b max outdrive will it last
 

hay guys we have a 43 blackthunder and were skatering bravo drives thinking about using b max 500 hp efis 12000.00 lbs hefty boat if any body knows about the b max let me know please thank you

We have done many. Call me if you'd like to know more.

Rod

920-236-4220

I'm running a B-max behind a 1000hp 572.It's been two seasons now and about 120hrs. It's been running in mostly rough water and poker runs. When I first dropped the 572 in, I figured I would blow the drive, a bravo one, which was at least stonger than stock. It had stronger gears and better bearings. It held up to other engines that I had in the boat which were a 515 hp and a 610 hp. But the first test run with the 572 the upper blew apart on the first full throttle pass. Because I anticipated it blowing I already had a boat sitting there waiting to tow me in. I rebuilt the upper with even stronger parts and still blew the upper. So that's when I went out and bought the B-Max. After blowing 2 uppers apart I was hesitant to open the throttle up on the B-Max. I let the drive break in and I even changed the oil (I use Amsoil 2000 series 75/90) and then I took it out to see if it could handle all the torque. Thank god it did. So I proceeded to take it out in the rough waters and poker runs and run it hard. I have such confidence in the B-Max now that I'm never worried about blowing it. At the end of this past season the drive was pulled and torn down and showed no sign of wear or problems. And needless to say, lube was like new. The only problem I had with the B-Max was shift problems. I have bought 1 of the first 50 drives sold, so since then the Bravo Shop has come out with a better shift linkage that hooks up to the barrell of the shirt cable.
note: if you do purchase B-Max's you don't set the shift up the way you would with a stock Bravo shift. I'll tell you about that later if you do purchase the drives. I do run a light boat with this drive which may be the reason why I have had no problems at all. I have heard of guys with heavy boats running B-Max's that were breaking prop shafts. I believe this is an X-dimension problem. I have heard of no one actually blowing the upper gears on the B-Max, which of course is the weak point of all other Bravo 1 drives. The B-Max upper is as strong as a #six drive. I consider myself a pretty good throttle man, but there's been times, and I'm sure it's happened to us all, where the prop has broke water and the r's were way too high on the prop's re-entry. I would swear that if I didn't have a B-max back there, that any other drive would have blown in these instances. And I'm not talking about the stock Bravo's, I'm talking about everyone who claims they have a strong Bravo for today's high horse power engines. I have heard of guys running up to 1400 hp in some drag boats with the B-Max. Pretty impressive! Hope I enlightened you about the B-Max drive.

Install a Pulse Drive for increased performance, and added reliability. There is a Great Lakes Region Distributor near Bay City that can help you. 888-818-6039

PULSE DRIVE OR IMCO SC ONLY

Bobby Daniels has my vote. If I had the money for all the time I spent R&Ring and trying to make B-Maxs just go into gear, I could buy a pulse drive!!!!!!!!!

THEIRS OVER 700 B-MAX'S OUT THEIR RUNNIG, POKER RUNNING,RACING,ECT. YOUR BOAT WILL NOT HURT A B-MAX!ANY DRIVE THAT USES MERCURY UPPER GEARS IS STILL A MERCURY NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO IT! YOU CANT MAKE A PURSE OUT OF A PIGS EAR!BIGGER GEARS IS STRONGER.THAT'S A FACT. RON BENDER

YEP THEY IS STRONGER (QUOTE)---- BUT LIKE 1500 SAYS IF IT TAKES 10 TIMES ON AND OFF TO GET IT TO WORK WHO CARES IF THE GEARS ARE 36 INCHS ,THEY ARE ON THE WAY TO A GOOD PRODUCT AND HOPE YOU HAVE LUCK SELLING THEM ,JUST CALL PEOPLE BACK AND BE READY FOR WARRANTY, THEY MAY HAVE 700
OUT THERE BUT EVEN A BLIND HOG GEATS AND ACORN EVERY NOW AND THEN !!
HEY THIS IS NOT BASHING ITS JUST THE FACTS AS I KNOW THEM ,
I WISH YOU GUYS LUCK FOR REAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

JUST WANTED TO SAY ALSO THE GUY AT B-MAX ALWAYS STOOD BEHIND THE PRODUCT ,ALWAYS ,IT WAS JUST HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT ,,,,BUT STILL BEST OF LUCK



I LIKE THE IMCO S C :D :D

I NEED TO TALK TO HIM TO SEE WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE SHIFTING ARE.I HAVE 3 ON MY OL AND ALL SHIFT PERFECT. AS I HAVE SAID BEFOR B-MAX IS ONLY GETTING BETTER & BETTER AS TIME GOES ON.IF THEIR IS A PROB. IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. O BY THE WAY IT'S A BLIND SQUIRREL

SORRY RON DOWN HERE HOGS LOVE ACORNS TOO !!

I have not tried a B-Max in about 6 mo., and I have only done a few boats with them. I know not all of them have a problem, but EVERY boat I did with them had shifter problems with at least one drive. If you have to red label them to the factory, it still takes 2-3 days to get them there and another 2-3 days to get them back. No telling how long they will be at the factory!!!!@!!!!!!!!!!
I have been refusing to work on B-Max equiped boats because of the greif I get when the boat is not ready-no matter why not!
The B-Max drives I have dealt with do not break, even after you get them to go in gear!!!
They have always been repaired at no charge, but it ALWAYS took at least 1 week. Tell that to the guy you just installed two new motors for!!

IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME A CALL AT 216-390-1330 I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A FEW SPECIFICS ON THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE HAVING. I THINK I CAN HELP YOU.
RON

Pulse is the only way I'll go
I've been watching them progress for about ten years now and I know they have been out there longer than that.
Just talk to anyone in their, from the lady in the office, the sales guys or the engineers they all know what they are talking about.
The drive is so simple there isn't any think to break.

How much are Pulse drives---$15,000 each or so?

For a Dual setup upto 650hp you're looking at about $21,000 that is everything from 2x Bell housings, trannys,Drives steering trim pump and rams and props.

TAZ , IF WE USE ANYMORE B-MAXES I'LL CALL YOU OR GET BLOWN 1500 TO CALL YOU ,HE'S IN THE SHOP MORE

DEAN DID ALWAYS MAKE THE PRODUCT RIGHT ,IT WAS JUST ALITTLE MADDENING:D :D

what about a price on a single motor 24 foot deep v is a pulse avaliable for this type application

Yes we do have drives in singles twins triples and quads.
But there are a lot more variables in pricing a single in this size. Weight and HP mainly
Please complete the data sheet on our web site for accurate price and performance
http://www.pulsedrive.net/form.htm

Thank you

Tony Mills