Flex cable for a newbie

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  • Azmarine
    Member
    • Sep 2012
    • 70

    #1

    Flex cable for a newbie

    So I'm building a 54" drambuie, I was wondering, do I have to prep the end of the flex cable that goes into the collet? Like solder or epoxy so as to provide some rigidity to clamp on to? Ill be using Hughey 1/4" flex
    That odd moment when you think, "Is RTR the way to go?" Then you see your hard work, and laugh at the thought.
  • KartRacer
    Senior Member
    • Aug 2012
    • 355

    #2
    Azmarine
    I did not prep the cable on my DF Pirate, had an incident and the drive slipped out, by the time I was able to recover the boat, (10 minutes) that huge 1/4 inch hole in the back filled the hull with water. I am finishing the install of the new drive assembly which will include soldering the end of the drive cable, suggested on this forum from one of the very experienced people on here and I will also add a retaining device to the cable between the coupler and stuffing tube. Just some insurance. Good luck with the Drambuie.
    KartRacer ~ Dennis B
    Delta Force Pirate 35'~Leopard 4092~1480Kv~Seaking 180~2X6S 65C 5000 Mha Dynogy Lipo,Parallel

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    • Azmarine
      Member
      • Sep 2012
      • 70

      #3
      Sounds good I've got some cable collars on the way already, but how do I solder it with a torch and 15% silver or can it be done with a simple iron and solder?
      That odd moment when you think, "Is RTR the way to go?" Then you see your hard work, and laugh at the thought.

      Comment

      • KartRacer
        Senior Member
        • Aug 2012
        • 355

        #4
        Originally posted by Azmarine
        Sounds good I've got some cable collars on the way already, but how do I solder it with a torch and 15% silver or can it be done with a simple iron and solder?
        Kind of doubt that an iron will get it hot enough but I will try it first. I used a stained glass iron, I think it's 85 watts.
        KartRacer ~ Dennis B
        Delta Force Pirate 35'~Leopard 4092~1480Kv~Seaking 180~2X6S 65C 5000 Mha Dynogy Lipo,Parallel

        Comment

        • Azmarine
          Member
          • Sep 2012
          • 70

          #5
          Yeah let me know thanks
          That odd moment when you think, "Is RTR the way to go?" Then you see your hard work, and laugh at the thought.

          Comment

          • BHChieftain
            Fast Electric Addict
            • Nov 2009
            • 1969

            #6
            I solder the flex end after I cut it, but this is to help keep the cable from unwrapping vs. helping the collet grip... if you are using a clamping collet then it does not need any help. If you are using the type that uses set screws, then it does help.

            You have the get the flex cable end really clean and degreased to get the solder to stick, so if you are gonna do it, then do it when the cable is new. I soak/scrub the cable end with dishwashing soap, then acetone. I use a 240W solder gun, but an 85W iron with a wide tip should also work fine. If I have trouble getting the shaft into the collet after the solder, then I sand it down a bit.
            Chief

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            • JonD
              Senior Member
              • Jun 2011
              • 129

              #7
              I always file/sand off the solder on the outside of the flex shaft that I have soldered and cut to length, until it is back to the steel of the flex coil. If you leave it so that the motor collet clamps down on the soft solder then it will likely start slipping after a short while as the solder compresses under the clamping force of the collet. Much better for the collet to be gripping against steel than soft solder.

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              • Azmarine
                Member
                • Sep 2012
                • 70

                #8
                So basically making it look like a candy cow tail solder in the center?
                That odd moment when you think, "Is RTR the way to go?" Then you see your hard work, and laugh at the thought.

                Comment

                • JonD
                  Senior Member
                  • Jun 2011
                  • 129

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Azmarine
                  So basically making it look like a candy cow tail solder in the center?
                  Ehhh.....if I'm understanding you right, I think so.

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                  • Azmarine
                    Member
                    • Sep 2012
                    • 70

                    #10
                    They are caramel tubes with creme filling. So solder so its on the inside and out, then file till it shows metal again. So it grips the metal and the metal squeezes the solder? Like a fist pack gripping a roll of dimes, forgive my analogies but I understand things much better visually
                    That odd moment when you think, "Is RTR the way to go?" Then you see your hard work, and laugh at the thought.

                    Comment

                    • KartRacer
                      Senior Member
                      • Aug 2012
                      • 355

                      #11
                      Excellent point none, thanks for posting!
                      KartRacer ~ Dennis B
                      Delta Force Pirate 35'~Leopard 4092~1480Kv~Seaking 180~2X6S 65C 5000 Mha Dynogy Lipo,Parallel

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