differential on trike.

[digschopper]

I was given a 3/4" differential axle. Opened it up,cleaned /greased/painted it. I bought pillow block bearings ,and welded angle-iron mounting pads. I don't have room for twin brakes,so It seems a caliper on the sprocket would be the cleanest/simplest way out. The differential is craftsman,about 26"wide. The other problem is wheels,I want 16" tires on 8" rims,like tiller tires. It seems I need 3/4"I.d. rims,about 4"wide,cross bolted 4 1/2"from the ends. This is all going on a scratch-built mini-chopper trike,hence the differential. Any ideas?

 

[landuse]

Post up some pics. How wide will your axle be?

 

[OzFab]

I don't have room for twin brakes,so It seems a caliper on the sprocket would be the cleanest/simplest way out.

That wont work because the sprocket only turns the housing which, in turn, rotates the axles. If you hold the sprocket still, you can still turn the axles.

Apart from that, you would need a pretty deep caliper to clear the teeth

 

[machinist@large]

That wont work because the sprocket only turns the housing which, in turn, rotates the axles. If you hold the sprocket still, you can still turn the axles.

If that were true, then how does the axle transmit power to the ground? If he has only one wheel on the ground, the way you just described it would be correct; with both wheels biting, it would work OK. For better design, see below.

Apart from that, you would need a pretty deep caliper to clear the teeth

I wouldn't run the caliper on the sprocket; if you actually oil the chain once in awhile the brakes will be DOA. Now, what type of riding do you have in mind? If it's mostly street/ parking lots w/ some grass thrown in, you'll probably be happier with the differential versus a solid axle. To maximize your braking ability, I would mount two disks w/ calipers, one on each end of the axle (just like a car). That way you would have the best of both worlds; easy turning, and positive braking.

That's the way I would go, provided there was space for it. Post some photo's; it makes it a lot easier for us to help you......

 

[porsche930dude]

usually those differentials have a drum for a band brake bolted on with the sprocket and that works fine. A trike with a narrow track tall wheels and fairly high center of gravity should really have a solid axle. but if you really want to use the diff id recommend stuffing it full of the thickest greese you can find so it acts like a limited slip. the problem you will have is when you round corners and the inside wheel starts spinning then it sets down and grabs and lifts the front tire and either doesnt steer or it puts you on your ***. thats why all the 80s 3 wheelers are solid axle. you really need the power going to both axles unles syou have a really low center of gravity. the caliper on the sprocket will work fine though. iv done it on 3 different machines and never a problem.

 

[digschopper]

Post up some pics. How wide will your axle be?

26" wide no room for two brakes. Diff has no drum or band brake. Being a trike,the frame is narrow. The caliper WILL stop the trike acting on the sprocket. The greasy issue I can deal with,done it on real choppers,its called a "sprotor". I'll find pics and post.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That wont work because the sprocket only turns the housing which, in turn, rotates the axles. If you hold the sprocket still, you can still turn the axles.

Apart from that, you would need a pretty deep caliper to clear the teeth

I'm going to disagree, and offer some further brain-food. First- you certainly CAN use the sprocket as a brake rotor. This is a factory setup done on some riding mowers that use a differential equipped rear axle with a separate transmission. The rider that I moleted for parts for my kids' go kart used this arrangement. While I did not elect to use the mechanical caliper that came off it, I DID use a variation of the same concept with a hydraulic motorcycle caliper. The axle sprocket is bolted to one side of the diff housing. I bolted a SECOND sprocket to the opposite side of the housing to serve as the brake rotor. Thread here- http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12904

Please note that braking the diff housing does create one slightly odd characteristic- Due to the very nature of the differential, slamming on the brakes at high-speed in very loose traction conditions (like gravel) can actually cause the wheel with the lesser amount of traction to spin backwards briefly. Yeah- you did rear that right. Wanna know why? Jack and differential-equipped axle off the ground, and hold the input from turning. Now spin one wheel by hand. You'll see the opposing wheel spin reverse to what you're doing.

Obviously, this does have the potential to adversely affect braking performance under the wrong conditions, and you truly are better to brake each axle seperately. So far, my kids haven't had any serious issues with it.

For rims, go get some lawn tractor rears. They are typically 3/4" keyed or cross-drilled bore, 8" diameter.

 

[digschopper]

Have pic,but can't select it. Whiskey tango forkbrace?

 

[OzFab]

If that were true, then how does the axle transmit power to the ground? If he has only one wheel on the ground, the way you just described it would be correct; with both wheels biting, it would work OK. For better design, see below.



I wouldn't run the caliper on the sprocket; if you actually oil the chain once in awhile the brakes will be DOA. Now, what type of riding do you have in mind? If it's mostly street/ parking lots w/ some grass thrown in, you'll probably be happier with the differential versus a solid axle. To maximize your braking ability, I would mount two disks w/ calipers, one on each end of the axle (just like a car). That way you would have the best of both worlds; easy turning, and positive braking.

That's the way I would go, provided there was space for it. Post some photo's; it makes it a lot easier for us to help you......

usually those differentials have a drum for a band brake bolted on with the sprocket and that works fine. A trike with a narrow track tall wheels and fairly high center of gravity should really have a solid axle. but if you really want to use the diff id recommend stuffing it full of the thickest greese you can find so it acts like a limited slip. the problem you will have is when you round corners and the inside wheel starts spinning then it sets down and grabs and lifts the front tire and either doesnt steer or it puts you on your ***. thats why all the 80s 3 wheelers are solid axle. you really need the power going to both axles unles syou have a really low center of gravity. the caliper on the sprocket will work fine though. iv done it on 3 different machines and never a problem.

I'm going to disagree, and offer some further brain-food. First- you certainly CAN use the sprocket as a brake rotor. This is a factory setup done on some riding mowers that use a differential equipped rear axle with a separate transmission. The rider that I moleted for parts for my kids' go kart used this arrangement. While I did not elect to use the mechanical caliper that came off it, I DID use a variation of the same concept with a hydraulic motorcycle caliper. The axle sprocket is bolted to one side of the diff housing. I bolted a SECOND sprocket to the opposite side of the housing to serve as the brake rotor. Thread here- http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12904

Please note that braking the diff housing does create one slightly odd characteristic- Due to the very nature of the differential, slamming on the brakes at high-speed in very loose traction conditions (like gravel) can actually cause the wheel with the lesser amount of traction to spin backwards briefly. Yeah- you did rear that right. Wanna know why? Jack and differential-equipped axle off the ground, and hold the input from turning. Now spin one wheel by hand. You'll see the opposing wheel spin reverse to what you're doing.

Obviously, this does have the potential to adversely affect braking performance under the wrong conditions, and you truly are better to brake each axle seperately. So far, my kids haven't had any serious issues with it.

For rims, go get some lawn tractor rears. They are typically 3/4" keyed or cross-drilled bore, 8" diameter.

Ok, I stand corrected

TBH, I was a bit unsure of it myself but, gimme a break, it was 1:30 in the morning; I can be wrong sometimes can't I?

 

[landuse]

Ok, I stand corrected

TBH, I was a bit unsure of it myself but, gimme a break, it was 1:30 in the morning; I can be wrong sometimes can't I?

No!!! You cant....LOL

 

[machinist@large]

Ok, I stand corrected

TBH, I was a bit unsure of it myself but, gimme a break, it was 1:30 in the morning; I can be wrong sometimes can't I?

:toetap05: No; we're going to hold you to the highest possible standards; the higher, the better. If they are unobtainable, then we will kill the messenger. If this is unacceptable, you can appeal it to an unnamed foreign agency that seems to have extremely high technology combined with agents that have high lifestyle tastes and claim to be able to do the impossible. For the record, Ninja's have nothing on that agency.

You have been warned.

(Oh,****!! They just said that their #1 agent has just threw his back out after he picked up some floozy; do you think you can cover for him?)

 

[digschopper]

differential on trike

have pics,but when I get to "choose file", it won't. Aauugh!!

 

[landuse]

have pics,but when I get to "choose file", it won't. Aauugh!!

How are you trying to upload? Phone, pc etc.....

 

[digschopper]

differential on trike

It's a tablet...android.

 

[landuse]

It's a tablet...android.

I will have to get mine out and let you know what I find.

Anyone else using an android tab that can help??

 

[OzFab]

No!!! You cant....LOL

:toetap05: No; we're going to hold you to the highest possible standards; the higher, the better. If they are unobtainable, then we will kill the messenger. If this is unacceptable, you can appeal it to an unnamed foreign agency that seems to have extremely high technology combined with agents that have high lifestyle tastes and claim to be able to do the impossible. For the record, Ninja's have nothing on that agency.

You have been warned.

(Oh,****!! They just said that their #1 agent has just threw his back out after he picked up some floozy; do you think you can cover for him?)

Thanks guys, you've, effectively, just given permission for me to say "I'm never wrong"

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Thanks guys, you've, effectively, just given permission for me to say "I'm never wrong"

Well... you can SAY anything...

 

[souperman000]

It's a tablet...android.

This is how I've done it from my phone's browser (Chrome):

-Select Go Advanced
-Manage Attachments
-Choose File
-Then a menu pops up of where I want to choose a file, I select "Gallery"
-Select the picture you want and then click upload in the lower right corner.

Hope that helped, if not, maybe I don't understand where you are getting stuck.

 

[digschopper]

differential on trike

I'll give it another shot.

 

[digschopper]

differential on trike-photos

ok,one shoy is without the bearing blocks. the dark one(hope you can see it) is with axle installed.