[Doug]

Originally Posted by Chiefkey

Update on the Torque Tube Insulators Project. Talked to the gentleman who made the prototypes and he's found a machinist to make the metal retainer portion of the part. He's going to order the materials and start making an initial run of 30 or so pieces. If they turn out as nice as the initial samples he sent me, we should finally have a source of new insulator/bearing assemblies for the Torque Tube Shaft. It looks like the price will be around $ 100-120 + shipping for a pair with the bearings installed. I'll get some pic's posted once I get the parts.
JK

Jeff, Thanks for the effort on this project. Since our last "private message" discussions when you indicated the problem of getting the metal retainers, I re-visited my above #46 post where I indicated that Schedule 80 pipe could be used. I was wrong about that!

In following up on it, I did some research and concluded that Schedule 160 pipe or 2 1/8" O.D. tubing (1.688 I.D.) could be used. BOTH of these materials are expensive. However, it looks like there would be relatively simple and minimal amount of machining required (as say, compared to using round bar stock).

As it turns outs, only Tuesday evening I discussed the matter with a retired design engineer friend who is AutoCAD proficient about getting a drawing put together for the retainer. I think that getting a commercial machine shop to do these (in low units) would be quite expensive. I had in mind approaching some of the local high school vocational teachers and seeing if they would be interested in doing them as a class project.

So, I am quite pleased that the metal retainer issue has been resolved and the project can go ahead. I know the setup costs to do it are going to be a few to several hundred dollars so I hope that potential buyers will be willing to sign up in advance and pay some portion of the purchase price to fund the startup expenses.

Thanks again!

P.S. Any word from the guy about making the other part I mentioned to you? I know he can make those easily and it could be that you could offer those pieces at the same time you do the insulators. I am sure that anyone wanting the insulators would probably want the other piece. That would save some shipping costs.