Took it out for a drive. Went WOT, it took all 500lbs of tq no problems so im just gonna wait until it blows up or something and then hopefully replace the bravo drive in the winter time with maybe an XR drive (if they are any better)

how loose was the prop and do you have thru hub or thru transome exhaust? if exhaust was thru hub and prop was loose....couldve been the exh. gas cavitating the prop.

we just changed a coupler last week, the rubber was intact and fine, no rubber smell, none of the typical signs, turned out that the coupler splines were totally stripped, they are aluminum and the drive shaft is steel. we think misalignment may have been the problem there.....or lack of lubrication!

I would think that if this was him problem, his boat wouldn't even move when put in gear.

Did you replace it with the steel (A11) or the aluminum (A9) one?

XR's are stronger, but I do believe the gears actually wear out faster. They also take more HP to spin. If you currnet standard Bravo is lasting, then I wouild stick with it or have it beefed up.

duunoit,
it was part number ending in a9, we were told that there was only one made for the 502.....
what do you know about issues with those if any??
thanks

none that I know of. the part number ending in A11 is the one with the steel sleeve instead of aluminum (I'm pretty sure).