Weed eater engine conversion

Since this has gotten NO reply at all as it did a year ago, I'm assuming it wouldn't work.If however I do get bored and cant come up with a fun project by summer. I will give it a shot anyway and let you all know how it turned out.

 

sea trials

it happens this week end home made out board blackndecker two stroke weed eater no clutch no flexi drive starts whith prop in waterplenty of push in test tank going on the back of a 14 foot tinny going to thrash the hell out of it see how long it lasts

 

I am thinking that maybe a nozzle arrangement around a sharp edge propellor would accomdate the high RPMs..

Just an idea

 

Hey all i just started an idea i had for the weed eater prop plan.My friend Travis said he made one with a stright shaft, and I was wondering if that was possible? And if possible if i brace a 6 inch fan blade would it make my 2 person raft go?

FordManiac1112

 

I've built one of these sort of like a go devil. the trolling motor prop is the wrong direction. I will be posting some pics if you need demintions I can give them to you. The complete build cost about $175.00 if you have to buy a weedeater the best one to use is the homelite one wheel edger.But if you already have one maybe you can adapt it or get back with me and I might be able to help you with it. The one I built works greats it catches a lot of abuse in the swamp. It sure beets paddling. The motor is big enough to turn a 8" prop but you have to block the cutch to direct drive. The prop can be made from a peice of sheet metal. depending on the type of running your going to use it for depends on the size an pitch I a 6.75 x 4. But if your just in open water a 8 x 4 will do fine. please contact me I have more the enough info to help you out.

 

If the trolling motor prop is the wrong direction, just put it on the other end of the boat! Like a trolling motor!

Does a weed eater motor work tilted at an angle? If so has anyone tried to do a Thai longtail with one?

 

Hey Ward, remeber this pharse "less is more" do litsen to these guys I have a working drive that i will be glad to share with you. Some of these ideas are very good but to much thinking involved. The mount is simple and the prop can be made with a piece of sheet metal using a vise and a hammer. And to all you folks out there think a flex shaft won't work because of under water or to much torq tell that to the one I use every year for hunting three month out the year in 2" of water with 14' round bottom pirogue running mud hitting stumps for the last 5 years and still running stong. just cause you may live here doesn't mean you have seen every thing. I've been there done that and still doing it and so is half the people i hunt with that have one I made for them. Ward I will help you with this matter and by the weekend post some pics for all you engineers out their. Ward if you want I can make the pieces for you and send them. I work for a plant in maint. and have alot of time on my hands.

 

Yes they work tilted don't you use one on your grass. Most engines can be turned on the shaft anyway.

 

weedeater longtale

Here is some pics of my motor that been working fine for 5 years. So feast your eyes we might be "COONASSES" but we know our boats & motors.

 

hmmmm.....

Wow ddomp, aside from the improvised rod holder for a mount, thats pretty much a carbon copy of my first prototype that I posted pics and info about on various forums two years prior to your patent date.

To all the nay sayers out there, I can tell you that this does work, and works well if done properly. Having done a lot of experimenting and having refined my design many times, I found that the electric trolling motor props are not the way to go. They will work to an extent, but as mentioned by someone else, they bog way down under load. You need a small prop with a shallow pitch. I found a 5 1/2" 2 bladed prop to be ideal, and even had good success with a 3" 3 blade prop. Of course I took my design alot farther than merely slapping a Walmart prop on a weedwacker. I ended up taking mine from a "conversion" to a scratch built drive made from thick walled aircraft aluminum tube with a TIG welded skeg, full bearings and seals. I found a straight drive (styled after the long tail mud motors) to work best. I push a 14' wooden duck boat with mine and it will do about 5 mph fully loaded with lots of gear. It also does very well in weeds. Heres some pics of my refined design.

 

prop

Good job. Best design I have seen. I'm trying to do something similiar for a 1 man pontoon boat. Where did you find the propeller?

 

AttN: Ripped Off

Nice looking power plant. I am the Kayaking Editor for Texas Fish & Game magazine and wanted to see if anyone has mounted your engine to a kayak. If your schedule allows, please drop me a note at kayaking@fishgame.com.

Best Greg

 

Attn. Ripped Off,
Where did you find a prop like that or did you make it, would like some info about that if you don't mind. burns142@yahoo.com

 

I've built a few of these units in the past 5 years for friends. I don't know of anyone using one on a kayak as we use them for duck boats, but I'm sure one could power a kayak quite well with it. I'm stepping my design up once again, and this weekend will be fabricating one with gear reduction.

 

Attn: Ripped Off

Would you contact me at jndbyrne@flash.net. I would like more info on your reduced gear design.