Drive Set-Up

[M.M.]

I am going to be putting a .078 wire drive into my 25" DF copy, with a fiegao 8xl. I currently have what appears to be a .150 flex cable, with a 4mm propshaft that steps down to 1/8". So i am going to be ordering this:

Jeff Wohlts .078 wire drive with 4mm propshaft that steps up to 3/16, a 3/16 drive dog, and a 5mm to .078 set-screw style coupler. So what size stuffing tube should i use, and teflon or not? What is the best way to hold the stuffing tube in the hull, with resin or epoxy?

Also what should i do with my previous stuffing tube? I beleive it is 1/4" brass with a teflon liner. How can i remove this old tube? It appears to be epoxyed into the hull.

[Fluid]

...teflon or not? What is the best way to hold the stuffing tube in the hull, with resin or epoxy?

No Teflon! I use MarineTex or JB Weld.

Also what should i do with my previous stuffing tube?...How can i remove this old tube?

Use a hot soldering iron, 40W at least (60W is better) with a wedge tip. Put a blob of solder on the tip and hold it flat against the brass tube close to the hull. This will heat up the brass enough to soften the epoxy. Hold on to the brass with pliers, and when you can start to twist the tube, pull it out of the hull.



.

[andym]

I just use a hair dryer ( my daughters much to her disgust) the epoxy softens over 60 deg C and pull the lot out. Having said that I run a .78 wire in my whip 40 in a stuffing tube set up for a .187 flex and it works great!

[Chilli]

5/32" is the tube Jeff recommends for the .078

[M.M.]

So if i am not going to be running teflon how far do i have the stuffing tube stick out the transom? Because it is going into a strut, not a stinger.

[Chilli]

I have a Fine Design strut which has a 3/16 bore. I took some 3/16 tubing and ran it from just inside the nose of the strut to 1 inch inside the transom and epoxied it in place. I then slid the 5/32 tubing into the 3/16 tubing. This still allows a little adjustment in the strut. A little shrink tube over the tubing and nose of the strut and that's it. I don't know how others have done this, but this is what I came up with and it works for me.

[M.M.]

So heres what i am going to be soon ordering. Anything i am missing?

-4mm step-up to 3/16 propshaft with .078 cable
- 3/16 x 5/16 OD drive dog
- 5mm x .078 set-screw style coupler

- octura 3/16 bullet nut
- K&S 5/32 brass tubing
- epoxy

I think thats it

[Chilli]

I have read some have had frustrations with set screw couplers on wire though I have no personal experience with them.

I have Jeff's collet style coupler and let me tell you that sucker locks on to the wire. I had a prop shaft lock up on me in the strut and my Neu put a dozen twists into that .078 wire and the coupler still hung on.

http://www.rcraceboat.com/

[M.M.]

Really? Because i currently have a problem with my flex spinning inside of that style coupler. So would a 5mm x .078 collet stlye coupler be better?

[teach]

Really? Because i currently have a problem with my flex spinning inside of that style coupler. So would a 5mm x .078 collet stlye coupler be better?

Another option is to leave the stuffing tube in and just keep adding smaller and smaller diameter brass tube till you get to the size you want. Although going from that large a tube may take a bunch of different sizes to get to the one you want. It's what I did to get to the size I wanted for my strut.

[M.M.]

Well i already removed my previous stuffing tube. Here is a picture of it:

Do you think that this is too sharp of a bend for a wire drive? The new stuffing tube will mostly be the same shape as this one, however i could probably make it a smoother bend.

So would a flex shaft or a wire drive be best?

[Jeff Wohlt]

I would just make the bend a little more gradual but looks fine. Yes, 5/32 tube is what you want for 78 wire. I can make you a small adapter for the nose to fit the 5/32 if you need it. I just need to know what it is currently and what boat is this?

[M.M.]

Hello Jeff,

I was planning on ordering most of this stuff from you
I just have a few questions, which coupler should i use? Yes could you please make me an adapter. The strut i currently have is what came on the boat from Head of the River.

The strut is 1.5 inches long
At the end it tapers down
The ID of the srut is 1/4"

Here is a link to the boat:

http://cgi.ebay.com/25-deep-vee-ARTR-with-motor-and-ESC-racing-spec-white_W0QQitemZ290327250603QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRadio_Control_Vehicles?hash=item4398da46ab&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A30

[M.M.]

Jeff??

I need to order my parts soon.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Yep...see my e-mail response to you. Do you have a bushing for that strut? What is the ID of the prop end on the strut...looks 1/4" to me as well.