how to convert from 2 piece square flex drive to single flex drive

[HangTheMan]

Hi all, I currently have a Pursuit, Smash Shark and Genesis, all from Hobby King. I am wanting to convert the 2 piece drives in all the boats to single flex drives. I have been searching but only have been confused as to all the parts I would need to do the conversion. What are all the parts I would need? Also do I need to replace the stingers/ struts of the boats? And if so which parts do I need to replace Them with and where can I purchase them? I have searched on OSE but could only find the flex drive for the Pursuit, but it mentions it might not fit Pursuits that are not from OSE. Any help or info you can give would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks,

Dillin

[siberianhusky]

All you should need are the flex shafts and new proper sized collets for your motors.
I would use Hughey flex cables, you have to cut them to length. All I run in my boats. The best flexes available hands down.

[tlandauer]

All you should need are the flex shafts and new proper sized collets for your motors.
I would use Hughey flex cables, you have to cut them to length. All I run in my boats. The best flexes available hands down.

Curious as to what size bushing do these boats have on their stingers and struts. I recently bought a boat built by a member, he used Chinese 4mm hardware, I saw the prop sleeve-adapter and that was my first clue.
The cable was 4mm with a 4mm stub shaft but somehow kinked, so I was debating which way to go: either change the strut with a shaft bushing sized to .187" or get a 4mm STAINLESS STEEL flex cable from Kintec, I ended with the cable. Jan told me it is a SS cable and therefore it is more difficult to braze to the stub shaft. The quality seems great and I am happy with it so far. http://www.kintecracing.com/Flex_Cables.html ( 29th item down, if I counted correctly, lol...)
Reason I ask is that I was eying the Libero and that strut looks to me like a 4mm strut. ( same strut on my boat). Seems to me the 4mm cable is more robust than the .150" cable and by not going to a .150" cable I don't need to worry about the stuffing tube being too big.
Am I correct to assume that if one uses .150" cable then it is best to change to a 1/4" brass tube if using a liner?

[Bubbletop409]

My Hobby Wing Outerlimit's has a .187" flex shaft with an 1/8th" square drive on the stinger end, driving a 3/16th smooth shaft with drive dog and bullet end.

[HangTheMan]

I got the parts to convert into single shaft here on OSE. It was much simpler than I thought. One thing I noticed is that the Teflon tube that came with the boat has a larger OD than the Teflon tube that is sold for the .187 shaft from OSE. So if you don't grease it good, you get water seeping into the boat through the stuffing tube. Easy solution to this is to grease the stuffing tube and the Teflon tube like there's no tomorrow and that takes care of the water seeping in through the stuffing tube.

[HangTheMan]

Curious as to what size bushing do these boats have on their stingers and struts. I recently bought a boat built by a member, he used Chinese 4mm hardware, I saw the prop sleeve-adapter and that was my first clue.
The cable was 4mm with a 4mm stub shaft but somehow kinked, so I was debating which way to go: either change the strut with a shaft bushing sized to .187" or get a 4mm STAINLESS STEEL flex cable from Kintec, I ended with the cable. Jan told me it is a SS cable and therefore it is more difficult to braze to the stub shaft. The quality seems great and I am happy with it so far. http://www.kintecracing.com/Flex_Cables.html ( 29th item down, if I counted correctly, lol...)
Reason I ask is that I was eying the Libero and that strut looks to me like a 4mm strut. ( same strut on my boat). Seems to me the 4mm cable is more robust than the .150" cable and by not going to a .150" cable I don't need to worry about the stuffing tube being too big.
Am I correct to assume that if one uses .150" cable then it is best to change to a 1/4" brass tube if using a liner?

Depending on the model, some TFL boats come with the 3/16 drive and some come with 4mm drives. My Genesis and Princess Yacht comes with 4mm drives and my Smash Shark and Pursuit comes with 3/16 drive.

[tlandauer]

Thank you sir!! It's been a question on my mind for some time now, this clears a lot of my thinking.

[Smitty1035]

More Info

I am in the process of upgrading a TFL Outerlimits Lucas Oil/Lucky Oct V-Hull boat and was wondering if anyone has pictures and/or any more detailed information on converting the two piece drive to a single for easier lubricating. I found a post on here somewhere the other day where someone had pictures on how to do it but I have not been able to find it now that I am looking for it. I guess I could just order another stinger and be done with it but I can't see wasting a perfectly good piece if I can re-use it. The total length is 60 mm and the prop end has a busing installed with a 4.65 mm ID and the other end has a 7.3 mm ID. Do I need to remove the existing bushing and replace it with another longer one or is there one that I can slide in with the existing?