B-Max--Good, Bad or UGLY!

[Interceptor454]

I'm sure that I'll get as many opinions as there are people on these boards, but I'm looking for suggestions on outdrives (aren't we all!).
Last year, at Lake Texoma (BMF), I was following a 39' cat, got airborn, and fragged my drive. Broke the chimney, twisted the prop shaft and input shaft.
Found two drives, wound up with both of them. Wondering which one to install:
B-Max--30 hour case, looks great internally, freshened up and ready to install.
Bravo 1XR--20 hour case, gears are perfect, max-machine billet top cap.
I now own both of these drives. Running about 900 horse 517" BBC, pretty large roller cam, should be easy on the drive until about 2,500 rpm. Any suggesions?

[Bling Bling]

I'm sure that I'll get as many opinions as there are people on these boards, but I'm looking for suggestions on outdrives (aren't we all!).
Last year, at Lake Texoma (BMF), I was following a 39' cat, got airborn, and fragged my drive. Broke the chimney, twisted the prop shaft and input shaft.
Found two drives, wound up with both of them. Wondering which one to install:
B-Max--30 hour case, looks great internally, freshened up and ready to install.
Bravo 1XR--20 hour case, gears are perfect, max-machine billet top cap.
I now own both of these drives. Running about 900 horse 517" BBC, pretty large roller cam, should be easy on the drive until about 2,500 rpm. Any suggesions?
Maybe this will help ya out. I have 2 friends, one with a honest 1000hp turbo motor in a V bottom, the other same set up for power in a 26 foot cat. I know the v is more strain on the weak link, but he's running a B-max and has gone through about 3 and the other which is Max machine hasn't took out one yet. Both are HARD on the throttle. Good luck. Plus any Co. like Max machine that makes a replica(sp) bravo out of billet has my vote.

[Jrocket]

B-Max,no good from what Ive seen.
Max machine is at the top of the list,Bravo wise.

[phebus]

Start with the Bravo, then go with the B Max. With that kind of hosepower, and if you drive it hard, it's only a matter of time till your switching out drives.

[don johnson]

Got 2 B Max's on my Daytona and went thru 3 of them last season. I am easy on my stuff. Have 1025 HP blower motors going into them.
I am considering going to Max Machine right now. The other side is the B Max's consume about 50 more HP then the Bravo due to the gear size in the upper. That 5" gear is floating in oil and eats up major HP...

[BADBLOWN572]

Stay away from the B-max. I have gone through 5 so far. Luckily B-max has a good warranty program, but still blowin up 5 is not a good thing.

[Interceptor454]

OK,
So the general consensus is NO GO on the B-MAX. Gotta tell you, that thing looks indestructible compared to the Bravo XR.
Bigger shafts, gears, seems to be better designed.
What's the weak link that everyone keeps breaking?

[rvrjunkie]

I purchased a used B-max from a shop in Havasu and so far so good. I have 810 HP.I am pretty easy on it. Also have a friend with 850 HP and a B-max that has been ran hard in magazines test with no problems. I think the B-max is rated up to 850 Hp.

[BADBLOWN572]

I have broken everything on my B-max at one point or another, lower gears, upper gears, vertical shafts, cone clutches, couplers, etc... Basically the only thing that remains on the boat that is from the first B-max that I bought is the case. After that, it has all been replaced piece by piece.

[Robbie Racer]

I have had somewhat better luck with my B-Max than BB-572 even though I throw a little more power at it. I have 1190 hp available all the time (on pump gas boost) and once in awhile throw 1500 hp at it with higher boost and nitrous on race gas. I do take it easy getting on plane (up to around 60 mph) and only once got the boat airborne without getting out of the throttle before re-entering the water (broke a prop shaft that time). In the 300 hours that I have run mine, I have broke one set of upper gears (really expensive to replace), one set of lower gears (standard XR stuff), 2 prop shafts, two vertical shafts and one drive shaft coupler (Mercruiser part). They wouldn't fix any of these broken parts under warranty saying that I exceeded their 850 hp warranty. I think that if I was running 900 hp and was easy on it (up to 60 mph), my particular drive would last quite awhile between breakdowns. That's my $.02. Good luck with your decision. RR

[don johnson]

Call it bad luck for me but I cannot keep the B Max's alive. Main problem for me has been the clutch assembly. I am constantly losing reverse caused by the cone clutch and bump rings wearing from turning the big gears.
I think that the Max Machine is a better alternative as you gain approx 50 HP and a drive that is in my opinion as strong as the B Max. I am going that route.
Anyone want to buy 2 fresh B Max's uppers? 0 Hours after Bad Attitude freshened them this winter. I am keeping the Imco lowers.

[TIMINATOR]

How much or didja sell'em yet? PM me. TIMM

[1midmagic]

Tim, did you buy another boat yet?
Bill

[don johnson]

How much or didja sell'em yet? PM me. TIMM
I dont know what they are worth. Make me an offer....

[Interceptor454]

Well, my Bravo twisted both shafts in the lower and broke the chimney out of the housing, thrashing the gears.
The Bravo that I have now is an XR upper with a Max Machine billet top cap.
Have the complete BMAX (upper and lower), so I'm going to try it. May cost me some speed, but with the power I'm throwing at it, I'm crossing my fingers that it'll survive!
Anybody need an XR upper, 1.50 gears, imco shower.....

[Robbie Racer]

Have the complete BMAX (upper and lower), so I'm going to try it. May cost me some speed, but with the power I'm throwing at it, I'm crossing my fingers that it'll survive!
What lower housing does your B-Max have? I have experimented with 3 different lower unit housings (all with beefed up B-max components). Here is a summary of the results:
1) It originally came with a Bravo lower and I had a WPM nose cone added. Good speed results, but the nose cone design causes some problem getting my boat on plane with high pitch labbed props.
2) Imco SC lower. Seems to work as well speed wise as the one above but I can get the boat on plane easy even with high pitch labbed props.
3) B-Max lower with their integrated nose cone. This lower unit cost me 7 mph. I think it's due to their blunter nose cone design (as compared to the WPM and SC).
Based upon my results, I would not recommend using the B-Max lower unit. Good luck and please let us know how the new drive affects your top speed.
RR

[Interceptor454]

I have the BMAX lower. You're right, it is blunt. I've got a nosecone that I'll have installed after the maiden voyage.....hopefully this weekend!
A friend of mine has an A/O, BMAX with their lower housing, 1150 horse that he thrashes every weekend for the past 4 years---no drive problems so far!
He's run 114 with that set up.

[TIMINATOR]

1Midmajic, yup, I did. Long time, no hear, whats up? I have a LOT going on here. New boat, got the motor out and making it haul. Getting the 21 and 24 Daytonas ready for sale. Bunches more too. I'll hafta cruise out sometime and B.S....TIMM

[gmocnik]

all i can say is....quadrotored 540 in a 25 daytona...
max machine worx last season....changed drive oil at 25 hours...no drama...
aaron and jason are the best....don't f around with anything else
gm

[framer1]

Anybody had any problems with the Teague xr platinum drive? Does anybody know how many hp it is rated for. Thanks

[gsmith9898]

Well, my Bravo twisted both shafts in the lower and broke the chimney out of the housing, thrashing the gears.
The Bravo that I have now is an XR upper with a Max Machine billet top cap.
Have the complete BMAX (upper and lower), so I'm going to try it. May cost me some speed, but with the power I'm throwing at it, I'm crossing my fingers that it'll survive!
Anybody need an XR upper, 1.50 gears, imco shower.....
What do you want for your xr? I live in tulsa

[Interceptor454]

pm me your number and we'll talk.
mike

[Charley]

Anybody had any problems with the Teague xr platinum drive? Does anybody know how many hp it is rated for. Thanks
Saw yer boat last week.... looks awesome!!

[79 HUSTLER]

If I had the choice to do it again, I would have never put a B-max on my boat. May just be me but I have not had good luck. Luckily Ron @ BAD ATTITUDE in Parker has fixed me up every single time. If it was not for Ron this thing would probably be in the trash after the second time... There just was not much others to choose from a few years back. Glad I did not chose the IMCO 4x4...KELLY

[Interceptor454]

Well, finally got the bottom side wet last week. My ignition box started crapping out on me about 3,000 rpm, so no luck on the speed runs. Here's what I've go to far.....gonna try again today, if the Fed Ex truck ever show up with that new box from Crane........
6/71, 10% over driven, 8 lbs max boost, 1:30 gear, worked 30p 4 blade bravo
Eased into it out of the hole, no major drama and came on plane easily. I've got an extension plate that I'm going to mount to the lower unit this weekend, should help dramatically coming out of the hole.
42 mph on gps at 2,400 rpm. Should run out about 105 on top. Like I said, wouldn't make any rpm without misfire, so didn't want to hurt anything.

[framer1]

Saw yer boat last week.... looks awesome!!
Thanks, I have not seem it yet. Just some pictures. Thanks again :D