Teflon or no?

[keithbradley]

I know a lot of people run their stuffing tube with no teflon liner, other use the liner. Any clear advantages or disadvantages to either method?

[Basstronics]

I dont use it with a wire drive... Its not needed IMO.

[lectriglide]

See this thread for Fluid's comments on teflon/no teflon.
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ad.php?t=18252

[keithbradley]

See this thread for Fluid's comments on teflon/no teflon.
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ad.php?t=18252

Thank you sir

[blackcat26]

I have to totally agree about not using it. I hate the liner! Ditch the teflon and never look back.

[martin]

On an existing flex shaft if you remove the teflon liner do you then have to go up in diameter on the flex drive to take up the extra space left in the brass tube or do you just pack with more grease. The flex is 3/16", What size would i need to get if taking the teflon liner out if i cant use the existing flex shaft. Thanks.

[D&D]

I stopped using teflon liners on my first boat in the 80s when the teflon got bound up and that ripped my stuffing tube out of my boat. An ugly sight!

[martin]

I stopped using teflon liners on my first boat in the 80s when the teflon got bound up and that ripped my stuffing tube out of my boat. An ugly sight!

Please see my post obove yours, What would you suggest when taking the teflon liner out of existing brass tube. Thamks.

[D&D]

Let me give you some examples; 1) This site suggest a 7/32 stuffing tube for a .187 flex drive. with no teflon. 2) It had been a long time since I built a boat so I ordered the 7/32 stuffing tube, as soon as I saw it I said no way, and I installed a 9/32nd stuffing tube for my .187 flex drive.

I would guess that the same stuffing tube you used with the teflon will work great now, just keep your flex drive well lubricated. I think my boat is very competitive with other similar Mean Machine setups, some of them are probably running the 7/32nd setup and others the 9/32nd setup for a .187 flex drive. Both seem to work.

[martin]

Let me give you some examples; 1) This site suggest a 7/32 stuffing tube for a .187 flex drive. with no teflon. 2) It had been a long time since I built a boat so I ordered the 7/32 stuffing tube, as soon as I saw it I said no way, and I installed a 9/32nd stuffing tube for my .187 flex drive.

I would guess that the same stuffing tube you used with the teflon will work great now, just keep your flex drive well lubricated. I think my boat is very competitive with other similar Mean Machine setups, some of them are probably running the 7/32nd setup and others the 9/32nd setup for a .187 flex drive. Both seem to work.

What grease do you use with no teflon liner in, Ive got some Grimracer speed grease. Will that be OK do you think or do you suggest some thing different.

[sailr]

Since I stopped using teflon I have been twisting off a lot of shafts and lost valuable props! It's BACK to teflon for me!

[Insaniac]

Is it the flex that breaks or the joint between the flex and stub shaft?

[sailr]

The last one was at the joint. Others have been mid-shaft.

[Shooter]

A lot of opinions on this one. I'll add mine.

My latest boat runs 0.187 flex with 1/4" stuffing tube (about 0.060" diametrical clearance). Low resistance, but I've noticed some vibrations during hard acceleration. Anyone else experience this? It is well greased.

I veered away from running .187" flex with a 7/32" stuffing tube because I heard people complaining about heating issues (about 0.030" diameterical clearance). Anyone running this setup with good results??

All my other boats (including nitro's) run teflon and I haven't had any problems with them. I will probably go back to teflon on the next boat.

[marko500]

I've run a .187" flex in a 7/32" stuffing tube in a 32" cat for 2 full seasons now and have had no problems. I grease it after about every 2 runs with Grimracer grease mixed with some chainsaw bar oil. I also run .187" cable in 1/4" stuffing tube in a hydro but it's a new build and only has about 6 runs on it but so far no problems. I was worried about water getting into the hull and how loose the cable felt in the tube. But with a piece of shrink tube or silicone water tube over the stuffing tube and flex cable near the motor not a drip of water gets into the hull. There does seem to be alot less resistence in the 1/4" tube in the hydro compared with the 7/32" in the cat. I have not noticed any vibrations in the hydro with the 1/4" tube so far.

Mark