Bravo x to Bravo XR exchange?
 

I have a 2006 boat with bravo x drives and want to swap to bravo XR drives. Will they bolt up to what I have or do I need to change transom assemblies to do conversion?

Same TA, maybe different gimbal bearing to handle larger shaft. Basically just bolt it on..

It's a direct swap, input shafts on X and XR are the same. If you are looking to sell your uppers let me know, I may be interested in them. You can also just change the gears in the uppers and have XR's. The cases are the same, all internals are the same other than the gears. If you are going that route I would also be interested in your gear sets if they are low hours.

Lowers are different as you I'm sure you know. The gears, carrier, and propshaft are different. IMCO makes a 1 1/4" shaft that you can run your current gears. Then all you need to do is swap out the carrier and shafts, the cases themselves are the same.

PM me if you are interested in selling anything.

If you are not breaking upper gears, I would stay with the X's. The XR gears do not have as long of a lifespan.

Thanks for INFO! I have 496hos in boat with CMI's and want to do Raylar 525 or 600 kits and scared I will break my drives. Endeavour if I do decide to sell will let you know.

A properly set up "X" will give you many hours of use.

I think the lower gears are the same between x and xr. just the lower propshaft and carrier are different. less expensive to change gear set than buying new xr. Used XR is a roll of the dice as to what you get. Stay with the X gears and if you break one then decide which way to go.

The gears in the lower of an XR are essentially the same as any bravo 1 lower. The shaft is slightly different on the XR so the splines on the XR prop shaft gear are also slightly different. Mr. Gadgets or maybe Smitty posted that the forging stamp is actually the same on both XR and standard B1. Like I said above, IMCO makes a kit to convert your current lower to a 1 1/4 and use your current gears. It will be every bit as strong as an XR.

Run what you brung...

The X drive is just as good or better. Even the 1 inch propshaft will be fine unless you are offshore or on and off the throttles. You will twist them and IF you do, you can use IMCO 1 inch hardened shafts or go up to the 1 1/4. The imco 1 inch hardened are pretty darn close or maybe even exceed the 1 1/4 XR shafts. I use to have have them. They are pretty good.

Not my experience. After my repower to the 525 my Bravo X1 upper lasted all of 7 hours of offshore running before the upper gears failed. I bolted on an old style XR upper and it lasted 3 seasons before the preload nut backed off and the case broke. Put on another old style upper with the gears hard shimmed and it is on it's 4th season. OP, yes, it bolts on.

What about going from a standard Bravo to an X or XR? Different humble bearing? I mostly run around in smooth fresh water and have plans for about 600hp

Yes if you have the old style gimble bearing it has to be changed for the X and XR input shaft, I made this swap on mine and they said if don't it will bind. One side of the bearing is shorter, installs facing out. I believe all the new gimble bearings are designed this way now.

From my experience, the ocean, beats the living crap out of an XR. When I leved in Georgia on Lake Lanier I never had a problem. Within the first 6 months in Florida I was breaking stuff regularly.

Then, to put another spin on that, 90% of my drives broke while cruising in the intercoastal. The abuse comes from the throttle offshore but the stress of the 55MPH cruise I assume from more hull in the water is when my drives always broke.

Bravos suck...

I see you have Raylar 600s. How do you like them?

They are nice. I struggled with buying used 525's or with building the 600's. They can be built to run good. You just need to scrap the stock fuel regulator, other than that, everything you need is in the kit. You just build it to Raylars specs and they will dyno around 625. Only thing differnt since the pics is that I went back to Dana and got 7 inches added to the tails so they run within a few inches of the transom. If you have any specific questions you can PM me. Heres some pics:

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Kieth they look great! I like your coil pack covers. I did a 525 kit years ago for a friend and boat ran great but was interested in 600 kit next. I have CMI headers on my boat now but are wet tails. Do you think I will have reversion problems with 600 cams?

I had to look closer you must have moved coils?