Shaft Brake

[Tradewinds]

Does anyone have any experience of the -

Easy Lok shaft brake (update of Shaft Lok) - http://www.shaftlok.com/

1.375" shaft with 3 bladed fixed prop 22 x 13

Brunton's also do a more sophisticated shaft brake - any views on that are welcome too.

I know I could use molegrips, rolling hitch, my son's motorcycle's front disc etc etc but at this point in time I'm looking for a ready-made unit, fit for purpose .

TIA

 

[Tranona]

What are you trying to achieve with a shaft brake? Most gearboxes except hydraulic can be locked in gear without harm. The jury is out on whether there is less drag with prop spinning or locked.

If the objective is reduced drag, for example locking a 2 blader vertical a shaft brake might be useful - but not relevant in your case. If the objective is reduced drag than a feathering or maybe a folding prop is the way to go.

 

[Tradewinds]

Don't want a debate

Hi Tranona

I'm not interested in the pros & cons of whether a prop is locked or not - all I want to hear is whether anyone has experience of the Easy Lok (or Brunton's Autolock).

Ta

 

[npf1]

Hi Tradewinds. I've used the orginal version of the ShaftLok with a 27" Autoprop. I found it well made ('bullet proof'), easy and safe to use but it would 'let go' whenever I managed to get a bit of extra speed coming off a wave.

Setting it required the shaft to be virtually stationary, so I would briefly engage forward, with the engine running, then go to neutral and then immediately set the brake. If this wasn't done within a few seconds the propshaft would be spinning too quickly in reverse to set the shaftlok, resulting in starting the process again. Looks like the new design is an attempt to resolve this.

Oh .. the Shaftlok is pretty big, so carefully check you've got enough space.

Ken @ Shaftlok was very helpful in trying to resolve the 'letting go' issue I had and supplied a stonger spring, but the issue did not go away for me. Seems to be something to do with the shape of my boat's deadwood rather than a prop of shaft brake issue.

PM me if you want any more info.

 

[Tradewinds]

Hi Tradewinds. I've used the orginal version of the ShaftLok with a 27" Autoprop. I found it well made ('bullet proof'), easy and safe to use but it would 'let go' whenever I managed to get a bit of extra speed coming off a wave.

Setting it required the shaft to be virtually stationary, so I would briefly engage forward, with the engine running, then go to neutral and then immediately set the brake. If this wasn't done within a few seconds the propshaft would be spinning too quickly in reverse to set the shaftlok, resulting in starting the process again. Looks like the new design is an attempt to resolve this.

Oh .. the Shaftlok is pretty big, so carefully check you've got enough space.

Ken @ Shaftlok was very helpful in trying to resolve the 'letting go' issue I had and supplied a stonger spring, but the issue did not go away for me. Seems to be something to do with the shape of my boat's deadwood rather than a prop of shaft brake issue.

PM me if you want any more info.

Thanks - that's the sort of firsthand information I'm after. Have you heard from anybody whether the Easy Lok has solved the 'letting go' issue? Surfing down a wave is just when I would want the shaft to stay locked. On the website they seem more concerned about the ease of engagement which of course is an issue as well.

Thanks for the heads up regarding size - I'll go back to the website & check out the dimensions more thoroughly.

 

[npf1]

From what I gather, the letting go issue seemed to be unique to my situation. Ken Nigel, the guy who makes the Shaftlok, claimed it wasn't an issue that had come up many times in the past and, when it had, the stronger spring in the locking mechanism resolved it. When I showed Bruntons pics of the boat's aperture and deadwood, they reckoned the shape of the deadwood was causing some turbulence that was preventing a blade on the prop from feathering properly, hence inducing rotation in the prop.

I've now removed the Shaftlok, sold it and intend - when I get around to it - to put together a system based around a mountain bike disc brake caliper gripping onto a stainless disc that I've mounted on the shaft coupling.