[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

[PSUBS-MAILIST] thrusters



Frank,

Minn-Kotas are weak in the bearings. If you can use them and lose them inexpensively, then that's the way to go. But if you're going to go crazy, I'd think about starting with a heavier motor. Also, the Minn-Kotas I saw at SST were modified for a spring-loaded ceramic pump seal as is. They machined the factory case to take the seal and tested them to 1200 feet in a tank. That's when something leaked. Pretty good. And cheap.

Vance



-----Original Message-----
From: ShellyDalg@aol.com
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Sent: Tue, Jul 27, 2010 10:33 am
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] linear actuator- thruster range

Hi Hugh. Here's a link to the Firgellis I bought for the side dive planes. They were $129 each. Also bought a 12 inch stroke for the seat slider.
After taking one apart, I'd not recommend them as they are flimsy and not very strong. I originally thought the sleek one-piece body would make it easy to seal up, but the quality of the components isn't so good.
The model was a "mini actuator" # FA-12-6 for the 6 inch stroke ones.
They have a full line of products. Some are quite strong but none are very fast.
There's a rating number for how well they are sealed.
It starts with " IP " and the Firgelli's are IP 54 ( dust and light splash ) while the better sealed Minnkotas are at IP 68. ( submersible )
Not sure what the Lenco rating is.
What will you be using these for ?
On a side note......I'm still thinking of developing a retro-fit kit to add a magnetic coupling to a Minnkota so no oil compensation would be required. My son-in-law is a master machinist and I bet he could make a replacement end cap with a mag connector that would simply bolt onto a stock unit. With the proper seal at the coupling where the wires exit, it should be possible to make a sealed Minnkota good for the maximum pressure the factory casing will withstand. It would even be fairly easy to make a whole new casing and just use the "guts" from a Minnkota. I've looked at some deep water thrusters like Teledyne, etc. and they often can cost as much as $20,000 each. I'm pretty damn sure I can make a thruster for less using off-the-shelf parts from Minnkota and a little Scottish tinkering.
Frank D.