Do I have enough engine shaft for my torque converter?

[PeterA]

Just putting on a torque converter. My engine shaft is rather short.

The 4 tooth drive cog is probably only on about 3/8 to 1/2" of shaft.

You can see when I put a drill bit down the bore as a depth gage how much is not supported by the shaft.

 

[anickode]

If you look down inside the bore, how much of the key is engaged with the engine shaft?

 

[BigWes]

The slider isn't what's carrying the bulk of the load though. As the RPMS increase it runs inboard and everything is really pressed against the backplate and the belt should always be centered over the main part of the shaft. This is where the majority of your load is going to be carried. 3/8 to 1/2" is about the same amount of shaft contact all mine have and I have had no issues as of yet. So long as you have good thread engagement on your PTO bolt you should be fine

 

[PeterA]

So your saying that the load is on the square edge side of the belt then?

 

[Brianator]

Both sides of the belt carry the load, what Wes is saying is that the weight actually slides over closer to the motor so it's not hanging out near the end of the shaft.

My motor/TC is hanging off the shaft like yours and I haven't had an issue yet (same with many others here), trick is to size a crank bolt to be as long as possible without bottoming out, clean the pto threads very well and use blue threadlocker.

 

[BigWes]

Both sides of the belt carry the load, what Wes is saying is that the weight actually slides over closer to the motor so it's not hanging out near the end of the shaft.

My motor/TC is hanging off the shaft like yours and I haven't had an issue yet (same with many others here), trick is to size a crank bolt to be as long as possible without bottoming out, clean the pto threads very well and use blue threadlocker.

Pretty much this^^^^,he knew what I was getting at, I was hot and tired but I was trying to say is because the belt is centered on your shaft and everything is tends to move inboard as RPMs increase your actual load will remain centered over your shaft and your slider will move more over the center as well. That load will never hang off the outside edge. But it wouldn't matter anyway, because you are gonna install a grade 8 bolt in there and torques the crap out of it. You are gonna have it so good and tight and locked down and because that slider is a recessed fit it wont go nowhere anyway...

not that it would or could because when it is in the outboard position there can be no load on it anyway because the sheave is too far open to grip the belt tight enough to engage anyway...so...are you wrapping your head around this yet?

 

[PeterA]

Well fellas she goes pretty well. Going from a centrifugal clutch to a torque converter is a night and day difference.

Does wheelies now.....!!! Whoo hop.

 

[BigWes]

I knew you would love it!