Differential Explained

[kamesama980]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

How about the Torson differential . . . that was a major improvement. My BMW R100S has a swingarm with the shaft inside it to the rear end but it is not a differential. It does however use an offset from center pinion to drive the crown gear so it is sort of a worm drive. After I teflon empregnated the gears it became much easier to bump start in 1st gear where as before the rear wheel would lock up.

That's called a hypoid bevel and is NOT a worm drive. almost all automotive rear ends in the last 40 or 50 years are hypoid bevel gears. it is slightly quieter than an on axis bevel gear set. the main reason for it's use however is to lower the driveshaft to allow a lower center hump in the floor of the car.

[VetteOwner]

yea heres a pic of a true worm drive

[GasSavers_JoeBob]

Originally Posted by kamesama980

That's called a hypoid bevel and is NOT a worm drive. almost all automotive rear ends in the last 40 or 50 years are hypoid bevel gears. it is slightly quieter than an on axis bevel gear set. the main reason for it's use however is to lower the driveshaft to allow a lower center hump in the floor of the car.

Actually, Torsen differentials are used in a lot of different cars...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsen

I'd never heard of them before...learn something new every day

The kind of worm gear drive shown above is really great for moving large objects with a shrimpy (by today's standards) engine...like a Model TT or AA truck, for example...you just don't go too awfully fast...and bump starting would really play hell with it...

[VetteOwner]

yea cruising speed of 30-35 mph. BUT does have a 1.5 ton load capacity and powered by a 40 hp 4 banger

[kamesama980]

Originally Posted by JoeBob

Actually, Torsen differentials are used in a lot of different cars...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsen

I'd never heard of them before...learn something new every day

The kind of worm gear drive shown above is really great for moving large objects with a shrimpy (by today's standards) engine...like a Model TT or AA truck, for example...you just don't go too awfully fast...and bump starting would really play hell with it...

sorry, new years musta taken more out of me than I thought :-p Yes a torsen uses worm gears. They are goofy goofy creations though. I'm pretty sure they were invented while experimenting with brake cleaner in a small poorly ventilated room. accordingly you have to be on something or up way too late to understand them.

the ring/pinion of automotive rear ends is a hypoid bevel I'm not sure if shaftie bikes would use a hypoid bevel or a regular on-axis bevel gear.