imco hyd steering on a bravo 1
 

just picked up my new boat 2001 29 kryptonite and noticed that the back cap on the outdrive the one steering pistons hook up to is made by imco and has 5 bolt holes in it to bolt it to the out drive but only 3 are being used the top 2 and the bottom center.looked at my other boat and found the bravo 1 only has those 3 bolt holes tapped into it.now my question is are these 3 bolts strong enough or should/can the outdrive be tapped for the other 2 bolts.some outdrives must come with all 5 holes that must be why the cap has 5 holes xz/xr?

I installed that same system from Imco on my Bravo 1. The instructions that came with the kit tell you to drill the 2 additional holes. The kit includes a nice drill with a stop built into it. Then you just tap them out with a bottoming tap. I am not sure about whether or not it would hold properly without those 2 holes drilled. My guess is that if Imco put the holes there, the bolts should be there as well.

Mine has all the bolts in it and came from the factory with the steering cap. I wonder if yours was added by the original owner or the dealer/factory. The owner may not have had the tools or guts to start drilling on the outdrive.

Those additional holes need to be drilled. Kryptonite should be paying for their mistake.

Double check with Imco but the older Bravo One I have we drilled and tapped like checkmate 454 explained. Good luck, maybe the XR is different ?

I have had to drill and tap those two holes on both standard Bravos and XR's. IMCO supplies the drill in their kits and I have to agree with Cord, those two extra bolts are needed.

thanks for the replys.the last owner blew the bravo 1 that came on the boat from kryptonite last summer and installed this bravo different bravo case.he probably didnt bother to tap it.i called imco and the bit is coming with a couple bolts thank guys

You need a jig to drill the holes. You'll also want to have a heli-coil kit on hand just in case.