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-   -   84 Scarab Renovation (ongoing) (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/scarab/189048-84-scarab-renovation-ongoing.html)

hullofjustis 01-27-2016 04:39 PM

How is your project coming?
I was wondering if you knew what the kaama's were rated for horsepower limits?

CDShack 01-28-2016 12:34 PM

I've seen 600hp, I swear my old paperwork said 700hp, but I was also told that was more a limitation on the TwinDisc 502 transmission then the drive itself.

hullofjustis 01-28-2016 12:44 PM

i have come across an amazing deal on two kaama's and all the mounting gear steering rams transmissions and mounts and I am wanting to convert it to kaama's.

the only reason I am doing it is because if you remember everything on mine was to high. so I have pulled the engines to lower everything back down. and fix an oil pan that cracked.
any thoughts on doing this?

CDShack 01-28-2016 06:42 PM

Your kind of preaching to the choir here, I may not be the best to ask. I love my Kaama's. Easy speed!

Team Archer 01-28-2016 06:50 PM

The transmissions is most definitely the weakest part of the Kaama package. They were rated back in the day for 700 HP but that was the limit of the transmissions Not the drive !

hullofjustis 01-29-2016 06:58 AM


Originally Posted by Team Archer (Post 4398089)
The transmissions is most definitely the weakest part of the Kaama package. They were rated back in the day for 700 HP but that was the limit of the transmissions Not the drive !

I am the one with the high x dimension that would not get on plain without spacers.
do you know anyone who has gone from a bravo to a surface drive?
my biggest fear would be loosing speed best I have seen was 87mph I would hate to go backwards.
the engines are very mild at this point. they are only 550 -600 hp if that.
but I would like to do turbos or blowers one day.
are there upgrades that can be done to the transmissions?

Team Archer 01-29-2016 11:18 AM

You are better off just resetting your drive height and running the Bravos we have never gone from Bravos to Kaamas but have changed many Kaama boats to Bravos. As far as upgrades for the transmissions we have had no reason to look into it. But I haven't heard of any to this point. One thing to remember is that the Kaama drive moves the motor forward about 14.5 inches more than your bravo setup. Also the boats that we have changed from Kaama to Bravos have always been faster with the Bravos. IMO Dan

Team Archer 01-29-2016 11:23 AM

But as far as changing from TRS drives to Kaama that a good move because the Kaama drive was always faster than the TRS. That was there biggest selling point was they were faster than the MerCruiser drive of the time. The TRS was your only choice the Bravo wasn't released until 1988 and it wouldn't hold any horse power in the original version three grove cone clutch would slip.

502ss 01-29-2016 07:27 PM


Originally Posted by hullofjustis (Post 4397980)
i have come across an amazing deal on two kaama's and all the mounting gear steering rams transmissions and mounts and I am wanting to convert it to kaama's.

the only reason I am doing it is because if you remember everything on mine was to high. so I have pulled the engines to lower everything back down. and fix an oil pan that cracked.
any thoughts on doing this?

It is probably a lot of work to relocate the bravos but probably a lot more work to convert to kaama's! As team archer stated the engines move forward a lot and sit really low in the bilge. Depending on the bilge configuration you may not even have the room to move the engines forward enough!

I would agree that if you are happy with the bravos then focus the effort on relocating them to the right height! I might be interested in your kaama's if you are looking to sell!

bck 01-30-2016 09:30 AM

Just as info on the transmissions, there are some minor changes that can be done. I believe I had some different springs or something put in mine to increase the fluid pressure. I found a Twin Disc dealer that that still had a mechanic who was familiar with rebuilding the transmissions from back when the Kaamas were still in production. It was a lot of money to have them rebuilt by the dealer, I would not do it again. If I was committed to using the Kaamas I would look into the modern replacement for the MG 502s.


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