Hi

I recently switched over to flex hex from square drive and broke my first cable today, loosing my prop, drive dog etc. Im going back to square drive, where i get to keep the prop. I have the cable and a new ferrule, but the cable is not a snug fit in the ferrule and its going to be a reasonable challenge getting it true, does anyone have any tips on how i can square this up (without a lathe) to solder it.

cheers

Sounds like this will be a challenge...I can't really think of how you could do this without a lathe or a fixture. Why is it not a snug fit though? Is you cable smaller than 1/4"? Or the ferule drilled to big? I would try to get the mating cable and ferule to be honest. Getting this trued up without a lathe or fixture will be trial and error I think.

Thanks Marc

I pulled out that cable and it looks to be a bit smaller than the speedmaster one i just broke, So I soldered the speedmaster one in and its a much better fit, decided to run a flex coupler and ferrule instead of the square this way i still get to keep my prop if it breaks. The square cable I had turned out to be 5mm too short

Good stuff! You'll be much better off with that cable I think...otherwise it'd be very hard to get a loose cable lined up properly for soldering. You know, I've never actually broken a welded cable (except for one I had tried welding myself)...knock on wood! lol Only time I lost a prop was when a solder ferule came apart... ironic uh! We each have our preferences and that's all good! There is a way to ensure you never loose a propshaft, even with the welded cable setup...got that trick from the Europeans...I should do a little writeup on that sometime...it consists of machining a groove in the propshaft and using a set screw in the strut or drive. Only downside is you have to either run a much shorter brass sleeve bearing, or use bushing bearings instead and have the groove between the two bushings.

Sounds like a good idea with the setscrew, Was actually wondering if a machined down ferrule might make a good nosepeice to also stop this from happening.

Since we run the stuffing tube right into the strut or drive it's hard to get anything in there on the propshaft...some drive would have enough space though, but not all, and as for struts well it's pretty much impossible. The set screw is about the only way I know of doing this. It goes up against the shaft in the groove you machine and then just back it out just a hair so the shaft turns without rubbing on it. You have to make the groove long enough to account for flex shrinkage under load also.

Ah yes thats how I run all my FE Boats, stuffing tube right into the strut. The groove and set screw does sound like something to look into.

HI,
Here is my two cents worth. I run the weldeed cable right into the strut and just before the flex hex I clamp a shaft saver, you can get them at just about all model retailers. This system has worked 100% reliable for me. ( I hope I have not hexed (no pun intended) myself.)

I use this also, but this only saves you if you don't break the cable!

Yeah I was running one of those, but it broke at the stub end, I have re-used said cable in the soldered ferrule flex hex hybrid, hopefully the best of both worlds! once the weather calms down i will test it. Also drilled a 2mm hole in the strut to grease the stub bearing between runs with a grease gun or syringe, lubes it well.