Surface Drive stuffing box

[Ace754]

I am setting up my Marine Specialties HBR outdrive as a surface drive. Should the stuffing box be flush with the floor of the deep Vee hull and then bend gracefully to the motor? There is about 1/2 inch from the transom to the prop shaft, how much space do I need to the driveshaft tube? How short can the stuffing box be? The motor is a Homelite 30cc with clutch. Can I run it without the clutch cover?

[Ace754]

Okay, too many questions. I have info that says the stuffing tube should be flush with the bottom of the boat, the driveshaft tube should be .25" to the cable fitting in front of the strut, and .5" to the fitting on the clutch.
Can anyone tell me if their flex cable makes an arc or s-bend from the stuffing box to the motor?

[w3bby]

Most I know of bring the stuffing tube out about 1/2" above the bottom of the boat to centre of the stuffing tube. I do not fasten it to the bottom of the boat or the transom to allow for up and down adjustment of the drive. A gradual bend is what you are after, no tight bends, fill it with sand (or the flex to prevent kinking) and bend gently until it matches (some use an S-bend and believe it to be more efficient). Fasten the front end with a brace either home-made or a T-bar. Your flex should run smoothly into the engine coupler, be it square drive or round collet.
I don't know the HBR setup but you want about 1" between the engine coupler and the start of the stuffing tube. Space between the stuffing tube and the strut depends on your setup, square drive or collet. If you are running a welded flex and round collet then the stuffing tube normally runs into the strut. If you are running a square drive you need enough space for the ferrule to fit.
You don't need the clutch, just more to go wrong ;)

Hope this helps

[Ace754]

Thanks, this is starting to gel now! I got a short stuffing tube and longer driveshaft tube that fits inside of it with my outdrive. I guess I could silicon the driveshaft tube as it goes thru the transom and not use the stuffing tube! The Homelite has a square drive that the cable fits into and the strut has a tapered collet that has a set screw or can be soldered (picture on this url). I have to stop short of this collet with the tube. I run this boat near some beach areas and really like being able to disengage the prop, so clutch for now :-)
http://www.marinespecialties-rc.com/hbrinfo.htm