Solas Rubex failure

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

Yes, just about home w hand pressure.1/8 inch gap maybe.I added the rest of the parts tightened It and then removed the nut spacer and looked carefully and the back of the hub looked flush w the inner surface of the prop cavity.I then tightened it to about 25 lb on a needle type 1/2" torque wrench.there was alot of grease on the threads though.i think i got another turn on the castle nut when I checked the hub after reading this post,but not sure .I torqued it 25+/-lb again.oops just reread your post. im positive the hub went home on the new thrust washer.and it appears the old prop/thrust washer had more clearance for the exhaust opening but its hard to tell for sure.

 

[roostonu]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

The hub does push all the way in by hand and any gap that may be left will be taken up when the prop is torqued on. The brass center of the rubber hub contacts the thrush washer which has a tapered bore so that it seats on the tapered shaft. Then the prop nut and washer contact the prop face and it pushes the prop the rest of the way on to the hub until the prop face contacts the brass hub of the rubex. If the gap wasn't taken up, you would never get it torqued because you would be squishing the rubber instead of seating up against the brass center of the hub.

There is obviously a trend here and a design flaw.

I DID CONTACT SOLAS AND DID NOT GET A REPLY.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

a design flaw..Contact your selling vendor and get a new prop..It does not take a month or two to determine a spun hub or a bad insert.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

I searched online, and various other boat forums and could not find any complaints about the hub sticking or spinning in the prop. So I went ahead and ordered two Rubex 3 props, one 19 and one 21 pitch. Which ever works best as the all around will be the primary prop, and the other will be the backup.

I'll let you know how they work for me, especially the hub issue.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

My rubex 4bld, upon inspection as stated earlier had twisted slightly when veiwed from the front when removed.I could see a slight triangle shaped gap where the flats of the hub and prop mated.not a great deal of twist,but I could not,did not, easily remove the hub from the prop/like it went on.I was also concerned when installing it that the splines inside the hub were only on the back half of the length of the hub.there was a gap between the splines and the thrust washer.I seems to me.(im no expert or mechanical engineer) that not having the splines run the length of the hub would put more stress on the end of the prop shaft.but i guess there is a reason why they made it this way,or I have the wrong hub.anyone from Solas out there? maybe you could answer all of our questions.

 

[davlafont]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

I wish I could weigh in more on this topic. Alas, my boat is shared among multiple family members and has been pulled for the winter and stored without me. Too bad, because our Solas 4-blade got enough use toward the end of the season for me to report on twist and ease of hub removal (or lack thereof).

To be continued next spring...

 

[Mark42]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

The Rubex props came the other day. When installed, the hub did fit snug, expecially once the prop nut was tightened down. Once removed, the hub was easily knocked out with a hammer and thick dowel.

I now have 19 and 21 pitch Rubex props and will be testing each with the new outboard after break-in. Will start with the 19 pitch.

I don't know what will happen once the motor is put in the water, but I will let you know in about 2 - 3 weeks.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

tell us about your Hammer/dowl success after your run it please.mine was quite stuck!!

 

[Dave.Mishchenko]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

I had to replaced a Solas Rubex 4 blade after I hit a rock and the hub came out fairly easily with a dowel and hammer. The prop had been tightened to the correct torque for an Alpha 1 Gen 2. It took a few moderate taps. The hub didn't show any evidence of twisting within the prop.

 

[rgnichol]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

I have a 95 Bayliner 2540 Classic. New, two months ago and 14.5 hours ago, GM Power Package - 5.7L, 310hp. New SEI 116 outdrive with 1.47 gear ratio. Solas Rubex L3 Blade Stainless 15.5" dia. X 17" pitch SR, with Solas RBX-102 - High Performance Rubber Hub.

I noticed for the last two trips, the RPM would raise and the speed would decrease on occasion. Last trip when the RPM increased without reason, I slowed the boat to a stop, ran the boat in reverse for a short distance, and the placed it into forward. This seemed to correct the problem for the rest of the day.

Upon returning home, I jumped on Google to see if anybody had the same symptoms. I found that I didn?t appear to be alone.

I went out and removed the prop and the removed the hub from the prop, and found evidence of the prop slipping on the hub. The prop looks like the day it came out of the box without even the slightest nick. I know that I haven?t hit anything so there must be a problem with the hub.

I have emailed Sola and waiting their reply.

Has anyone been in contact with Sola or IBoats.com?

 

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

By "evidence of prop slipping" do you mean the hub rotated or spun inside of the prop.?

 

[rgnichol]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

Yes, the rubber hub showed evidence of spinning/slipping within the prop. The rubber was marred/damaged on the high corners of the hub. The damage wasn?t severe enough to warrant the replacement of the hub, but I am waiting to see what Sola has to say in reply to my email. Ultimately, I will replace the hub.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

I never removed mine since looking at it last year when the hub was slightly twisted and stuck in the bore of the prop. I havent had any issues w vibration or visual wobbleing or further slipping on my prop on a 4 stroke Yamaha 90, it seems to work fine so far.

 

[rgnichol]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

I have a 95 Bayliner 2540 Classic. New, two months ago and 14.5 hours ago, GM Power Package - 5.7L, 310hp. New SEI 116 outdrive with 1.47 gear ratio. Solas Rubex L3 Blade Stainless 15.5" dia. X 17" pitch SR, with Solas RBX-102 - High Performance Rubber Hub.

I noticed for the last two trips, the RPM would raise and the speed would decrease on occasion. Last trip when the RPM increased without reason, I slowed the boat to a stop, ran the boat in reverse for a short distance, and the placed it into forward. This seemed to correct the problem for the rest of the day.

Upon returning home, I jumped on Google to see if anybody had the same symptoms. I found that I didn?t appear to be alone.

I went out and removed the prop and the removed the hub from the prop, and found evidence of the prop slipping on the hub. The prop looks like the day it came out of the box without even the slightest nick. I know that I haven?t hit anything so there must be a problem with the hub.

I have emailed Sola and waiting their reply.

Has anyone been in contact with Sola or IBoats.com?

I got a reply from Solas last night. (See below) I have sent High Res pictures to them per their request and now am a waiting their reply.

Solas reply:

"Dear Robert,
Thank you for your mail.
Please kindly offer us some pictures with the hub and the prop, we will have our QC people to look into it.
If the hub is a manufacturing defect, please kindly take your receipt to the origin of purchase and follow their return policy.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards
"

 

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

Perhaps 90 hp isnt enough to spin the rubex hub?

 

[rgnichol]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

Perhaps 90 hp isnt enough to spin the rubex hub?

You may be right. They rate the hub @ 400hp and my engine is only rated @ 310hp... However, they don't rate the hub by torque, which I believe is more relevent to the hubs design. My engine is rated @ 370lb-ft @ 3200 rpm which is where I cruise. It is not HP that breaks shafts, it is torque.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

I believe they claimed the hub will allow 10 percent twist to help w buffering shifting. I know mine is way smoother shifting and when running the boat than the factory prop. Will they replace it for you?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

After a few hours of running the 19 pitch prop, I swapped it for the 21 pitch. What a pain getting the hub out of the prop. Had to set the prop on wood blocks, and drive out hub with hammer and dowel. Same thing happened when swapping from the 21 back to the 19 a few days and a few trips later.

Other than that, the props perform very well.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Solas Rubex failure

Im going to buy another rubex 4 because Ive found my rpms to be slightly above specified range w the 17pitch and an average load. Ill just buy another hub for the new prop to avoid changing the hub from prop to prop.