Dan, I'm surprised to hear this since those end caps definitely fit
snug when tightened up. The motor bearings are absorbing all the
pressure from the seawater so there shouldn't be enough pressure on
the mechanical seal to unwind the end cap. Harold Maynard's
modification (see link)
http://www.psubs.org/convention/2003/pics.cgi?pics/k350-2/PDR_0073.JPG
is better from a number of perspectives however even though it's not
as hydrodynamic.
Jon
On 10/29/2011 10:19 AM, Daniel D. Lance wrote:
Alan,
Good point about the thrust bearing issue . I forgot about that.
The Kittredge design has its own issue with reverse. If you try to
run one in reverse the end cap holding the motor , seal and
propeller assembly will unthread from the main housing. This is
why if you want reverse on a K-Boat you rotate the side thrusters.
Of course some modifications can be made to prevent the housings
from coming apart once the o-ring is seated but you still get the
occasional leak.
I brought the minn kotas into the discussion because of how well
they worked on Jim K's Bionic Guppy. Maybe its time for a
discussion for an open source thruster design. The Kittredge
thruster pod is a T-Rex waiting for an asteroid.
Dan
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