Prop Shaft

[steveo143]

I spent several hours at the drags at Firebird 2 weeks ago benchracing with Wayne Mettler in Don Bausher's pit and the subject of prop shafts came up. Either Scott Owens or Tim at Lenco has a shaft material that according to them puts A22 and Inconel in the trash can. I will see Wayne this weekend at the drags and get more info. If we can stop breaking shafts the weakest link will then be the prop!!!!!

[2manymustangs]

I spent several hours at the drags at Firebird 2 weeks ago benchracing with Wayne Mettler in Don Bausher's pit and the subject of prop shafts came up. Either Scott Owens or Tim at Lenco has a shaft material that according to them puts A22 and Inconel in the trash can. I will see Wayne this weekend at the drags and get more info. If we can stop breaking shafts the weakest link will then be the prop!!!!!

This is the question I have been wondering about through all of these discussions (here and on PB)... If we can make axles that can last pass after pass in a pro mod OR monster trucks turning earth mover tires or a TF dragster/funny car, why can't we improve on the material that is used... I do get the need for a material that is corrosion resistant, could some kind of nitride or iridite 14-2 or nickel plating could be used, maybe, if the NEW material was carbon steel and NOT stainless???

[gn7]

This is the question I have been wondering about through all of these discussions (here and on PB)... If we can make axles that can last pass after pass in a pro mod OR monster trucks turning earth mover tires or a TF dragster/funny car, why can't we improve on the material that is used... I do get the need for a material that is corrosion resistant, could some kind of nitride or iridite 14-2 or nickel plating could be used, maybe, if the NEW material was carbon steel and NOT stainless???

I have thought the same thing. Not to mention off road torsion bars being cycled like crazy, in 2 directions. 300M seems to be the material of choice for shafts that are subjected to heavy cycling.
With the rudder, turn fins and props all made of carbon steel, I don't really see the "requirement" for a corrosion resistant material, specially on something that cycles thru a prop shaft as fast as a TFH.

I don't think I would want to run a carbon steel shaft on the GN, but it would not surprise me one bit if the stuff Wayne is referring to is a carbon steel.

[2manymustangs]

I spent several hours at the drags at Firebird 2 weeks ago benchracing with Wayne Mettler in Don Bausher's pit and the subject of prop shafts came up. Either Scott Owens or Tim at Lenco has a shaft material that according to them puts A22 and Inconel in the trash can. I will see Wayne this weekend at the drags and get more info. If we can stop breaking shafts the weakest link will then be the prop!!!!!

Hey Steve O, hope all is well with you sir...

Did we learn anything about these new prop shafts, new material???

[steveo143]

Not yet, I've been too busy. I will get the info and am considering having a prop made with splines and no taper or keyway. Ron Hill says that would be no problem.

[2manymustangs]

Not yet, I've been too busy. I will get the info and am considering having a prop made with splines and no taper or keyway. Ron Hill says that would be no problem.

I'm guessing that not ALOT of folks haven't taken apart a brush hog gear box/T-blade mount but many use a tapered spline. I can't imagine that a prop could see any worse shock loads than my brush hog has seen (that is 25 years old) and has NEVER has been apart... THe shock of hitting a big stump or a basketball sized rock that is hiding in the tall grass with a brush hog is enough to shake your teeth out at the roots, and yet it stays together (they do have a dry clutch disk coupling on the gearbox output but are usually very rusty/crusty/TIGHT)...

Need to get the engineer from "Brush HOg" to do some moonlighting and tap into what he/they know... (fit/finish/clearances/material)

I guess a taper/key design goes back a LONG LONG time to days where you wanted a shear to take place if there was too much force/shock/mud/rope/kelp/rocks impeding the prop...??? I dunno, just speculating...

Keep in touch Steve O... I'm looking forward to a visit with your crew at Long Beach which is JUST around the corner sir... I'm sure I will be grilling something so look me up (on the dark side of the stadium)...