motor burn out

[SDJ]

I finally got my ESC for the river tug, wired it up, made a motor mount and expoxied it in then screwed the motor to the mount, I should have been more careful with lining the motor up as it was fine from above but tightening the screws pulled it to far down. This is the result after 40 minutes running :censored: catastrophic motor failure
Still the boat performed fantastic and will reverse almost in its own length due to the reversing rudder, it sits nice on the water, seems to handle well and I even managed to rescue another boat that got stuck in the weeds.

Getting a new motor tommorow and hope to post video soon, meanwhile this captain needs beer to drown sorrows. :rolleyes: :o


"what is, is! it is we who must adapt"

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

What happened? The shaft got bound up?

It's always a bit disheartening to have something burn up. :(

The boat looks good though.
How about an uptake, and maybe some vent or light fittings on the cabin. ;)

[SDJ]

Hi Umi, Twas not the shaft, after disconnecting the universal coupler, the shaft rotates free, I suspect it was tightening the motor screws that pulled the motor shaft and the prop shaft out of line.
I believe spacers between the motor and the mount will rectify this.

Thanks for the suggestions, I am planing to put spotlight, airel, horn and navigation lights on the cabin roof, also have plans for small hatch on forward deck and maybe a coiled anchor rope and anchor, had not thought about cabin vents but this may help get rid of the burnt electrical smell that has pervaded evry inch of my office :D

[green-boat]

Always recheck motor alignment after tightening down motor and check for any binding. It almost looks like the bearing seized to the shaft melting the endbell, the shaft developed massive amounts of play causing the brushes to arc taking out the commutator.

[SDJ]

Thanks for the advice Greenboat, twas my haste to get it in the water that was the problem. I knew I was in trouble when as I turned towards the shore there was smoke coming from around the cabin, shut it down and let it drift in but, too late.

[heavyhauler]

Hi Umi, Twas not the shaft, after disconnecting the universal coupler, the shaft rotates free, I suspect it was tightening the motor screws that pulled the motor shaft and the prop shaft out of line.
I believe spacers between the motor and the mount will rectify this.

Thanks for the suggestions, I am planing to put spotlight, airel, horn and navigation lights on the cabin roof, also have plans for small hatch on forward deck and maybe a coiled anchor rope and anchor, had not thought about cabin vents but this may help get rid of the burnt electrical smell that has pervaded evry inch of my office :D
Lsat summer at the Great Lakes Reggata, I took on water in my little work boat. Burned up ESC and battery and it still stinks every time I remove the pilot house.

[SDJ]

my boat smells like a robot passed wind in it :D

[SDJ]

New motor in with a spacer between motor and mount, ran the boat at a different pond today (one with water in it, not mud!!)for over 40 minutes checking motor temp every 10 minutes, it did get quite hot after 40+ minutes so took it home.

one question I have is , what type of grease do people use in the stuffing tube?? I have used high temperature axle grease (was all I had) this seems to have given the prop shaft a fair amount of "stiction" I am also considering water cooling as with the current batteries I should get at least 2 hours+ running time.

Please excuse picture quality, is captured from video which I will upload tonight.
Thanks for the help people. :cool:

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Too much grease will definitely bind up the propeller shaft.
Especially if the water is cold.

Use a the propeller shaft, or a spare rod to force some of the grease out of the stuffing tube. Do this twice, then reasssemble the drive, and see if it feels more fluid.

The stuffing tube does not need to be "stuffed". ;)

[pkboo]

........ the problem. I knew I was in trouble when as I turned towards the shore there was smoke coming from around the cabin, shut it down and let it drift in but, too late.
Oh I do that too ....with the hope to salvage at least something :o . However if you've seen the soul :( (usually blue :) ) of your drivetrain come out you are too late!!

[toesup]

one question I have is , what type of grease do people use in the stuffing tube?? I have used high temperature axle grease (was all I had) this seems to have given the prop shaft a fair amount of "stiction" I am also considering water cooling as with the current batteries I should get at least 2 hours+ running time.


I've found some grease meant for bearings on boat trailers at the local auto parts store. The wheel bearings on a trailer get imersed in water every time a boat gets launched / recovered from the lake / sea so i thought it would be ideal.
After some 10 hours running however i discovered the grease was waterlogged and needed replacing..:o

Watercooling is a good idea, but make sure the tube you use has enough dia. to allow for a good flow.. Will you be pumping the water through or using the prop 'wash'?

Like the Springer type 'roll' on Flank speed pic...:eek:

[CaptLee]

Grease in stuffing box needs to be light not wheel bearing grease. i use the grease for fishing reels which has teflon in it, change it every other year or when I remember it. Get it at Target or Wal-mart in small tube or order from Vac-u-Boat as extra with boat orders. Vaseline works but will wash out in a season.

[Shaun Hendricks]

Silicone grease is totally waterproof. You need to use it very sparingly though as it can be a bit 'tacky' if too thick. A thin layer works well to waterproof most things.

[W.L Upshaw]

I have been using 'White Lithium' grease in my New Jersey and several other models for the last 25 years, this is the grease that is used to lubricate the window runners in your car doors.

Back in the 1980's I used a real good silicone grease in my New Jersey stern tubes, my buddies in Turret 2 on the new jersey gave me 2 big tubes of the stuff, they used it by the case to lubricate the gears that trained the turrets and the jack screws that elevated the gun barrels.

[Kmot]

Ditto to what Lee said. I have used Lubriplate, which is a cream colored lithium grease, on almost everything since I was taught about it at A&P school in the 70's. Either 630 or 930.

I also have Prather cable grease, which is good for flex cables.

[SDJ]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I am cleaning out stuffing tube today and will relube with Lithium grease if we have it in Oz.

Watercooling is a good idea, but make sure the tube you use has enough dia. to allow for a good flow.. Will you be pumping the water through or using the prop 'wash'?

Like the Springer type 'roll' on Flank speed pic...

Not sure yet toes, as the boat will spend more time moving than not (thats the plan) I suppose it makes sense to use prop wash, what are peoples ideas on pumping as against prop wash? any comments? ideas?

Cheers Steve :)

[toesup]

Not sure yet toes, as the boat will spend more time moving than not (thats the plan) I suppose it makes sense to use prop wash, what are peoples ideas on pumping as against prop wash? any comments? ideas?


http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/info-pages/make-brush-cooling.php
For making a cooling coil from Ali. tube..

A 'standard' bent piece of Brass tube facing in to the prop wash from behind is all i use.. ;)
There are up and coming projects that require 'scale' amounts of water, so i will have to use small pumps to pump the water through.. :o
http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=938

[Bikerider]

I put the white lithium grease in a syringe and shoot it into the stuffing tubes. Works great.

[SDJ]

Thanks for the link Toesup,
I have cleaned out the stuffing tube leaving only a minimal amount of the old grease there until I can source the lithium stuff, allready there is a noticible difference in how easily the prop turns.


I managed to upload 38 meg video on to Utube which takes forever with out broadband!! and the quality sucks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnuqX4GcMJo

Now what to build next?? hmmmm :D Lots of plans and an empty building table, cant have that can we :rolleyes:

Cheers Steve.

[Kmot]

Now what to build next??

A barge!! :D