Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

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Heron Addict
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Location: Lancashire, UK

Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Heron Addict »

Hi

I am aware that my 40 plus has a plastic coated drive shaft outer tube. Bad idea really as it has failed in places and rust has got in, hopefully only onto the surface.

After removing the transom bracket I can see that the plastic has also worn away underneath and the top collar which holds the clutch lever is also plastic coated and has some rust underneath.
2013-02-27 12.36.jpg
I was going to just cut off the plastic on the tube, rub down to bare metal and paint black again, not sure how to tackle this collar now. Will I have to remove the drive shaft to properly clean and paint this. I must admit not too keen on this, I was hoping for a quick and easy fix :)

Any advice much appreciated
Last edited by Heron Addict on Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Niander101
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Niander101 »

I was going to just cut off the plastic on the tube, rub down to bare metal and paint black again

Yep go for it.
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Heron Addict
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Heron Addict »

Thanks Niander.

Will I have to remove the tube and bracket from the crankcase and gearbox or can i strip and paint in situ do you think?
Horsley-Anarak
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Horsley-Anarak »

The paint I use is

Image

Lasts quite well

Leave the plastic bit on the drive tube that fits into the gearbox, or you may find it is undersize when painted.

H-A
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Hugz
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Hugz »

Pretty easy job to remove. Undo the two top nuts and take the spit pin out of the top clutch rod and slide out of clutch lever. The bottom end with driveshaft/tube will come apart leaving the exhaust and water pipe attached to motor. Mind you it wouldn't be a bad idea to remove exhaust tube from motor and check water pipe union at block. I wouldn't worry about removing drive tube from water housing.... fraught with danger (shearing bolts, tearing metal etc) You would appreciate one of these for the nut between exhaust and drive tube.
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obstruction spanner.JPG
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Heron Addict
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Heron Addict »

Thanks for the excellent advice. I'd be lost without it!

I have done as suggested and removed the tube from the crankcase and cut off all of the plastic tube. Hugz was right an offset spanner would have been damn useful, I managed eventually without. Fortuiately the nuts werent on too tight. As advised I left the gearbox assembly attached, the mild steel is in pretty good nick down there anyway. The main corrosion is about 2/3 way up, where it is quite pitted and around the top where the transom mount fitted and at the top bracket.
20130227_223256.jpg
Pretty sure it should still be ok after a good clean up and paint though.
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Niander101
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Niander101 »

You must get that spanner!
i also got a snail brand one...twice as likely to find it!
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Heron Addict »

After the kerfuffle getting the nut off there Niander I think I should invest in one! It didnt look too difficult, but every angle I tried was damn hard work...
2013-02-27 23.16.30.jpg
Done a first rough clean and the bracket will come up nicely with a bit of a tickle. I wont be able to get rid of the pitting along the shaft though. It looks like reasonable grade steel, so I dont suppose it will be weakened significantly if I treat with rust cure and paint. Paint job might look a tad rough though.
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Hugz
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Hugz »

Sooner or later you will come across a good drive tube so just tidy that one up.

That nut is designed to keep novices at bay... :lol:
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Heron Addict »

Hugz wrote:That nut is designed to keep novices at bay... :lol:
It didn't stop me, but I did have to go to the fridge for a beer while I tackled it :)
2013-02-27 23.33.04.jpg
2013-02-27 23.33.11.jpg
I think you are right, that shaft is a bit far gone. I am sure it is functional though and It will do until a better one shows up. Unless my engineer friend wants to make me a stainless or titanium one with his collection of scraps!
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Hugz
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Hugz »

One beer, wow you did get it off quickly :shock:
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Heron Addict »

A week ago I took delivery of my 40 plus and it started first pull. Now I have an assortment of parts laid out in the garden :lol:
2013-02-28 12.09.23.jpg
At least I am familiarizing myself with my enghine though which is all good.

I have cleaned up the drive shaft tube and waiting foir the paint to harden. While I was at it I have had a good look through the exhaust outlet, difficult to see on the photos as the light bhasnt carried into the cylinder. But the piston, piston rings and cylinder all looked nice and shiny to me.
2013-02-28 11.53.16.jpg
2013-02-28 20.57.10.jpg
The block could do with a lick of paint, hopefully I can do that this weekend and put it all back together again!
Last edited by Heron Addict on Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
Horsley-Anarak
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Horsley-Anarak »

Looking good and good pictures.

H-A
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Heron Addict
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by Heron Addict »

Best I could do with the drive tube. I applied some kurust, then some primer and several coats of satin black paint.

The pitted area on the shaft is still obvious, but hopefully I have stopped any deterioration and it will be perfectly functional.
2013-03-02 17.26.18.jpg
2013-03-02 17.26.42.jpg
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1650bullet
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Re: Rusty drive shaft tube and top collar

Post by 1650bullet »

Thats come up real good.i wouid not worry to much about the pitting, poeple wont notice it unless you show them.
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