Drivesaver

[Wally Boggus]

I have had my engine remounted to achieve good alignment but the drivetrain still produces high frequency vibration at anything over 2500. Engine runs very smooth in neutral over 3000. Would think that the in-gear vibration could be at least partly contributed to the fact that I have a flexibly mounted engine coupled to a relatively inflexible prop shaft. Seems logical to me then that some buffer between the engine and prop shaft should help reduce vibration and any adverse effects to hardware in the drivetrain. I have ordered a R & D flexible coupling "drivesaver" that is supposed to reduce vibration.Has anyone else installed one, if so, what is your experience? w

 

[Gordon Torresen]

High rev vibration

Vibration that occurrs only at high RPM is usually and imbalance in the prop shaft. When the engine is turning that high there is so much energy in the flywheel that it would be almost impossible to move the engine. The propeller and shaft are different matters. A prop can be out of ballance if one blade is longer than the other or if the pitch of the blades is not absolutely perfectly matched. Occasionally the bore in a prop is not centered in the hub. A slight bend in the shaft shows up as imballance at higher RPM. If the shaft and coupling face is not exactly perpendicular a whip is introduced into the shaft. A drive saver can never hurt, unless it moves the prop into the rudder or makes the shaft overhang too great. It may not cure your vibration problems.

 

[Wally Boggus]

Thanks Gordon...

Hmmm....guess I'll start with a look at the prop if drivesaver doesn't help.w

 

[Doug]

Installed the r and d

Putting it in is not the easiest thing I have done. Not much clearance on bolts and you do it 1/8 turn at a time on some of them. Comes with decent albeit brief instructions..follow them. All in all, not too bad. Ps. no real noticable difference in vibes.