Coupler Problems!

Vypur · #1 09-26-2002, 09:56 PM

I'm looking for a one piece coupler/joint set, i'm not sure what it's really called. I currently have a universal joint set on my shaft connecting it to the motor shaft but it isn't always perfectly aligned and in effect decreases speed and causes a lot of vibration and loud sound which disloges parts= PROBLEMS! I have a 1/8 inch shaft and i need a ONE piece coupler that will solve my alignment problems. In case ur wondering its for the Viper R electric boat so i can hook up a new motor. The old coupler worked great but the allen screw that held it on to the motor shaft rusted in and its impossible to get it off the stock motor. So i need another one piece coupler for a new motor since the model on my stock one was discontinued for the very problem i have. Any ideas as to where I can get another one?

laxmasta2039 · #2 09-28-2002, 10:19 AM

hey vypur.
went through that same problem a while back. its no fun. i found that the best one-peice [and just about the only one peice] is the style of coupler that traxxas uses in it's articulated drive as a coupler between the drive shaft and the prop shaft. [kinda strange if u ask me, seems like it would cause alot of resistance to have seperate shafts like that] but it works very well as a motor-prop shaft coupler if u have single shaft setup, which im guessing u do. here's a link to the traxxas joint from tower hobbies:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...1&I=LXJD72&P=0
im not certain that this is for 1/8" shafts though, so u should ask the tower customer service people. if it's 3/16 instead of 1/8, theres plenty of other manufacturers that make this type of coupler.
b.t.w., what hop-up motor are u planning to get?
hope this helps,
joe

Vypur · #3 09-28-2002, 12:53 PM

thanks for info. I was planning on putting in a 17 turn speed gem . I got a beginner ESC and it will only allow 17+ turns. It is the Runner Plus Reverse, i picked it up at my local hobby shop.

laxmasta2039 · #4 09-28-2002, 05:09 PM

ok. how big is the boat? seventeen turns is nicer than wat ive got [p2k2, which is 27 turn] but still, for almost the same amount of $ u can get something that'll run ur boat much faster if its a fairly large boat. about the ESC, the first on i got i spend 70 pounds which i think is about 120$, and it ended up being a top-quality SCALE boat controller!!so much for getting a discount from buying overseas. i havent bought a good esc yet, i was planning on making an investment and buying a rchydros one that i could use for as many boats as i make. anyway, good luck with ur boat.

joe

Vypur · #5 09-28-2002, 11:33 PM

I have the Viper-R boat. Its length is 25.6 inches, its beam is 8.6 inches, and it weighs about 3 pounds. the stock motor was a Le Mans AP36L special,which i think is about 19 turns. But the sock boat came with a micro switch so i had to replace it with an ESC. I bought the boat for about 125 dollars and it came with the motor (Le Mans AP36L), a micro switch, a water cooling system, and transom hardware (which is just plastic rudder, trim tabs, and a water pick-up).

Vypur · #6 09-28-2002, 11:35 PM

i spent about 60 dollars on my ESC, but its a car ESC and is no where near as nice as the ones at rchydros.com

laxmasta2039 · #7 09-29-2002, 06:45 PM

25.6....... thats about what mine is. in the RC BM buyer's guide it says it comes w/ a mabuchi 550. did u get urs used or is it a newer version [or RC BM's wrong!] ? if ur looking to upgrade the boat, i would suggest an octura prop, maybe the x431, and a Sanyo battery pack. along with the 17 turn motor, that should get u going much faster . here are some tips to for making a high turn motor better for boats:
-add silver serrated brushes instead of the standard ones.
-put on the heaviest springs u can find
-be sure to mount the motor so that it is completely isolated, not touching anything but the mount.
-ALWAYS oil the bushings/bearings before and after running the boat.

Vypur · #8 09-29-2002, 08:18 PM

the boat i bought was brand new from my hobby shop. It is the 99 edition so it comes with a faster motor than the regular Viper-R and a few extras like water cooling and trim tabs.

MikDee · #9 09-30-2002, 12:07 PM

You can get a universal coupling from hobbylobby.com made by Graupner,,, similar to Traxxas, it can be purchased in 2 separate pieces to match up with your motor & driveshaft,,, ie: 1pc.- 1/8 motor shaft size & 1pc.- 4mm driveshaft size,,,

laxmasta2039 · #10 09-30-2002, 09:33 PM

vypur-oh. that explains it. i was also wondering why it cost you ten bucks more than the viper rs ive seen. when u get the hop-up in it, and get a working coupler, let me know how it goes, and post some pics if u can, id love to see some.

mickdee- cool. thanx for the info. i was wondering if anyone sold a joint with different bores on the ends, ive had to make mine before, that sounds alot easier.

joe

Andrewg · #11 10-01-2002, 07:47 PM

try
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/ujoint.htm

FrostyBeers · #12 08-05-2005, 10:28 AM

does anyone have a picture of the Viper-R boat ?

I have a boat by Kyosho and it's the model "Viper" ... (without the "-R" ) ....

I'm now wondering if these are 2 different boats, and this means the props and drive shaft are different ? ... oh geez.

My boat looks like this: