Flex shaft questions for my JAE21FE

[JohnZ]

1) Instructions say leave 3/16" extra for shrinkage, can I install the thrust washers between drive dog and strut?
Are thrust washers even necessary as I went through the entire thread on using or not using thrust washers which leads to another point as to how they are installed next to the motor? I don't quite understand the installation.
2) Considering using JB Weld at the cut end of the flex cable. What technique is used? I thought of taping off the end of the cable and leaving an inch to be treated and then rubbing the JB Weld into the cable to make a nice smooth surface that wouldn't inhibit insertion into the collet.
Hey, I'm getting there....may not make it this fall but it'll be ready to run in the spring.
The water gets a bit hard up here in Northern Michigan in the winter.

[martin]

Thrust washers are not needed between the dog & strut, with the large gap that is left between the dog & strut for flex shrinkage the gap is not constant. Depending on the load ie prop size & amount of throttle used the dog wouldn't be in contact with the thrust washer most of the time due to different rates of shrinkage of the flex.

[martin]

Re the cut end of the flex, some like to solder say 3/4" of the cut end to stop the flex unwinding when you insert the flex into the coupling. Others just grind or sand a nice bevel on the end of the flex, if using the bevel method when you are inserting the flex into the coupling twist the flex clockwise. This stops the wire on the flex catching & unwinding.

[Fluid]

I haven't soldered or glued a flex cable end in over a decade. Never had a cable loosen or unravel, and some cables are over five years old.


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[JohnZ]

Re the cut end of the flex, some like to solder say 3/4" of the cut end to stop the flex unwinding when you insert the flex into the coupling. Others just grind or sand a nice bevel on the end of the flex, if using the bevel method when you are inserting the flex into the coupling twist the flex clockwise. This stops the wire on the flex catching & unwinding.

Well, I did bevel the end of the cable after I cut it with a Dremel.

[SweetAccord]

Well, I did bevel the end of the cable after I cut it with a Dremel.

I was always taught to solder it then cut it so that when you cut it, it won't unravel.

[JohnZ]

I was always taught to solder it then cut it so that when you cut it, it won't unravel.

It depends on what you cut it with. If one uses a pair of side cutters or even a hack saw, the probability of unraveling could be severe. I used a Dremel with a reinforced cut off blade. Makes for a very smooth cut if careful. No unraveling at all.

[SweetAccord]

It depends on what you cut it with. If one uses a pair of side cutters or even a hack saw, the probability of unraveling could be severe. I used a Dremel with a reinforced cut off blade. Makes for a very smooth cut if careful. No unraveling at all.

A dremel cutting wheel is all I would ever use yes. It's thin, small, fast, accurate and easy to hold and gives a clean cut.

[dmitry100]

Use tape to wrap the portion of the flex that you're going to cut and use a typical metal saw with a 24 or 32 teeth blade... its quick and doesn't unravel... as long as you go light in terms of pressure once you're near the end so that you don't unwrap the last portion of it.