I've put 118 hours on mine so far. Had the normal issue s with maintance , but they were mostly briggs related, mostly my fault , jumped a push rod on the lake , fixed on the lake . Started keeping on top of valve lash more diligently . As far as the backwater frame. I broke the cav plate bracket bar and had it re welded, I added a extra bar strip weld on each side so I'm less likely to break it again. I'm very rough on it that's the only frame issue I've had. . It still drives easier than any other long tail I've owned . Almost never have to grease and the revo clean system on the triple sealed bearing keeps debris from eating your seals. I'm not saying I've tried to break it
but I have cut it zero slack . It performs well for what I hunt. This is cav plate bar break, Arlon thinks my shaft turned eccentric , or got warped , only time he has seen a break there , it was caused by shaft vibration , He sent me new shaft in the mail. 4 days later free. He and jake know what they are doing , have great customer service , and have the the best longtail on the market in my opinion.
H Finn