives :D

What size of boat is it and what brand?

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Thanks Fred. That reasoning, I can follow. Lou

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

The Max Machine Worx's drive that was on display is their own
upper case-it is a billet aluminum block machined and treated by them. They also run a stainless tower connecting the upper and lower cases together to keep them from twisting. Their drives have shims in them also.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Thanks Everyone for the time and effort...

Just so you know... I do not know the weight of my boat but the bottom is very close to a Talon 26. Modified V or tunnel how ever you want to look at it. The swim step is to close to the drive so a stand off box will not work, therefore a tranny will not fit without major (and I mean major) modifications. If a tranny would fit a #6 would be on it. So I am stuck with the weak link...

As i stated in my last response Max was not very customer friendly to me. And their stuff only lasted 10 minutes... I must say I never dealt with them directly my old motor builder did and therefor he did not get the response I was looking for. So just maybe there was something missing there. Still customer service is what we are all about correct?

I will bury my head in the sand and give max a call if my IMCO SC fails. Just got back from a couple brisk runs and everything is still in one piece.

Thanks again for all the help.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

YOU HAVE TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES. THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE STRONGEST DRIVE? THE ANSWER IS A # 6 DRY SUMP IN MERCURY. AN ARNESON, I FEEL WILL TAKE MORE THAN A #6 DRY SUMP. KONRAD ONLY MAKES A TRS REPLACEMENT AND YOU NEED A TRANSMISSION!! ALMOST ALL QUESTIONS RELATE TO A BRAVO 1 SET UP. IN THAT CASE THE B-MAX WILL OUT DO ANY PUT TO THE TEST IN COMPARISON!!! EVERYONES LOWER IN BRAVO 1 HAS THE SAME CASE WITH THE SAME COMPONENT PARTS USING MERCURY GEARS AND THEIR OWN SHAFTS. THE ONLY REASON THEY MAKE LOWER PARTS IT'S CALLED PROFIT. MERCURY LOWER GEARS ARE NET FORGED AND NOBODY CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR DIES AND A PRODUCTION RUN TO COMPETE IN PRICING. AND NOT MANY COMPANIES CAN EVEN MAKE THIS TYPE OF GEAR. IN THE SAME COMPARISON TO UPPERS, BIGGER IS STRONGER. B-MAX LIES IN BETWEEN A BRAVO1 AND A SPEED MASTER. IT WILL TAKE MORE HORSE POWER THAN ANY BRAVO1 SET UP ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. IT'S SHIFTABLE AND DOES NOT NEED A TRANSMISSION AS A # 6 or ARNESON. AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURES HAVE INCREASED THE BRAVO 1 ABOUT AS FAR AS IT CAN GO WITHOUT INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE UPPER CASE. B-MAX DID INCREASE THE CASE SIZE AND WAS ABLE TO BOLT IT TO A BRAVO BELL HOUSING. REMEMBER IT'S NOT HOW MUCH HORSE POWER WILL IT TAKE. BUT HOW MUCH HP & TORQUE DO YOU HAVE, WHAT TYPE OF BOAT DO YOU HAVE, HOW MUCH DOES YOU'RE BOAT WEIGH. AND MATCH THE DRIVE THAT WILL WORK WITH YOUR BOAT. READ SOME OF THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE BUYING ANY NAME BRAND OF DRIVE. ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED HAVE CUSTOMERS WHO ARE MAD AT THEM. IT ALL REFLECTS ON WARRANTY. B-MAX WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR DRIVES. YES SOME TIMES IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET IT RIGHT. BUT IT'S FIXED!!! OVER 700 DRIVES FROM DAY ONE ARE OUT THEIR WORKING FROM HIGH PERFORMANCE TO GOVERNMENT WORK BOATS. YOU ONLY HEAR ABOUT A FEW CASES OF UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS. ASK FOR WARRANTY IN WRITING AND SEE WHO WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. B-MAX WILL IF YOUR BOAT DOES NOT EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF 800HP--800 FT LBS OF TORQUE--15000 LB BOAT. THEIR ARE EVEN SOME CASES OF LARGER HP WARRANTY GIVEN TO A VERY LIGHT BOAT. I WAS IN THE SAME BOAT AS ALL OF YOU. I BLEW 6 OEM DRIVES THE FIRST YEAR WITH MY 37 OL, WITH TRIP 500 HP'S. I WENT TO IMCO'S WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 60 HOURS. THEN VERTICAL SHAFTS AND GEAR SETS WENT OUT THE WINDOW EVERY TIME I WENT ON A POKER RUN. ALL OF YOU WHO KNOW ME IM NOT A BABY WITH MY BOAT. I RUN THE HELL OUT OF IT. B-MAX IS THE ONLY DRIVE THAT HAS KEPT ME FROM SELLING THE BOAT!!!!!! I HAVE HELPED DEAN IN FIXING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVES 3 YEARS AGO. THAT'S WHY I SELL & REPAIR THEM. WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPROVE THEM IN ANY WAY WE CAN. AND I WILL NOT SELL YOU A B-MAX IF YOU DON'T NEED IT!! WHEN OTHER COMPANIES WILL SELL YOU A DRIVE AND GIVE YOU BOOT WHEN IT BLOWS UP!!!! :D

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

I was in the same situation last year. I bought a B-max and never looked back. Yes the lower is similar to all the other drives out there, but the biggest problem is the upper, and the B-max is stronger than any other shiftable upper, no matter what anyone says. With this type of power you can't expect anything to last very long, but the B-max is you best bet, other than the #6 that will not work for you or me.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Anyone seen or heard of these> I saw them at LA show and had never heard or know of any in the states. I kow it is not a bravo replacement but this thread got me thinking about them.

http://www.msa-marine-systems.de/english/products.html

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Those drives look mighty strong, 950ft/lbs for the SMALL ONE and 1800 for the big one :eek: It looks like they need a transmission though.
Here's their Bravo replacement, no mention of torque cap.
www.msa-marine-systems.de/tuprop/index_e.html

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

1993 42' non step bottom/800SC talldecks, 10,000lbs.
I blew up two IMCO SC's in less than 20hrs...One didn't even have the water passage machined into it, that took a day off my season, the other leaked from somewhere?
Anyway, B-max is the Bravo replacement.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

You are so far off it is ridiculous. What do you base your hp numbers off of?

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

That really looks intresting! A surfacing drive, that is shiftable and takes a conventional (cheap) prop. :cool:

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Also may require a vastly different transom mounting

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Yes the two surfacing drives will need a differnt mounting system, but the Tuprop bolts to a bravo transom assembly.

Re: strongest drive? IMCO SC
 

Update: 30 hours on the new motor and rebuilt IMCO SC. Still going strong... No breaks