Joe Souza reduction drive

[overtime]

I have been running a Joe Souza redrive on a Subaru EA81 for a few years now and would like to obtain a replacement Mercedes flex coupler and splined 3 arm rotor for the drive. Joe was active in both gyroplanes and hotrods and my searches within these interest groups for contact information have all deadended. So does anyone know:

1) what model and year the drive coupler is
2) contact information for Joe Souza

[Matt Gonitzke]

That rubber coupler looks an awful lot like what is used on the Stemme S-10 motorglider driveshaft. Unfortunately, I can't remember the manufacturer of that flex coupling...:( It is German, if that helps at all.

[Mike Switzer]

It is also very similar to the coupler used on John Deere commercial mowers using the Yanmar diesel. What are the dimensions?

[Mike Switzer]

It looks like there are numbers on the rubber part in the first pic but I cant read them on this screen. If there are post them & someone may be able to steer you in the correct direction.

[Bill Ladd]

Get me a part number off the flex disc. I will find it for you.

[Mike Switzer]

It is probably a fairly common industrial drive coupler. Any local bearing / conveyor type supply house can probably get it if the parts guy knows his stuff.

[overtime]

Have to say that seeing any response is gratifying! Today I received some suggested part numbers from a Mercedes-Benz manager. He indicated that one of their dealers felt that PN1244100615 or 1244100815 were good possibilities. I've looked at pictures of both but without knowing the dimensions cannot tell if either one is a match.
I am attaching another photo of the disk with highlighted lettering this time.
Dimensions as below:
Overall disk diameter - well it is a bit hexagonal so this varies from 131mm to 136mm
Bolt diameter is 10mm
Bolt pattern ctr to ctr distance across the disk diameter is 89mm
Center hole in disk is 42mm across
Disk thickness is 25mm
10mm sleeve lengths vary - 3 are 34mm, and 3 are 37mm
Part number - if only I knew. See highlighted text in picture
The "127?" I have no idea because there is just no dimension I can get to match 127

[overtime]

Did some more checking and found that PN1244100615 is a perfect match. PowerTrain Industries has dimensions and OEM part numbers. Now if I could find a source for the splined rotor this part of the adventure would be wrapped up. Can't wait to reassemble the front end and try my new Whirlwind propeller.

[Bill Ladd]

Perhaps item #110. From this same Mercedes w124-bodied car?
3956
Mercedes part #s 1242721445 ; 1242721345; 1292720345

[Bill Ladd]

Or, item 149 here?

3957

Mercedes part #s 2113500345 ; 1153502445; 1233500045; 1233500245; 1243501645; 1243503645; 1243504045; 1243504245; 1243506845; 2113500045

[Mike Switzer]

10mm sleeve lengths vary - 3 are 34mm, and 3 are 37mm

That is probably so it can't be installed backwards.


Part number - if only I knew. See highlighted text in picture
The "127?" I have no idea because there is just no dimension I can get to match 127

I don't see anything else that could be a part number, and this is just a guess, but this manufacturer probably makes these in several sizes, the 127 may be their size/model designation

My german is very rusty but I think the other letters say this side toward ???

edit - a quick google search shows my german is mostly correct according to some Mercedes forums, google "diese seite z gelenkw" is "this side toward driveshaft", spend some time reading the forums & you can probably figure out what it is from

[Mike Switzer]

well now that is interesting, the 3 post after the coupler pic weren't there 5 minutes ago. I guess you have it figured out.

[overtime]

When one of the bolts in the original drive coupler broke the nut rattled around inside the coupler chamber for some time as is evident in the first photos. Eventually it must have worn down sufficiently for the flywheel to shoot it out of the bottom of the chamber. Before leaving the engine compartment, the nut took a nice swipe at the back of the oil cooler coming close to cutting open a couple of the oil passageways in the cooler. A new oil cooler from Pegasus Racing Supplies and a pair of OEM replacement drive couplers arrived last Friday and I was back in the air yesterday enjoying a very smoothly running drive system.

Thanks to all who responded! Turns out the splined flange is a custom piece so no chance of getting a replacement. I have imposed a 50 hour check on the drive assembly which means removing the gearbox but it is a relatively simple task and only takes a few hour start to finish.

Last photos are of the damaged oil cooler and the ground run with new parts in place.

39773978

[culater]

I have a Joe Souza Gearbox for a EA81 that has only 25 hours of use that I will sell cheap. If anyone is interested I can be reached at 860-86six-61zero4
Thanks
Len