Bearings in struts are old tech. Needle bearings require alot of care and cleaning to keep them working.
I am using a speed master 1/4 stinger that I drilled out and installed 3/16 needle bearing. Using flex shaft that I got from local shop buy I don't think it is a hardened shaft.
Octura sells hardened shafts for use with needle bearings. They may have something that will work for your setup.
Yes I have seen the shaft at the shop. what is the best way to attach to the flex cable.
There are no flex shafts that are hardened. Why, because if you welded a hardened stub to a flax cable it would snap like a match stick. Use standard flex shafts with brass bushings in standard K&S tubing with grease or oilers. Lose the needles, it is old school and is very hard to keep up. The reason that they are still out there is that a few old boats that have been past around for years and have been brought back to life by new boaters that have not seen the newer stuff that is run.
None. All you have to do is set the drive dog about 1/8" to 3/16" from the strut on 3/16" shafts and about 1/4" on 1/4" shafts. A am surprized that you have not had you strut move from the thrust twist of the shaft. When the shaft is clamped in the motor collet and the drive dog runs against thrust washers as the shaft winds up it get shorter or tries to and something has to move.
I use a stinger set up from speed master. Not much to move. I have noticed that the inner core of flex shaft did shrink about 1/8 in. I just cut the cable off did not solder the the end.
Motor Oil isn't too ecologically safe. All that oil going in the water. Get some Grim Racer biodegradable cable oil, or not I'm sure this is not even a drop in bucket. Just something to consider if you care. Never new they made the stuff. Recently saw it advertised. I use grease and if I was to think of how many tubs I've bought that surely ended up in our lake
That maybe what your seeing on the shaft windup. And it may even be slowing you down when it does windup. Just give it some distance and allow the motor to take the thrust, it can take it. Also I don't solder the end of my shafts either. I know a lot of people do but look at it this way. If you have both ends fixed solid and you have bend in the shaft tube the conductors in the cable can't move. They will stretch over time and then break either at the motor or the shaft stub. This will be a very short life for the shaft. I have shafts that have been running for over ten years.
Hi, David! Are you using Aeromarine colett? If yes, take a look on attached picture. Call me for any questions.
No I am using a new K&B colett. Attachés to crank with piece of all thread. Insert looks like a double ended bullet.
Jeff~Mad~Boater :angry:Jeff - that 3 piece thrust will probably cut a groove in your shaft in time. You might try teflon washers (not nylon). Take a close look at the bearings you're buying. There are 2 types - the ones that have needles all the way around will try to climb each other & get flat spots. I've had success w/ the ones that have a plastic cage - they look like every other needle is missing. A tip to make them live - if you're using any kind of oil for lube, add a little BG Extreme Pressure Concentrate. I have never lost a bearing or shaft since I started using it.Thanks to all who took the time to reply. There is a lot of experience and useful information enclosed. I will continue to experiment with bearings. I have had no bad luck with them so far. I know my Hydro is faster running bearings. I doubt I will run an oiler mainly for the fact that I don't want to dump a oz of oil into the pond every run. The big oil slick doesn't look real good when the tree huggers are looking down thier nose at me in the first place! I re-grease the shaft every run. I am definitly going to look into the "Green Grease" to be a little more enviromentaly friendly. I just dont like the sloppy play I get with bushings. Everything might find its own on the water but when the prop is flopping around on shore when we fire it up... I look and CRINGE!!
