Stuffing tube fitting

[modified21]

I am installing the stuffing tube to my jae rigger and have a few questions regarding the stuffing tube. It is a .187 flex without a liner.

1. Do I need to add the next size bigger tube to the end of the 7/32 stuffing tube to fit it into the strut? The stuffing tube and the bushing are the same size. I only assume the tube needs to step up as the grease bearing is loose in the strut.

2. If for instance there wasn't the ski on the bottom, would the step up need to be the the entire length of the stuffing tube to alleviate at drag point in the water?

3. What do I do to keep the bushing in the strut housing, it doesn't press in and even with a step up in tube size its just floating in there. With the gap between the drive dog and the strut the bearing would still come out I would think. Or do I have the bearing going in backwards. If that is the case I am back to square one with how the stuffing tube fits in comparison the the strut.

There is no step up tube yet in this picture
Strut assembly.jpg

[iamandrew]

Hi there, I have just installed somthing similar into my genesis strut, e.g. the brass bushing. I originally had cut a tiny peice of tin and jammed it between the brass and the aluminium strut, which held it in place for a while, then i noticed the other day my strut was making noise and it was the busing spinning in the strut. So i loctited it in and problem solved!!

[martin]

The stuffing tube should go right through the strut & be flush with the rear of the strut, the floating bush then goes inside the stuffing tube. This type of bush is designed to float & turn in the stuffing tube, if you Loctite the bush your not using it as its designed to work. The strut itself is their purly to hold & support the stuffing tube.

[martin]

The stuffing tube should be 1/4" o/d giving 7/32" id & the bush 7/32" o/d & 3/16" i/d so the bush slides into & turns in the stuffing tube.

[iamandrew]

Id ask who ever made the strut that having the bearing floating in the stuffing tube is the correct way to do it.
theres many cases where Martins advise is going to cause problems.
id never install a free floating bearing into the stuffing tube because if you have to replace it when it gets worn out, your going to spend a lot of time removing the strut and stuffing tube, instead of just the strut and the bearing

[longballlumber]

Take a look at the pictures at the bottom of this link...

http://accu-techrchardware.com/ERSS-100.html

Now, this is showing a set up for a 1/4" shaft, but it's the same design concept for 3/16" using the dimensions that Martin listed above... They have been using this system for YEARS in RC boats. It's simple and IT WORKS.

Later,
Mike

[martin]

This system has been used for years & is probably the most reliable bush type around, the idea of the floating/ spinning bush is that when rotating it actually reduces the effective rpm & wear on the system. ie with a fixed bearing if the shaft is turning at say 30.000rpm thats the speed its rotating at in the bearing. With the floating bush because the bush turns you are reducing the direct rpm on the bush & stuffing tube as well producing less wear all round including less wear on the stub shaft as well. You get very little wear in the stuffing tube as the bush is not rotating at high rpm. If the bushing does wear after some time you simply fit a new bushing in the exsisting stuffing tube.

[iamandrew]

Can you actually fit the bearing into the brass stuffing tube?

[iamandrew]

Sorry Martin and others, im not saying your wrong, im just advising that ive found in my boats, that if i fix the bearing into the strut using somthing like loctite, its worked great for me.
Also if its stuck into the strut instead, you wont loose the bush if your flex cable falls out... :S

[modified21]

Thanks everyone for the answers, martin info was great and longballlumber that link answers my question mostly. See the problem was the stuffing tube and the bearing are the exact same diameter so the the bearing does not go into the stuffing tube. I just needed to know if i needed to add a step up of 1/4 tubing to go over my stuffing tube and into the strut to encase my bearing as well.





Stuff size.jpg

[martin]

The problem you have is with your original question re .187 or 3/16" flex. to have the correct clearance between the stuffing tube & .187" flex you need a 1/4" o/d stuffing tube. If you add a 1/4"step up piece to get the bush in & fit the strut then the 7/32" stuffing tube wont have enough clearance & youll prob get problems with flex fit in the stuffing tube.

[modified21]

My fault. I guess I'm using a .150 cable, that not what i ordered probably why I am a little confused, so with the correct information now do I just add a 1/4 sleeve to the last few inches to fit into the strut?