So my B1 drive went 'knock knock knock'. So I shut 'er down. Jump into the Atlantic and tried to turn prop. She was frozen.

Upper unit checked and there was gear damage.

What are some ways this damage could occur? I'm staring at 1500 bucks for parts and then some for labor.

Once I did a reverse to forward slam by accident (panic) when a 35' Fountain was about to spear me. My buddy did something similar in a panic (in my boat) when we were loading onto a trailer in a bad storm and winds were blowing him around.

That will cause it if the throttle was not at idle when it was shifted.
The upper gears are the weak point in Bravo 1 and they do just break under normal use as well.

Is that true for the uppers on the Bravo XR's as well.

They're not that great either....I've went through a few sets

100 hr xr gears, 525

Did you break the case too ?

JT,
I'd like you to take a look at mine this winter, just to make sure everything is ok. I havn't had any problems, but after Seeing what happened to Dave last week, I'd like to avoid it. Mine is a XR.

-Shane

Thats fine.

In the mean time, check the magnet on the drain plug for
metal particals periodically.

When the gears start falling apart, the magnet will tell you.

Will do.

thanks man.

I should start a collection of those gear set's