Hi Paul. I am revisiting the long drive shaft for a pusher design.
With the progress made on composite drive shaft, is the option of
long and light prop shaft becoming more of a reality now? I saw a lot
of automotive carbon shafts on the market now for very decent prices.
Could a simpler design with rubber couplings instead of power/slip
clutch be made to work without outlandish development cost and
headache? I would appreciate your thought.
Luke F Wings.


How long?

I would use a minimum of 3.5 inch diameter aluminum tube.
Cut the wall thickness on a lathe to  .062" to save weight.
Then anodize it so epoxy will stick .
diagonally wrap carbon fiber to a total thickness of .125 to .2 inch.

If not too long get a stock  RX8 carbon drive shaft from a junk yard.
Yes rubber couplings are the way to go.

Paul Lamar

Will anodizing be as good as the process used on grumman GA?
THANKS.
L F WINGS.

I don't know what they used on that airplane. You can buy a kit in
West Marine to treat aluminum for epoxy bonding.

How long is the prop shaft?

Paul Lamar




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