Speedmaster bushing video cad demonstration.

[Steven Vaccaro]

So after many years of questions and confusion (including my own in the beginning) in how to use a Speedmaster floating bushing, my son Anthony came up with this video demonstration. Most people think that the bushing should be held in place or glued. It simply rides inside of the stuffing tube thats extended into the strut and spins freely.


speedmaster-bushing.jpg

Click link for the video

https://youtu.be/XSAaeknjTxk

[kfxguy]

Awesome! Good demo!

[Shooter]

Very cool!

[longballlumber]

nice! what CAD system is he using? looks like SoldiWorks

[Steven Vaccaro]

nice! what CAD system is he using? looks like SoldiWorks

He's is using Solidworks.

[Jamey]

I am collecting parts for my build and I have never used the speedmaster strut. I understand the bushing goes inside the stuffing tube. Is the bushing sized for a non-lined tube? For example for a 1/4" drive and 5/16 tube, the bushing will ride inside of it?

[Steven Vaccaro]

I am collecting parts for my build and I have never used the speedmaster strut. I understand the bushing goes inside the stuffing tube. Is the bushing sized for a non-lined tube? For example for a 1/4" drive and 5/16 tube, the bushing will ride inside of it?

for a 3/16"prop shaft, a k&s 8131 brass tube is used. sometimes they have to be sanded a bit to fit into the strut. then the speedmaster bushing is used. it fits into the inside of the k&s brass tubing.

[Jamey]

Okay makes sense. I have never held one of these bushings in my hand so I didn't realize how thin they must be since there isn't a ton of clearance with a non-lined tube. Thanks!

[danielplace1962]

That is very cool demonstration of bushing working.

Looks good except needs to leave a drive dog to bushing/strut gap. Just as important that the bushing can spin freely it should be free to move about front to rear as well in the gap you must maintain on any welded stub type of cable setup.

Just a little FYI if anyone is interested.

If the drive dog is contacting a bottomed out slip in bushing or the strut one iota it is going to rip the cable apart in short order.
Solid mounted motors don't need as much but the cable still gets shoved back and forth like a snake at times and can eat up some cable length. The best way to determine the gap needed is to cover end of shaft with thick layered up towel and push hard with the palm of you hand and give it and extra 1/8". Don't forget that adding any positive strut angle will move strut back and until you know strut setting leave yourself plenty of gap. All welded stub shafts must be pushing fully on the round type type collet(square drive could but not used much) only never thrust washers at the strut. You can add a thrust washer between collet and motor/motor mount to keep thrust off motor can bearings. You have to gap the thrust washers precisely when you locate the collet so the thrust washers just make contact under thrust but not binding on the motors bearings.

IMO you never really want to sand the stuffing tube. It isn't oversize the struts are under. Proper reamer or even a good sharp drill bit gets it proper it one quick stroke through it.
Always bore the strut to the proper size then you only need to do it once and if you need to swap it in the future it is quick and easy especially if it is at the lake.
I don't know how but even the slight bit of removal sanding takes away but if you do sand it to fit they will often break right at the leading edge going into the strut. I guess 4-5 thousands that isn't done real evenly from a .014" tube doesn't leave enough to keep it from occasionally just cracking right in two.

Be sure to sleeve the stuffing tube with next size tube if you going through the bottom of a hull. Never glass it in as it needs to slide as you want the tube locked in the strut and move in hull bottom sleeve when you adjust the drive in cats, hydro and riggers that have the tube going through the bottom.

[Mxkid261]

Got a speedmaster 21 hydro strut for my vortex and Im just wondering how far do I press the bushing into the strut? Just so it is flush at the rear? Thanks!

[danielplace1962]

Are you using a welded stub cable ?

What kind of bushing are you using. Press in oillite or lead Teflon ? They would usually be pressed flush except a front one may be sunk in for stuffing tube to enter the nose of strut.

Slip fit bushing though is different and goes in the stuffing tube after it is run through the strut to the back.

[Mxkid261]

Are you using a welded stub cable ?

What kind of bushing are you using. Press in oillite or lead Teflon ? They would usually be pressed flush except a front one may be sunk in for stuffing tube to enter the nose of strut.

Slip fit bushing though is different and goes in the stuffing tube after it is run through the strut to the back.

I got it in just a press in thanks though