I am building my third longtail and I've run into an issue. My middle and top bronze bushing are getting too hot. The middle one gets pretty warm, but the top one will burn you after you run it for 5 minutes. I have no idea what the problem can be. All of the bushings easily slide up and down the entire length of the shaft. When the bushings are installed, the shaft easily slide into place, all the way up to the u joint. But like I said after you run the motor for 5 minutes, the top and middle bushings are too hot. I've got a grease fitting installed between the top and middle bushings and I've got the grease cup half way filled up. I've slid the u joint back and forth on the motor shaft and I still can't seem to fix the problem. Does anyone have any ideas of what I could do?

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/INA-Ne ... Pid=search

Would these work in place of the bronze bushings? Do you think I could get away with just putting one bearing on each end of the shaft tube? I'd still put my same seals on each end. Do you think I'd be alright with them only being .75" in length?

the slightest bend will cause your problem

check and double check to make sure both blades on your prop are pitched identically and are the same surface area. had a 'brand new' prop that was off that smoked a top shaft bearing in 20 minutes. check your shaft straightness as well.

is the top tube full of grease? you may have an air pocket in the tube. how high on the shaft is your threaded grease vent, or is that where your grease cup is screwed in? make absolutely sure grease is getting to the top bearing.

being that it is 2 bushings, I would guess shaft or prop out of whack.