Lightning Gearcase L1 vs L2

[warriorcookie]

Starting a new thread on this. I had started asking some questions in a thread pennman had started in the marketplace. Out of respect to him, rather than litter his thread with more of my questions, I created a new one after some searches came up fruitless.

L1 has cast in water inlet holes. L2 has removable black plastic water inlet screens. The gears in the L2 are 25% larger/stronger than the L1.

I'm asking because I had piled up the gearcase on my 96 V6 looper. I picked up a Lightning L1 with very low hours (less than 10) for an ok price.

I thought the L2 had problems and had been recalled and replaced by the M2?

Did the L1 suffer the same early expiry date issues? Is the L1 stronger than the 96 gearcase I originally had?

Now that I have an L1, is there a trick to making it last? I plan on getting the carrier pinned, anything else?

[racer]

L1 is basically the same internally as your 96 with the possible exception of the pinion bearing retainer (changed right around that time), they went back to the original design. L2 has bigger bearings which in turn requires different gears which have the same gear pattern, it also pick up more water. Durability seems to be related to the boat used on and set up, IMO they last much better on boats that don't need positive trim to run. The magnum (M2/SLE) replaced the L2 in production and if the L2 failed in the field it was the replacement unit as it is stronger (bigger) but at a cost of about 3MPH.

[Greg G]

The magnum (M2/SLE) replaced the L2 in production and if the L2 failed in the field it was the replacement unit as it is stronger (bigger) but at a cost of about 3MPH.

What year did they make this change over?

[racer]

Don't recall exactly but the 250Ho started coming with the SLE in about late 09

[warriorcookie]

So is it true the L2 is stronger than the L1?

What can be done to make the L1 last?

[racer]

Yes a little bit. Blue printing the gears helps, proper set up and yes break in.