flex and collet

[video200]

do you guys solder the tip of the flex that goes into the collet ? 3 times today the flex was ripped out of the collet when i was driving. how do you guys make shure it stays there. the flex is 3,2mm and the collet is also for 3,2mm.
drifter S. feiago 8XL. X637. 4 cells lipo.

[Rex R]

yes. about 1/4"-3/8", with electrical solder. leave a small gap between the strut and the drive dog(about 3/32" - 1/8"), otherwise when the flex shortens under load it leads to all manner of bad things(including making the boat run slower)

[video200]

tnx rex.
already have the gap but aparantly it is not enough.

[Rex R]

Tip: clean the strut or the drive dog and use a sharpie marking pen to colour the potential rub area, then check after running(a short bit). if the mark was rubbed off you need more gap*, if it looks like untouched you can shorten the gap a smidge.
*add a bit more space and renew the marking

[video200]

tnx.
wil try that when i come home :D

[Rex R]

since the purpose of soldering the end of the flex is to add support and keep the end from crushing (when you tighten the collet)...I would suspect that may be your main culprit. you may be over tightning the coupler...if it takes two men to loosen it after a run its too tight

[Raydee]

I have also found in the past that once the collet slips and spins on the flex cable you have to replace the collet. This doesn't happen all the time but it has happened to me in the past.

[detox]

I never soldered my Hughey .125 and .150 flex cables. These cables held together just fine using the Octura collets. I am currently experimenting with .062 piano wire.

[video200]

thank you for your help guys. i wil se if i cant have a new run soon. :)