Inside Diameter of AM 3/16 strut?

[rc10gtisthebest]

Like the title says, what is the Inside diameter of the AM 3/16 strut?

Thanks,
Todd

[Watercadet]

That would be 3/16....
Adam

[Hydro Junkie]

Are you talking inside or outside of the bearings. If you're talking on the outside, probably 11/32nds. If you have bushings, probably 1/4. These should get you into the ballpark

[rc10gtisthebest]

WC, that's a little too obvious ;) .... I was asking so I can find out if my Octura Strudder will accept the Internals (Teflon Bushings, Reducers, ETC..)

Thanks HJ

-Todd

[rc10gtisthebest]

BTW- I can run Bearings? If so I would need 11/32 with a 3/16 inside? Or Should I get slightly smaller on the outside and slightly bigger on the inside?

Thanks Again,
Todd

[Hydro Junkie]

If I'm right, the bearing should fit tight inside the strut and real close on the shaft. Any play on the inside will destoy the bearing and shaft, while any play on the outside will destroy the strut as well as the bearing. My advice is to contact Octura and ask them directly. That way, there isn't any chance of damaging your hardware or boat

[rc10gtisthebest]

I cannot find a 3/16x11/32 bearing anywhere.

So, I was considering boring it to 12/32 or 3/8" (the blade)

I have a machinist at work who can do it free of charge. And the worst that could happen (if he screws it up) is having to buy a $9 new blade.

-Todd

[rc10gtisthebest]

I will get my machinist to mill 3/8" hole into the strut about 1/4" in then I will use http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LX3215&P=7

Or should I use non-flanged bearings? I was thinking flanged so they stay in place..

-Todd

[Mike T]

The strut comes with an 11/16" hole. Then you would use a flanged reducer and the lead-teflon bushing. The bushing is 3/16 on the inside. Your best bet is to order the right parts from Aeromarine or Octura or get them from your LHS. That way you can also use the correct nosepiece instead of the front reducer.

As an alternative, my neighborhood hardware store sells bronze bushings that are the correct inside diameter but may require the strut be drilled. Caution: generally, when you drill a hole with a specific size bit, the bearing will then be a "sliding" fit in the hole. Not good. You need a "press fit" so it will stay tightly in the hole. How do you get a press fit? Use an undersized bit or an undersized parallel reamer.

BTW - Those ball bearings from the Tower catalog would last about three runs in a strut. Water and contaminants would do them very quickly.

[rc10gtisthebest]

Yea i will just go with the Aeromarine Internals. A bearing would probably rust out anyways. I don't wanna 'rig it up.

-Todd

[Hydro Junkie]

I agree with Mike T on the bearings. They a car axle bearings. Marine bearings are roller bearings with the shaft running right on the rollers

[rc10gtisthebest]

They're called needle bearings. I can get some from Boca Bearings. But, I just don't want to ahve to replace them every 3 runs from rusting out. I will go with the standard set up for now and maybe switch over to bearings in the future..

-todd

[Hydro Junkie]

With needle bearings, you don't have to replace them every three runs. I was talking to a guy in the scale club I belong to and was told he goes through about two sets of bearings a season. If you lube them after every three to four runs AND after a day at the lake, they will last you a long time. What most of the guys use is your basic 30 weight motor oil. It flushes out water and contaminates, lubricates and prevents rust. The ball bearings you were looking at at Tower are sealed against dirt, so the case will rust on you in a marine application and to lubricate them, you will need to pull at least one cover off, which is a royal pain in the butt :(

[rc10gtisthebest]

not interested in ball bearings anymore. May experiment with the needle bearings, but it would be later on..

-Todd

[Hydro Junkie]

Trust me, needle bearings will give more speed and longer shaft life than bushings.

[rc10gtisthebest]

alright alright, I'll talk to Boca Bearings and possible swing by and pick some up (since they are 20 minutes away from my house.)

How will I hold them in the strut and prevent them from poping out?

-Todd

[Hydro Junkie]

They need to be a press fit that takes some effort to get them to seat. If they just slide in, they will need to be shimmed. If you want to play it safe, take the strut with you so there will be no mistaking what you want.

[Watercadet]

Lead tefflon bushings.....
Adam