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[Cyberdan]

Hello all,
I purchased two sets of drive shaft and stuffing box online, the stuffing box needs to be shortened a little to have enough of the drive shaft out on each side for the propellers and the motor couplers.

What would you suggest for a solution, given that they have bushings on each end and I don’t know how they are normally joined together i.e. glued, pushed in etc.. I tried pushing one bushing out from the inside after applying a bit of heat and that did not work. Another solution I thought of was to cut the tube 3-4 cm from one end in two places and getting a larger diameter tube and use it as a sleeve around the two pieces and solder everything, I could also use this sleeve to install an oiler/grease fitting for the shaft. I do not want to get into this solution unless I cannot find a way to remove one bushing at an end, shorten the tube and reattach the bushing.

I do not have the ability to return or replace the stuffing box as I bought it a while back and these are supposed to be for a low cost pusher tug that I’m building from scratch from items I already have.

Your suggestions and input are highly appreciated.
Hany

[derekwarner]

Cyberdan...you second thought is sound

If the tube is imperial and a standard sizing....try a 12" length of K&S brand telescopic brass tube........

Mark & cut the tubes with a tubed cutter....cut the desired length from the original tubes......

Cut a section of the 1/64" oversized brass telescopic tube to the required length..it will be a strong & secure fully aligned assembly

Clean the OD of the original tubes & the ID of the K&S spacer tube .....& soft solder the joint 

Good luck......let us know hou you progress............Derek

[Cyberdan]

Thanks Derek,

It seems that this would be the only option. I will try it and let you know the results.

BTW. any specific solder type? regular electric or plumbing solder?

Thanks again,
Hany

[derekwarner]

Hany......any soft solder will be OK......90/10......lead free?....non flux cored wire

I have a preference for sub miniature gas pencil torches & also Zinc Chloride type liquid flux [in OZ we have Bakers Soldering Flux]

I presume you would be completing the soldering on a bench environment....you could use wooden V blocks or a refractory brick

If you have any concerns of heat transfer to the bushes, you can wrap these in a water soaked cotton

Again the real consideration/need is cleanliness of the components to be soldered..........Derek

[Cyberdan]

Thanks, will try that.

Hany

[HS93 (RIP)]

ok where are you in the world or where did you buy them or make? most tubes have push fit bearings, so if you put the shaft in on an angleand tap it on the bench it should pop out, then shorteb ,BUT because the stuffing box /bearing is only short make shore the end is square or it will run tight, a bench disk sander if you have one can be used.

Peter

[irishcarguy]

Hi Cyberdan, cut off one end of the tube complete with bushing. Remove the bushing from the piece you cut off & refit the bushing to remaining length of tube. Make sure the shaft turns free in the bushing after you fit it. Mick B.

[pugwash]

What Mick suggested does sound like the easiest solution to me.
Geoff

[Chuffy]

I have just completed that very procedure with no problem. The part of the bush that is inside the tube is generally about 8mm so if you only want to take a little off then remove the bush first. these bushes are tight so with a firm grip on the exposed end a couple seconds of heat from a small blow lamp, a twist of the grips and she's out. If you try and do it cold there is only about 3 to 4 mm of bush to grip on and you could damage it. If you've got to take a fare bit of then Micks' way works fine, done that several times too. I should add that the bearing will still be a tight fit so make sure you've got it square in the tube before knocking it home.


Paul.

[Welsh Wizard]

Cut tube 10mm from bushing tap out bushing cut the tube to lenght file tube so bushing can go in tap in with hammer GENTLY fit shaft in bushing,if slightly tight then GENTLY file out bushing with needle file just done a couple myself


Dave

[Circlip]

Note, if the bush is an "Oilite" type, ( looks as  if its sand blasted and a more orange colour than brass) keep heat away as you'll dry the bearing out. They can be re-impregnated with oil but if you don't dry it out in the first place - - - - .

  Regards  Ian.

[Cyberdan]

Thanks all for the answers and solutions, that's why I'm always on this forum.

Hany