live axle

[squat251]

ok, what is the cheapest way to aquire a 1" keyed drive shaft? I've put my trike on hold to build a friend a cart, and I would like to use a live axle, but where do i get one for cheap/ what can a take it off of to get it free?

[Rotore]

lowes or home depot a 36" shaft 5/8's thick is like $5-10 and you and key it yourself with a grinder

[Kaptain Krunch]

5/8 shaft is VERY weak when it comes to carting. Heres one for $20 http://www.bmikarts.com/shop/?keywords=400036&match_criteria=all&search=Search&cart=1805928

[Raywelder]

5/8 shaft is VERY weak when it comes to carting. Heres one for $20 http://www.bmikarts.com/shop/?keywords=400036&match_criteria=all&search=Search&cart=1805928

Cheaper than TSC,
They sell 1" rod for 25 buck, and thats for only 3 feet!?
Outrageous.
Never buy steel from there btw, lol!

[born loser]

http://www.bmikarts.com/shop/?cart=1805839&cat=198&

[Rotore]

5/8 shaft is VERY weak when it comes to carting. Heres one for $20 http://www.bmikarts.com/shop/?keywords=400036&match_criteria=all&search=Search&cart=1805928

i think they have up to 1.25" thick

[squat251]

thanks guys, lots of help

[greasemonkey85]

yeah get one from bmi. i just got my parts and that 1" shaft from them is very good product.

[squat251]

cool, see my wife just got back from Iraq and i haven't told her about the trike, so I'm building my friend a cart (traditional 4 wheels) with the same engine, and what I'll do is put the secondary pulley onto the live axle to save time.

tell me what you guys think about this, i plan on making the frame (the "base" of it) out of 1-2" steel threaded pipe with 90* angle pieces on the corners. from there (the back of it) I'm going to put on a swing arm, and build a roll cage out of 1x1 square tubing to mount the swing arms shocks to. FYI i will be welding around the threads, as i see that to be a weak point as the pipe is thinner there.

[Kaptain Krunch]

You mean running a torque converter without a jackshaft of some sorts? That wont work at all.

[squat251]

well, its not really a torque converter, its the secondary pulley off a snowmobile engine, and I've thought about the whole oh noes loss of power cause of the lack of jackshaft gearing, but i think with the power of the engine, and the overall lightness of the cart its self, i shouldnt have any problems

[Kaptain Krunch]

Yes it will have problems. A 1:1 ratio is BAD, you wont go anywhere, i dont care how powerful the engine is, you NEED a jackshaft.

By the way, snowmobiles use torque converters, so yes it is. I hope your using the primary clutch also, if not the secondary will start to open up and then the belt will just slip.

[squat251]

well its a good thing that its not 1:1 then huh? the secondary on a snowmobile is rather large in comparison to the much smaller main drive, I'm pretty sure you have seen this, if not, i can post some pictures. unless my mind isnt letting me see something here, that should be around 2-3:1 not amazing, but it gets a little better

[Kaptain Krunch]

well its a good thing that its not 1:1 then huh? the secondary on a snowmobile is rather large in comparison to the much smaller main drive, I'm pretty sure you have seen this, if not, i can post some pictures. unless my mind isnt letting me see something here, that should be around 2-3:1 not amazing, but it gets a little better

Do you know how i torque converter works? The two pulleys constantly change size, and although it may start out at 3:1 or so, at peak rpm it will be 1:1, or on some torque converters .75:1 or more.

Listen buddy, its not going to work, but if you want to be stubborn go ahead and fail, but dont tell me i didnt warn you.

[squat251]

okay, but at peak power, its going to be driving the drive wheel which would have broken free of the friction that held it/them in place so the 1:1 will be at peak snowmobile engine speeds, right?

hmm, but even that statement makes it less sure...it will have very little torque, i would just burn out the belt...

[Kaptain Krunch]

1:1 at sled engine peak (atleast 8k), with even 15" tires will have a calculated speed of over 400mph, and thats not realistic.

[squat251]

yeah, no torque to keep it up, it would jerk forward, then the main would spin burning out the belt

[squat251]

what tooth sprocket do you recommend for the jackshaft and the main drive shaft?

and sorry about that, ive been awake going on 72hrs so my mind is a bit frazzled

[Kaptain Krunch]

Exactly, aim for 4:1 or 5:1 gear reduction at peak rpm. So secondary on jackshaft with chain too back tire, 10 tooth sprocket on jackshaft and a 40/50 on axle

Didnt i already argue with you about this?.

[squat251]

its possible only it was the gearbox from the sled on that one, which so you know does work I got a chance to see it in action (and ride in seat 2) it works nicely im not sure what the ratio is though

[r12]

kaptain's right.

if you think you know anything about how these clutches work, you should read this book. http://www.drivepower.ca/store/store.php/products/olav-aaen-clutch-tuning-handbook

Ive been riding sleds for the better part of 20 years now and this book really makes sence. theres alot going on with the clutching and alot to mess up. theres pretty much a sweet spot on these things and if your not there your just losing power to the ground.

i recommend reading this book.

[squat251]

I've been around sleds my whole life (live in northern michigan) have had a blast the whole time. my friend, the one who built the sno-cart that i mentioned earlier told me how to tune the clutch for riding in dirt and what not.

edit: not to seem snotty that is, but I've realized my wrongness, and you have to give me a slight brake 74hrs and counting (awake)

[squat251]

ok, decided to rock a jack shaft (for the listed reasons, and because it would be impossible to change the belt or at least, very hard) so then, what modifications other than better bearing will i need to use a lawnmowers rear axle for this cart. (its got the sprocket and all that jazz instead of the pulley on the diff set up)

[Kaptain Krunch]

Lawnmower diff wont hold up, you want at least 1" live axle.