Pros and Cons

[MAMBA2200]

Just wanted some opinions on NOT using a stuffing tube i always have and have run into a situation where i can go either way so lets hear your opinion is a stuffing tube a a must or can it go either way

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[monojeff]

You mean teflon liner?

It is a never ending debate.
You will not get a clear cut answer.

[MAMBA2200]

Yes the teflon liner i figured it would be just wanted opinions

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[Cooper]

Yea, do you mean the liner? I think it can go either way, most mechanical cables are usually housed inside of metal lined flex anyway. The flex cables we use, speed odometer wire are slid inside another spiral wound liner of steel. I have know of people to dry spin a cable inside Teflon to "melt" some of the Teflon to it then use in a brass tube unlined, greased of course. I use a liner on all my stuff. But I don't really see it being much different if not having it. I think it is better to use brass tube than stainless. The brass will polish and get honed from the flex cable. And a flex cable will run better if it has at least a slight bend. My opinion is that the Teflon will give or wear a bit in areas that the cable is in more contact. No matter what the tube should have a nice fluid bend and if so my $ .02 is that it doesn't matter much, but I do use Teflon.

[chipgibbs]

I started with a Revolt. It came with the teflon liner. Now I've built a Cheetah with a teflon liner. Both boats run better than many I've
seen without... I've yet to have any problems with the teflon liner. I do greese the flex after each day of runnin.

I will continue to build boats with the liner until I have a problem that changes my mind.

Judt an opinion

CG3

[mtbenjamin77]

No teflon for me. I've seen the teflon liners get hot and melt then cause the flex to twist inside the stuffing tube. If you run without a liner the brass stuffing tube must be a smaller diamter. So when the liner melts the brass stuffing tube is too large and it allows too much play inside the stuffing tube. This can cause the flex cable to shrink more under a load and I've seen struts break. If you like to use liners a simple precaution is to replace the liners more often. Most of the time when this happens it's due to lack of proper maintenence. For me I think the liner reduces the chance of water coming up the stuffing tube but also causes more drag. my 2 cent

[MAMBA2200]

That was one concern for me the water coming up the tube im using a. 187 cable in a 1/4 brass tube fits very nice with no liner but was worried about the water coming up the tube

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[SirBudman32]

I ran a .187 cable with a 1/4 inch stuffing tube no liner in a Genesis and had no problem with water coming up the tube. Just make sure you grease it after every run.

[Basstronics]

Im going to run all my new builds without liner where possible. Its just another thing to break or screw up. Plus I think their is more resistance with it.

[100 mph jet boat]

same here .187 in a 1/4 tube no problems no liner

[kingwrench]

I never use a liner gas boats elect or my turbine

[Cooper]

Just wanted some opinions on NOT using a stuffing tube i always have and have run into a situation where i can go either way so lets hear your opinion is a stuffing tube a a must or can it go either way

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Hey mamba good question, and answers. I'm building a saw boat right now and a week or so before I get to the stuffing tube. After hearing some others I think I'm going with no liner. I have always used Teflon but I'm learning and going to try something new. 3/16 and 1/4 sounds good to me. Thanks for the thread :)

[mtbenjamin77]

I do use a teflon liner to help align my stuffing tube during installation. I use a .150 size liner. Slide the liner over a short piece of 187 flex. It's a very tight fit. Then work the flex into the 1/4" stuffing tube. Then install and align the motor and stuffing tube. This keeps the flex in the dead center of the stuffing tube. Sometimes if the flex is rubbing on one side of the stuffing tube at the motor end it can get very hot becuase there's no water to cool the tube down. I've seen some smoking from all the friction

[tlandauer]

I didn't use a liner on my MHZ Lizard Xtreme, it's a .187 in 1/4" tube, no water issue, just put a large 5/32" I.D. Silicone Tubing at the collet end. That said, I spun the motor on dry land and placed my hand over the tube, it gets pretty hot! In the water maybe fine, I was very surprised!
On the Mean Machine I subsequently built, I used a liner with a .150 cable, did the same test and no temp build up.
I am still at a loss, I like the .187 dia. but I actually prefer the liner, never had any problem if the whole drive train is aligned perfectly.
Just my personal thoughts.
BTW, after I posted my temp question, it was suggested to me that I should use Heavy Duty - Hypoid gear Oil. I bought at an auto store " Sta-Lube" 85W140, it did help to lower temp! Note that I always lube with Grim's Speed grease and/or ProBoat's blue grease. So now i coat the cable with the blue grease and then dab a bit of that gear oil, works great!

[iamandrew]

If its actually a teflon liner, it will only get hot if its able to spin around on the outside, e.g if its not fixed some how to the stuffing tube.
Teflon has some pretty high melting points, if your hitting those, then its probably spinning.
Ill be going with no teflon liner in my MMP Rapid build, which is getting there :)
It will have an oil feed tho