trans axle

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j-burton

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hey everyone i was wondering if it was possible to use a regular trans axle in a horizontal Poisson in order for it to be used with my horizontal shaft engine. any help would be great thanks
 

ryf

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maybe, the issue will probably be which way you tilt it. the two issues I see are lubrication and ventilation. my transaxles have vent tubes, this has to be at the top so take the case cover off and drill and tap a new one, and seal the old one. if you dont have vent tubes then you only need to make sure your plastic filler cap is up and add a little more fluid (dont top it off, just add enough that your axle bushings weep (if its old and used this is common) this would probably hold up a long time this way, assuming your not driving directly on the transaxle, as in, you'll need a axle under your tranny for the wheels, the transaxles are not intended for loads in that direction, you can try it, if you dont weigh much it will prolly work out ok, but if you jump it off curbs etc all the time, not good. you'll have to use a centrifugal clutch or remake the belt clutch system and if you go centrifugal its gonna be a complex process re-training your brain to use the motor to slow you down by pushing the gas pedal...
(going speed x, let off, shift down, speed up engine to engage clutch, vehicle slows)
so if you are a fan of engine braking down hills then you need to idle up lool. good luck though it should be fun.
 

Doc Sprocket

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Many mower transaxles don't use gear oil, they use grease. In and of itself, this does allow operation in any orientation. However, such transaxles are typically not well-suited to the speed and abuse of karting. They typically have bushings rather than bearings, generally are not particularly strong, and high speeds will sling the grease off the gears, leaving you with no lubrication.

Some such transaxles can be adapted to oil lubrication. Check out various racing mower forums to find out which models are good candidates for this.

There is some excellent info on this topic here- http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4766
 

Bluethunder3320

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i would do a combo of oil and grease. but definitely check out the mower forums!

another option is to sell or trade your horizontal engine for a more common vertical shaft engine.
 

machinist@large

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Why not just ditch the grease and use a thicker oil? 90 weight gear oil is some thick stuff.

Depend on if the case can be sealed for oil. There are a lot of machines out there (not just lawn mowers) that use grease for lube that don't have any seals that can contain/ retain oil in the assembly. With grease, they didn't need them.:D
 

devino246

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Depend on if the case can be sealed for oil. There are a lot of machines out there (not just lawn mowers) that use grease for lube that don't have any seals that can contain/ retain oil in the assembly. With grease, they didn't need them.:D

I was referring to Blue's grease/oil combo.
 

machinist@large

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I was referring to Blue's grease/oil combo.

Get it warm and it still can be a problem; potentially more for whatever is around it than the unit itself. Hot grease/oil on a hot muffler- that doesn't sound good. Another thing to remember; grease is oil encapsulated in wax. Get it hot enough, it just turns into oil.
 

machinist@large

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Tranny lube dripping onto your muffler means you're upside down- and therefore, have greater problems! :roflol:

:oops: Exactly!!! So why add insult to injury by adding a (potential) fire to what would already be a bad day!!:eek:

Realistically though, the biggest problem would most likely be a leak onto something that spins, like say, the input shaft pulley. Spread it around and makes a big mess. And if you are in line with it you get slimed as well.(YUCK!!):bannana::furious2:
 

redsox985

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Get some silicone gasket maker and spread it all around before closing it up?
 

ryf

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Many mower transaxles don't use gear oil, they use grease. In and of itself, this does allow operation in any orientation. However, such transaxles are typically not well-suited to the speed and abuse of karting. They typically have bushings rather than bearings, generally are not particularly strong, and high speeds will sling the grease off the gears, leaving you with no lubrication.

Some such transaxles can be adapted to oil lubrication. Check out various racing mower forums to find out which models are good candidates for this.

There is some excellent info on this topic here- http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4766

ummmm if its peerless/tecumseh its SAE 80W90 is that a oil or grease, its thick enough to be either I guess, loool I dunno which it would be considered but its not like bearing grease for sure, all 4 (might be 5) of my peerless transaxles have a plastic plug on top for drain and fill and that covers cheapo garden tractor transaxles to my hardened gears 820's that you can use "ground engaging implements" with. they have other brands and those I have no clue about but peerless was the major player in lawn mower transaxles for a looong time. (some like cub cadets and john deer have their own of course)

the buggy in my pic square is "mower engine and trans powered" and I spent alot of time figuring out how to make a 700lb machine (including rider) ride hard and not break.
 

machinist@large

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80W90 is gear lube. If the gear box in question came from the factory set up for oil lubrication then it has seals of some sort for all the shafts. If it came with grease, it may/may not have seals.
 

j-burton

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thanks everyone ill have to do some experimentation cause i got mine at a junkyard for 10 bucks and there are still alot like it its off of an old dodge riding lawn mower. yeah the type that still had cigarette lighters.
 
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