Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Kittredge Motor Housing help

I'd forgotten about the bulkhead penetrator. There should be some data somewhere on a testing sequence the manufacturer ran on back pressure. It is as good as front pressure, apparently, so was allowed by Lloyd's. A strap wrench might do what you want. If it's too slippery, or there is insufficient room for the big boy, there is also a chain wrench. Same thing, only steel on steel with something like a motorcycle chain. You can really muscle those babies, if necessary. You might as well set your mouth to doing all three motors, which will give you an opportunity for overhaul, sandblast and paint, seal and o-ring replacements and the like. Paint 'em black. That's what we did at Perry and I always thought they looked cooler. PS: The attachment didn't come through, so I couldn't comment on that.

Vance

-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Wallace <jonw@psubs.org>
To: personal_submersibles <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Tue, Oct 18, 2011 8:10 am
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Kittredge Motor Housing help

Hi Vance,

I wish it was that easy. See attached drawing. The thru-hull for the motor is threaded on the end inside the cabin. The wires are passed through the thru-hull and into the motor casing and then the cable head is threaded into the thru-hull. The notes on the plans state that the connection is made inside the motor housing. So I have to get the tank head off the motor housing, extract the motor, disconnect the wires, and then I can pull the wires through from the inside of the cabin. The way Kittredge put it together prevents the wires inside the thru-hull from twisting up regardless of how many times the motor is rotated full circle.

I'm probably going to have to get a strap wrench to unscrew the tank head and get access to the motor inside. I'll also try some penetrating oil like you suggested to see if I can get the housing to rotate again, but I'm still going to have to get the motor housing off so I can replace the o-rings inside the thru-hull.

Jon

On 10/18/2011 8:28 AM, vbra676539@aol.com wrote:

Jon,

Where do the wires inside GO? I suspect they were left long and trimmed into the panel during construction. Track it all the way there if you have to, disconnect and pull it through. Dismantling the thruster will be lots easier on the bench. It is, by the way, a threaded unit. George told me the motors and pods were exactly the same as a K-350. As to the rotating shaft, you might try some penetrating oil and a little patience. Unfortunately, trapped seawater between the outer section and the o-ring often causes some corrosion on the stainless over time (lack of oxygen in there lets that happen). What you could have is anything from your busted o-ring to salt build-up.

Vance