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[davidm1945]

Hi All,
     I don’t know if this idea is of any use to any body, but here goes.
My problem was that the inner bronze bearings on the prop shafts on my RTTL were getting very hot, (it didn’t matter about the outer ones as they are in the water) so I decided to change them for ball races. As the shafts were already in the boat I needed to retro-fit the bearings without damaging the hull. Being a poor pensioner (sob) cost was important!
     I purchased some 4mm ID / 9mm OD bearings from eBay at 99p each and then needed an adapter to match the bearing to the prop shaft. While playing golf one day I realised that a steel shafted club is tapered in a series of steps and could possibly be made to fit.(Pic 1).



    I have changed from steel shafted clubs to graphite shafts and had several redundant (cheap) clubs so I measured the club shaft and cut it at the correct size. (Pic 2).



     Having cleaned and squared up the cut edges I then pressed the ball race into the large end of the adapter using a vice. (Pic 3).



     I knocked out the old bronze bush and pushed the small end of the adapter onto the shaft with a little smear of Araldite to secure it, added an oiler from Cornwall Model Boats and Bob’s yer mother’s brother! (Pic 4).



    (The shaft in Pic 4 is just for illustration purposes only).

I expect this has been done before but it just proves that golf is not totally useless….

Dave.

[Nordsee]

I did something similar but used the tapered cover of a ballpoint pen, I found a 4mm shaft Bearing fitted in the "big end" and the cap could be cut to be a tight fit over the tube, then fit shaft to align everything and fill void with plastic padding or 5 minute epoxy.Then push bearing into open end and tack with Super glue. Light and functional.

[HS93 (RIP)]

another way to do it

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6401.0

Peter

[davidm1945]

Thanks Nordsee and HS93,

           I didn't think anybody was going to comment - 136 views and had no replies.... though I guessed that someone must have come up with a similar idea.
I think that the main difference with my method is to use it as a retrofit when the shafts are already fixed into the boat. Must admit I hadn't thought of using a ball point pen! For those who read the original post and thought "this guy is nuts - I cant afford 2 golf clubs" most charity shops have bin in a corner with old clubs at a few pence each and I should think most golfers have old clubs they have upgraded from and haven't got around to throwing out (or you could take up golf!!)

Thanks for your comments, it's a bit deflating when no-one replies even if only to tell you you are an idiot....

Dave.

[RaaArtyGunner]

Thanks Nordsee and HS93,

 
Thanks for your comments, it's a bit deflating when no-one replies even if only to tell you you are an idiot....

Dave.

 

[Peter Fitness]

Dave, perhaps everybody was rendered speechless by your ingenuity It's a very neat solution to the problem

Peter.

[davidm1945]

Dave, perhaps everybody was rendered speechless by your ingenuity It's a very neat solution to the problem

Peter.

Thanks Peter, flattery will of course get you everywhere!

Dave