Airbike

My Feedback: (6)

Has anyone tried to harden the GWS gear/prop shaft? I'm using the 3mm x 60mm shaft and although they are easily replaced, it gets annoying since they seem to bend easily.
Also, is there a good way to straighten them out?
I know, I know, stop crashing and I'll have no more bent shafts [:@] I'm working on that, but its way more fun to play down really low. I guess I'm ducking too often to get outta the way[X(]

I'm going to try to harden a spare shaft tonight and see what happens. There was a good article on RCU a while back on how to go about annealing the steel and then re-tempering it to get what hardness you want. Good thing I printed a copy since I didn't save the link.

Anybody tried this already?

Time Pilot

If you harden the shaft and it works, please post your results and methods. I joined the "Bent Prop Shaft Club" yesterday.

Too much up down low does not equal up!

Knocked the wheels off the Slow Stick. I'm not sure if I cracked the front wing mount/landing gear holder or not. Am ordering a whole new second SS for parts....

jonnyjetprop

My Feedback: (3)

Try these guys.

http://www.e-flightline.com/gearboxes.htm

John

GWR

My Feedback: (31)

Ive seen hardened shafts advertised somewhere here. I think "Cobri" was the brand name. Try doing a search. GWR

Airbike

My Feedback: (6)

John and GWR, thanks for the link. The stuff they offer looks great but pricey. Its already enough that we end up spending $400+ in electronics to get a $30 plane to fly.

Well, I heated up a shaft til cherry red and then quenched it in water. I don't think anything changed except for the discoloration [&o]. I tested one in the field already when one of the aileron servos locked up [:@]. Yep, bent shaft.

I don't think the shaft is carbon steel as it will not suspend between two magnets. So I guess this heat treating doesn't apply. Anyways, the heating and quenching didn't seem to make much difference so don't waste your time.

Its been a loooong time since my materials engineering classes, does anyone out there know what the stock GWS shafts are made of?

Of course, I'm leaning towards a brushless out-runner motor so I can go direct drive with a 12x6 prop. No more gearbox pinion, spurs, housing, shafts, and noise too!

steve ypsi mi

a old man who was in his 80's told me to heat to cherry red and drop it into oil not water, he worked for GM as a heat treater for 35 years, it worked on a frizzen on a flint lock that had lost the spark because it was to soft.

Airbike

My Feedback: (6)

Steve, I was going to try that also, but decided it was not worth the effort since I don't know what the stock GWS shafts are made from. I'll just use (and straighten) the serveral spare shafts that I have until I get one of the Cobri hardened stainless steel shafts (around $9 for shaft + $6 for a prop adaptor) when I run out of spares.

E*nealio

My Feedback: (10)

lol i had one of those cobri gear boxes from e-flightline and the 400 shaft bent an now im in a pickle and needing to buy a whole new one+gear+housing......... they arent crash resistant
they way it bent was on a NO POWER hand launch,dont ask, an uncle who has never seen a gws plane threw it with my back turned and it took a nose dive barely craking the foam on my me-109 but it bent the dang cobri shaft! So heads up, the can be bent(every shaft can, just some are more likely than others) and it just might have been a bad angle for mine but its bent and i gatta shell out another 30 bucks for a new one.......dumb uncle