Drive-shaft. help pls

[project]

hi all. I am building a small off road buggy as a school project and have a question about the drive shaft.
I want to know which material is best to use. The power is going to came from a 2 cylinder 250cc 4 stroke engine. The energy will then be transferred to a sprocket fixed on a live axil drive shaft.

My materials of choice are either: EN 24 or
Stainless 316.

Which of them you all think is best? also I want to hear of more options and why you think it will be suitable.

Thanks for your time and input.
Project

 

[fowler]

Normal 1" dia mild steel will do fine

U can buy it from a karting web site along with all your sprockets and so on
It comes with a 1/4" key way

 

[project]

thanks fowler.
My dia is going to be 1 1/4". thought mild steel doesn't have good properties for this purpose. well 10x again

 

[fowler]

It will do just fine

It wil have the tendency to flex in stead of crack

It isn't the best for a normal axle
But in this case it is the weight bearing component and 250c isn't a lot of power for this size

 

[OzFab]

I agree with both of you to some extent: Stainless is just overkill, as is EN24; fowler is correct, it will have a tendency to crack rather than flex which is what you want in an axle (the flex that is). However, 1 1/4" is much stronger than 1".

So, a 1" mild steel axle should be just about perfect

 

[landuse]

I hate coming in late to a conversation! All the good advice is already given.

 

[OzFab]

I hate coming in late to a conversation! All the good advice is already given.

Sux doesn't it

 

[project]

hehe thanks all for your input.
landuse don't worry here comes an other one..
I'm still confused about the gearing.. the engine has a 14t sprocket and was thinking to mate it with a 56-60t sprocket. if that's the case I will have 1:4 ratio. is that correct? should I go higher or lower than that as the engine is 4 speed manual.

 

[jman231994]

hehe thanks all for your input.
landuse don't worry here comes an other one..
I'm still confused about the gearing.. the engine has a 14t sprocket and was thinking to mate it with a 56-60t sprocket. if that's the case I will have 1:4 ratio. is that correct? should I go higher or lower than that as the engine is 4 speed manual.

That really depends on the first and final gear ratio's of the 4 speed, what is the particular engine...ie brand and model and all of that. We might be able to find the gear ratios

 

[OzFab]

Technically, it's 4:1...

FWIW: I think that ratio should be ok

 

[landuse]

Technically, it's 4:1...

FWIW: I think that ratio should be ok

Me too

 

[OzFab]

Me too

Late again...

 

[Nodroz]

Yeah, 4:1 is about the normal ratio that shifter karts have, as far as I know. You will be fine.

 

[landuse]

Late again...

I KNOW!!! I thought you might like that one. I have taken too much holiday.

 

[r_chez_08]

Haha, I am even later.
I would go for 1 1/4" mild steel, because it is cheap and plenty strong enough.
Some specs on the engine and gearbox, along with tire diameters would be useful.

 

[OzFab]

Haha, I am even later.

It's somewhat of a private joke: Paul & I have been following each other for days; either he get in just before me or vice versa

 

[r_chez_08]

Yeah I know, just sayin