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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Sat May 05 2001 - 12:05:55 EDT
In a message dated 05/04/2001 10:16:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
> My question is: "What do you think of these systems...?" Thanks for your
> considered opinion...
>
>
While good things and great improvements are constantly coming into
existence, I am reluctant to spend money on and rely on new technology until
it had proven itself to me or someone I know.
The couplings I use have worked flawlessly since 1981 for over ten thousand
miles. I did have one blow up (the inner hub split) early on when the
company sold me one that was too small for the job even though I fully
described my application. (I have an unusually heavy drive train with a
Hundestead (North Sea fishing boat) controllable pitch prop and 14 foot, 3"
shaft.) I had to eat a $150 rebuild charge in order to get the heavier
couplings I needed and I am still bitter about this. But, the couplings do
work wonderfully well and I don't hesitate to recommend them with the
understanding that they are the proper size.
I say coupling(s) because I have a 18" shaft connecting the transmission
output to the pitch control mechanism with a flexible coupling on each end.
The engine is rubber mounted. I have a double tapered roller bearing just
inside the stuffing box that transfers all the thrust load to the hull so
there is no thrust load beyond that point. This not only takes the thrust
loads out of the engine room, it prevents the long unsupported propellor
shaft (it goes through a shaft tunnel pipe through three fuel tanks) from
bending.
The couplings are made by:
Federal Marine Motors Co.
St Petersburg FL
813 522-1522
When using automotive type universal joints, I have heard that they must have
a significant angle to the shafts, straight shafts will result in premature
failure of the joints.
Norm
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