Flex Shaft for Pro Boat BlackJack 42

[alvinm]

Picked one of these up yesterday and runs pretty well. Maiden run in chop was very stable and it reached 53mph. I'm sure in glass it will be closer to 60mph. Anyways, can anybody tell me how to remove the flex shaft? Is it just a matter of loosening the collar and pulling because this thing won't budge.

[1coopgt]

To answer your question Yes. And I'm pretty sure that's in the manual that came with it. But since we are men we don't need no stinking manuals . Think when I get back home I'll probably order the Black version. After loosening the collet if the flex won't come out easily lock a pair of vise grips on the nuts holding the prop on the prop shaft and lightly tap on the vise grips to pop the flex shaft out.

[fweasel]

It appears Proboat has added a plastic cover over the motor collet, likely to keep grease sling to a minimum. Pull that cover off, loosen the nut on the collet counter clockwise (standard threads), then pull the cable out the back. If it's not that easy, you can try twisting the cable at the prop end, clockwise, and pull at the same time. It's important to twist in the opposite direction the prop spins so you don't unravel the flex cable.

[Johnc]

I may be wrong

but wouldn't you want to twist in the same direction the prop swings/spin? it's like running the boat in reverse, there for unraveling the flex cable (been there done that)

[fweasel]

I may be wrong

but wouldn't you want to twist in the same direction the prop swings/spin? it's like running the boat in reverse, there for unraveling the flex cable (been there done that)

You're wrong. Turning the prop in the opposite direction while the motor collet stays in place, winds the flex cable tighter, just like it does under load.

[alvinm]

Instruction manual is vague to say the least. I just want to make sure something else was holding the flex shaft in place.

[1coopgt]

No Problem. Hope you got it apart .

[MADRCER]

Instruction manual is vague to say the least. I just want to make sure something else was holding the flex shaft in place.

You have to pull the hell out of it to get it out. The floating bushing is in the strut very tight and the bushing has to come out with the prop shaft because the BJ prop shaft is stepped down from 1/4 to 3/16 right at the bushing. Get some gloves on get someone to hold the boat and you pull it out. Sand the bushing around the edge so the next time it won't be as hard to remove. Good luck with it.

[sdbird]

i had the same issue...i unbolted the 2 bolts on the strut and pulled the entire cable assembly out and dismantled it completely. i put the strut in the vise took a small deep socket and tapped on it until the bushing popped out. it looked like they assembled it with some type of adhesive on the bushing to keep it from walking back into the drive dog under load. whatever it was it came off with some cleaner and steel wool.

[alvinm]

Damn!! I'll try the gloves first and if that fails, then disassembly it is.

[alvinm]

What a chore but got it to come off and cleaned up the inside of the strut. 👍👍

[Johnc]

Glad you got apart, I use 1000grit wet/dry sand paper to clean stuff up, but I think steal wool would work (wd40).

Apologies to Mr. fweasel for questioning his turning the prop in the opposite direction the prop rotates. He's right, I was on the road and trying to think it through and got it backwards. Sorry

[alvinm]

So it's safe to say Pro Boat prefers that you remove the strut each and every time you re-grease the flex shaft?

[fweasel]

Apologies to Mr. fweasel for questioning his turning the prop in the opposite direction the prop rotates. He's right, I was on the road and trying to think it through and got it backwards. Sorry

No worries, I was just poking fun.

[sdbird]

It kind of looks that way imo. there was definitely some type of sealant or adhesive on mine holding the bushing in the strut. Now that that's gone the drive dog is the only thing keeping that bushing in place.