12ftgso480
Well-known member
I would like to open the topic up for review on panthers torque gearbox. My experience has not been all that great so far. Box was bought this year, swapped it out for my balistic. Was super exited, have an Ls pushing close to 450 hp was changing from a 2.1 to a 2.37, a sensenich 2 blade r to a carbon max 3 blade. Boat went everywhere I wanted but Felt I had some hidden potential. So I sell my balistic and attempt to bolt up this torque drive. First off to realize my Jw plate had a different bolt pattern. No big deal, holer at panther I cover freight and they swap me for one that will bolt up. So we hang the box, I didn't measure before putting up but we get 2 bolts in box housing and try to line up our soft drive and flex plate. We are in such a bind The gear box will not spin to line up bolt holes. Anyone that knows Ls they know about thrust bearing concerns so I call panther. Speak with their "install" mechanic and he informs me they are all "snug" get your holes close before hanging the box, force/pry the plates to line up, bolt it on and go have fun. We get it all strapped down pitch the prop, get to river to realize I have a vibration. To keep long story short we put my old prop on to eliminate that, same result. I pull the gearbox and inspect soft drive plate and notice the first plate they sent, the sleeved bushings have enough clearance they can be pushed out by hand. The second plate are literally pressed in. This box runs a backing ring to eliminate your soft drives from ever " pushing out " after many conversations with panther gear drive rep, mechanic and machine shop I've been informed that they have always been machined the same and pressed in. I'll let the photos speak for them selves. Comparing the two drives plates. Hoping to get path forward/opinion from the group. The rubbers or soft drive part of these bushings have no give either and their sleeves are pressed in. Since it's designed to run backing ring do we think it's best to the bushing where they have enough clearance to move where I can let my crank distance decide where it's going to ride against flex plate ? Am I crazy for thinking it could be putting my crank in a bind since there was no vibration with the old setup and trying a second prop? Sorry for the long post buts it's been a dog fight of a week thus far trying to resolve my issue with panther. My balistic drive could move freely to line up bolt holes for flex plate so I'm curious how other brands are at install and what to do now. Thanks.
