Need advice re my Albacore WTC bulkheads

[craigf]

I am wondering if my WTC top may have "FRONT" at the wrong end. It's apparent from the pics that the bulkhead positions would match the instruction photos more closely if I reversed the top. As it is, there is no more than 1mm clearance between the rear bulkhead and the motor pulleys (the top one is of concern). Clearance is clearance, it's darn close, but I'm wondering if this is a change from when the photos were done, or a mislabeling. BTW, the motor/shaft seal is correctly mounted/assembled.

Second, I can't get the bulkheads to stick to the WTC bottom because they slightly don't match the curvature, and CA doesn't allow much gap to work well. Yes, I always sand all surfaces to be glued, and the CA is "good" Bob Smith brand (I have had defective bottles of BS before, this bottle works). The top bulkheads stuck OK with CA because the curvatures matched better. Are these bulkheads PVC...could I use PVC cement that fills gaps better? They're not some plastic that PVC cement will "melt" are they? Styrene cement better than that? Anyway, there's no way the CA will work for me, I've been trying to glue the bottom BHs for 2 days and too much gap for them to stay solid, CA glue joints keep springing apart. So not too late for me to re-position them if somebody thinks my WTC top may be mislabeled.

This is a new kit, in case there were any part changes. Everything else so far has gone together as described in the instructions. Thanks.

[liftmys10]

If it helps, i can

If it helps, i can take pictures of my wtc bulkheads so you can verify with yours. If you want me to do so, let me know where you want the pictures to be shot exactly.

[craigf]

Thanks, but I guess what

Thanks, but I guess what I'm getting at is whether the designer changed the position of the bulkheads since the instruction photos were shot (I know your Albacore is a few years old), maybe to give a touch more room for batteries etc. at the front, or whether my WTC top was mislabeled, FRONT should have been at the other end. I built as though the labeling was correct, but what with the CA fiasco mentioned and the position still changeable no problem, decided I might as well ask. The photos clearly show a fair separation between the motor pulleys and the BH, not possible if the WTC top is reversed.

[craigf]

Noone built an Albacore recenty??

Noone built an Albacore recenty?? I'd really like to get the bulkheads positioned and let all the WTC glue etc. dry for a few days before doing anything else with it. Know anybody else who might not read this board often I could e-mail to ask? I'm concerned about the rear BH position because a) motor vibration *may* cause the large pulley to hit the BH (it's really that close, but probably OK) and b) the motor may not be removable if necessary in future without breaking out that BH. Of course, these may not be issues at all, I don't know yet, and it may have been decided it's preferable for some reasons to have the rear BH closer to the motor...it just doesn't match the photos and for my first sub I'm going to do it "stock" with no changes from instructions. Thanks.

[tmsmalley]

Have you tried emailing SubTech?

Have you tried emailing SubTech?

[liftmys10]

Have you tried emailing SubTech?
i

Have you tried emailing SubTech?

i have and he has yet to respond to my email. No luck in doing that.

[subtech]

Tim offered good advice, as

[color=#000000]Tim offered good advice, as neither myself or Skip Asay (the designer) necessarily visit the message board on a daily basis, so sending an email is always preferable.

Liftmys10 - What email address are you using? As I have not received any emails from you.

Craig,

To answer your question, the bulkhead positions have not changed from the early kits.

The way to differentiate between the front and back of the pressure hull lid, is that the radius between the front face and the top is less than the radius between the back face and the top i.e. the front radius is tighter than the rear.

There should be about a 1/4” gap between the front of the pulley and the rear face of the rear bulkhead.

There should be no more than about 3/8” between the rear of the motor and the rear face of the lower pressure hull. If it is more than this I would suspect that the ADS drive shaft is not pushed fully home inside the SSS seal housing.

To do any further investigation I would need to know the following dimensions from your assembly so far]

[craigf]

I went ahead and installed

I went ahead and installed it as marked, instruction photos be da*ned...looks like about 1/2" clearance between motor pulley and bulkhead in every posted internal photo I've seen too. I suspect my top labeling is backwards, but I've determined it's no big deal to break the bulkhead out if I ever have to do some motor surgery...or change my mind or find out a definitive answer...it's not as "permanent" as some of the other assembly. Also, the larger front WTC section (a result of the smaller rear section) allows a nice installation of my battery.

As Skip said before, just follow the instructions and don't second guess, so I did...

One thing not mentioned is what glue to use for the ballast tank top. I figured either PVC or plastic model cement, I chose PVC cement, what the heck.

[craigf]

Thanks Dave. I'll check measurements.

Thanks Dave. I'll check measurements. I was writing my last post while you posted...

I didn't notice the different radius, but I did of course notice the difference between the WTC top curved ends to the nearest retaining screw holes.

Yeah, I did what you said re tacking with the faster CA, one bulkhead at a time, pretty easy. I used to use Zap a Gap all the time, haven't seen it around here for years at the LHSs, maybe order some for next time.

[craigf]

Dave]
Dave]

[color=#000000]Dave]

[color=#000080]Dave]

[liftmys10]

Liftmys10 - What email address

Liftmys10 - What email address are you using? As I have not received any emails from you.

skip@rcsubs.com

[craigf]

Don't mean to be overly

Don't mean to be overly pedantic, but since you're helping me I'm trying to give all the info I have.

The distance from the back of the rear-most motor extension, the motor's shaft bushing, to the WTC rear wall, is 9mm or just less than 3/8", if that's the measurement you wanted.

The difference of the front and rear bulkhead positions as measured on the WTC top, from the retension screw hole centers to the walls, is 6mm. If my top was reversed from as marked, I'd get an extra 6mm motor clearance at the rear bulkhead position. Adding this 6mm to the existing 1mm would give me about the 1/4" you mentioned.

Thanks. Actually, from the info you gave already, and the measurements I took, I think the answer is apparent!!

[subtech]

Liftmys10,

The email address you are

Liftmys10,

The email address you are using is for Skip Asay not SubTech which is sales@rcboats.com. Skip sold SubTech in September and we are now based in the UK. Mikes Subworks (www.mikessubworks.com) is the Distributor for SubTech in the US, so you can also contact Mike if you have any queries.


Craig,

I am out of the office for a couple of days, so I will not be able to check out your measurements until Thursday or Friday. (By the way, we are based in the UK, so we are also between 5 and 8 hours ahead of you, depending on where you live in the USA).

My first thoughts are, that the motor position sounds about right, but the middle bulkhead should be closer to the ballast tank. I will need to check the other measurements out before I can give you a definate answer, but did you look at the radius where the 'Front' is marked and compare it to the radius at the other end? (This is the radius where the ends of the pressure hull lid meet the top of the lid, not the radius of the corners of the pressure hull lid where the gasket seal sits) The 'front' has a smaller radius (sharper) that the rear (its not a lot, but you should be able to notice the difference). If you have, or can take any photos of your lower pressure hull assembly and of each end of your lid that you could email me (sales@rcboats.com) that would also be useful. Please also let me have you email address so that I can communicate with you direct.

Dave - SubTech

[craigf]

Dave]

[color=#000080]Dave]

[craigf]

Oh yeah, been so busy

[color=#000080]Oh yeah, been so busy yacking about the position of the bulkheads I keep forgetting to say]