greetings everyone this is my first post and i have a question reguarding a long tail build that i plan on doing using the mad mudmotor plans,the first question (with many more to follow) i plan on using a 13hp motor which will be the predator from hf.i was told i need to use a bearing on the upper shaft. is this recommended or can i just use the brass bushing?this will be my first build so i'm trying to work the bugs out on paper. thanks

IMO Bearing is the better setup. The less contact points the better. Especially in spots that will be out of the water.

ds541
Im also planning a build starting in the next couple months. I got some good advice on my thread below "Auto Lubicator on Longtail Build?" you should check it out. I also pulled the service manuals of the MB and GD off the net and they give you a great break down on how they are put together. Im using a 10hp Honda and plan on using bearings on the top end for sure and maybe even on the bottom end.

RuckUp

I built mine and could have bought one from back h20 cheaper and had a warranty.

when you do the bearings the added structure for the big motors it costs when buying one at a time. I figured all parts and half my labor and would have been money ahead. The motor I have now is my third build and will buy next. It will be H20 when I buy. A very good CO.

what is this h20 yo0u speak of?

BACK********WATER****INC.com remove the *

thank you

Power731
In your post you mentioned it would be cheaper to buy a new motor rather than building your own. Since you already have built three I was just wondering if you could share where your biggest expenses were? Im getting ready to do my first build and im wondering if Im missing something. The motor Im building would cost about $2K+ if I bought it new and I figure I can build it for about half that.

Thanks
RuckUp

Biggest expense is the motor, Depending on what you want you can get them fairly cheap if you know where to go. Do a google search on 16hp duromax, and 22hp Carol and Stream. This will save you money in the long run, these engines run great. Never had one blowup, and if it does you are still money ahead and can afford to buy a new engine and usually still be money ahead. The biggest challenge is getting all your angles and supports down. This can be a tedious process if you are just doing your first one. These mud motors (american longtails NOT Thai peices of crap) can usually be built for a 1/3 of retail. You trade off hours of research, work, sleep, and modification for the extra price on retail. Id be happy to help ya if you run into a jam, just PM me (that goes for anybody else too!). I've built half a dozen of these and on each one I feel like I learn something new.

Thanks for the info SwampDonkey I may take you up on your offer in a few months when I start my build.

RuckUp

Yep I agree if you have to buy the tools just for a motor build I can see how it would be worth just buying a new one. But on the other hand if you are looking for the oportunity to buy more tools or if you have them and just like tinkering around like myself....

any tools that i would need to buy would be tools that i needed or wanted any way,i cant afford to drop big dollars all at once for a new lt,at least for a build i can spread the cash flow out over a period of time and have a project this winter.

DS541
Are you using a premade prop shaft or getting/machining your own? Just curious, I was thinking of just buying a premade one as it may be cheaper??

have not got that far yet, but the idea of using a pre made shaft sounds like a good one for my first build. i have not called my local machine shop yet to get a price from them.