drive shaft question

[Risen]

I am putting together some parts for a new project and I was looking to use drive shafts design as part of the rear axle set up.

Does anybody know what they are out of and where would a good place to get some.

They are about 14" inches in length with 2" plunge and 1.750" in diameter and the ends slide on a 1" key way axle.

Any direction on where to go would be appreciated

 

[oldbikerarlo]

It looks like a PTO shaft from a dump truck or tractor.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I'll second that. Try Tractor Supply for compatible components.
Warning- Tractor PTO stuff is rated for low horsepower at ~600 RPM. I know it's big and heavy and certainly looks up to the task, but I wonder about the ratings, they scare me.

 

[oldbikerarlo]

The low RPM rateing is due to balance, they are beefy to take the tourqe that is applyed. with the sliding shaft, and twin U joints it would be allmost impossable to balance for high speed.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

The low RPM rateing is due to balance,

Yeah, I could see that- could also be because tractor PTO stuff runs at low speed, so they just rate it for the application, no?

with the sliding shaft, and twin U joints it would be allmost impossable to balance for high speed.

Impossible? No. Costly? Yes. For decades, automotive driveshafts were (and still are but not as common) designed like this, with a U-joint at either end and a slip joint somewhere in between. High speed balancing is not only doable, but a must for a car. It just costs a lot...

 

[oldbikerarlo]

That is correct toystory but an automotive shaft does not have a slide in the middle with out support, that is where the balance problem would come from. But then if they were used on a go kart or buggy it would't turn any faster than they are rated for, unless a realy small wheel tire combo was used.

 

[Risen]

Thanks guys for all the info. it is very helpful. The driveshafts came off a small mini buggy with a yamaha seca 550 motor for that set up they seem to have work fine.
but I was thinking about using the set up for a small two seat buggy using a quad style motor.

 

[88s10Durango]

Front CV axles will give you more travel with out binding and cheap to buy ..

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That is correct toystory but an automotive shaft does not have a slide in the middle with out support,

Not so. I know factually, based on gobs of automotive experience that this design has been used for eons. Balancing just requires extra time, effort, equipment, and machining, driving up the cost.

The following example is from a Land Rover SUV.

 

[fowler]

I'll second that. Try Tractor Supply for compatible components.
Warning- Tractor PTO stuff is rated for low horsepower at ~600 RPM. I know it's big and heavy and certainly looks up to the task, but I wonder about the ratings, they scare me.

no dont worry about the rating

firstly tractors comes as either a 650 or 1000rmp pto output so the shafts can handle the 1000 rpm as stamddand

also i have ptos in my piranha as this is the stock setup

they are not special ones just standard off the shelf

the sliding joint shouldnt be an issue

it will be as good as impossible to balance but it wont exactly rip the kart apart itll just shake a little u may not notice it

 

[Risen]

no dont worry about the rating

firstly tractors comes as either a 650 or 1000rmp pto output so the shafts can handle the 1000 rpm as stamddand

also i have ptos in my piranha as this is the stock setup

they are not special ones just standard off the shelf

the sliding joint shouldnt be an issue

it will be as good as impossible to balance but it wont exactly rip the kart apart itll just shake a little u may not notice it

Yea thats about the range of the next project I have,it does not have to have a lot of wheel travel but it does have to have rear independent suspension, and I figured that for the size of the project that they would be fine.

Have you had any issues with them and do you know if a good cheap source for them?

Thanks again for your guy's input

 

[fowler]

they will wear out before cvs and because of there design they do a funny surgeing thing so u can only use them offroad

there is a proper name and even an animation to explain it but basically the power will surge a minniscual amount

lastly u must try to run the unis as striaight as posible as this will prolonmg there life

if the uni starts clicking like a bike and the shaft starts sort of jerking around then the uni is toast
but the good thing about unis is they are very easy and quick to rebuilt (depending on age), all u do is seperate the two halfs and replace the bearings
u will proberly never completely flog out a bearing and damage the casting as there is a huge list of waring signs prior to this