l008com
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I have a Manco Dingo (as pictured) and I'm thinking about switching from it's stock solid rear axle, to an open rear differential.
There would be lots of plusses to doing this: much easier turning, especially on pavement, much less tire wear, much less digging up the surface you are driving on.
And some minuses: you become "one wheel drive" in low traction situations. Also brakes become more complicated. But ignoring the brake thing for now, the lack of traction seems like the biggest issue with an open diff. But I was thinking about the kart the other day. How big the rear tires are and how nearly all of the weight of the kart is on the rear wheels. And it got me thinking, even on loose gravel I'd probably get pretty good traction like this, you think? Theres no suspension in this kart but the weight balance means the rear wheels are almost always firmly planted and its the front wheels that get lifted, if needed.
And even in the snow, with that much tire turning, you're probably going to get some traction unless you're truly on something like a solid sheet of ice, which would be super rare.
So I'm thinking that going to an open diff might be all upside and no downside. What do you think?
There would be lots of plusses to doing this: much easier turning, especially on pavement, much less tire wear, much less digging up the surface you are driving on.
And some minuses: you become "one wheel drive" in low traction situations. Also brakes become more complicated. But ignoring the brake thing for now, the lack of traction seems like the biggest issue with an open diff. But I was thinking about the kart the other day. How big the rear tires are and how nearly all of the weight of the kart is on the rear wheels. And it got me thinking, even on loose gravel I'd probably get pretty good traction like this, you think? Theres no suspension in this kart but the weight balance means the rear wheels are almost always firmly planted and its the front wheels that get lifted, if needed.
And even in the snow, with that much tire turning, you're probably going to get some traction unless you're truly on something like a solid sheet of ice, which would be super rare.
So I'm thinking that going to an open diff might be all upside and no downside. What do you think?