Motor Shaft

[Nigel Heather]

Just bought my very first electric motor, an Overlander Tornado Thumper, I say first because all the rest have been included as part of an ARTF, so this is the first one that I have independently selected and purchased.

 

What puzzles me is - why does the shaft stick out the back - I get that the prop adaptor bolts to the front of the case which rotates, so I can see that it will work.  I have also looked at other alternatives that I considered and they are exactly the same.

 

So why does the shaft protrude out the back?

 

Cheers,

 

Nigel

[john davidson 1]

It is so it can be reversed for different mountings,  someone with more knowledge might explain more. Probably can be cut off but I have not done this, but I have removed the circlip and pushed  the shaft through , then replaced the clip .

[kc]

Don't know whythey are like that,  but the shaft can be left as is and project into fuselage if surrounded by some wood to protect Lipo impaling itself in a crash.   Others wrap the motor in polythene and masking tape and cut off excess shaft with a Dremel and cutting disc.   Easier to buy Turnigy etc rather than Overlander or 4 Max to get front shaft as standard.

Edited February 27, 2023 by kc

[Nigel Heather]

14 minutes ago, kc said:

Don't know whythey are like that,  but the shaft can be left as is and project into fuselage if surrounded by some wood to protect Lipo impaling itself in a crash.   Others wrap the motor in polythene and masking tape and cut off excess shaft with a Dremel and cutting disc.   Easier to buy Turnigy etc rather than Overlander or 4 Max to get front shaft as standard.

Thanks, I was originally looking at the 4-Max, that has the shaft protruding out the rear too, though I note that you can buy a collect type prop adaptor as an extra so maybe you can take t(e motor apart and fit the shaft so that it protrudes out the front.

 

Might have a look at the Turnigy offerings - as you say, I don’t like the shaft sticking out into the battery compartment.

[Andy Gates]

Nigel,

 

It is exactly as you have surmised.

 

You can mount the motor with the motor in front of the firewall and use the supplied adaptor which bolts onto the metal rotating can - use threadlock on the motor mount and prop adaptor bolts.

 

Or the motor can be fitted behind the firewall with the shaft sticking out and the prop mounted via a collet type adaptor.

 

Depends on the aircraft it is being fitted to. My gliders normally have the latter while my planes the former method is predominant.

[Nigel Heather]

24 minutes ago, Andy Gates said:

Nigel,

 

It is exactly as you have surmised.

 

You can mount the motor with the motor in front of the firewall and use the supplied adaptor which bolts onto the metal rotating can - use threadlock on the motor mount and prop adaptor bolts.

 

Or the motor can be fitted behind the firewall with the shaft sticking out and the prop mounted via a collet type adaptor.

 

Depends on the aircraft it is being fitted to. My gliders normally have the latter while my planes the former method is predominant.

 

Thanks, I wasn’t thinking logically - didn’t occur to me to fit the mount on the front of the plane.

[Andy Gates]

Nigel,

 

That is a good example of what this forum is all about.

 

I am an instructor and tell all my students that there is no such thing as a stupid question, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask as you will then not understand🤔

 

Glad to help😃

[kc]

There is also another solution - I usually mount the Lipo on a liteply plate and for one motor which had the shaft projecting rearwards I cut a slot in the ply and arranged it so the ply plate was exactly at a height to match the motor shaft.   Therefore the motor shaft was protected from the Lipo ( & vice versa ) and only needed another bit of wood over the shaft to ensure wires etc didn't rub on the shaft.