Can anyone tell me what the distance is between the two output shafts in the Battlers Connection one motor/two shaft gearbox? (Need to know before placing an order and thought I might get a faster answer here.) Bob
I'll use it in the Indefatigable and the Furious if the distance between the output shafts is wide enough. I briefly drove my old Courageous (now Mike DeMarco's) at 24 sec/100' on a Dumas gear system with a single 545 motor (the Dumas gears kept shifting on their mounting plate) so I know the nearly identical Furious can get up to speed (especially the slower Treaty speed) on a single 550. Same for the Indefatigable which is only a tad lighter though over 16" shorter. Bob
If it doesn't turn out to be the right size, let me know what you need and I can see about making it for you.
Distance between shaft centers is, 1-9/16 inch. What I like about it is that the output shafts can be reversed so that the motor sits to the rear of the gearbox. But it works either way of course. You can run 1-1/2 props with no problem.
Thanks David, The only models I've built with prop shafts that close together are of Class 3 and below. Just measured the Indefatigable and Furious hulls - the gearbox will barely fit the Indefatigable without the props hitting the hull but not the Furious, which has a wider stern skeg. I'll order one for the I-boat. Bob
Bob, I used my drill press to make a gearbox for the Australia from some aluminum box section (1/8" wall thickness, 3/4"x1.5" section)... While my shafts are pretty close together, I had contemplated fabricating one with an extra gear between the two large driven gears to spread the output shafts further for use on a larger ship. Not too hard to do if you have a drill press, and the box section aluminum is pretty cheap.
Of course, there is the issue that if one prop fouls or is jammed, both are disabled. And the issue that if your motor fails for some reason, both props stop. I tend to use armored (sealed) gearboxes on each motor, myself, if not direct drive. Keeps the balsa and other debris out of the gears. Cheers,
