What's being done about the weakest link?

[mrfixit]

I got to thinking of this when I read your recommendation to strengthen a motor to take any mods you throw at it...
when you stop to think of it, our current UNIVERSAL JOINT as we know it is due for SOME kind of upgrade, don't you think? Have you guys heard of anything on this front?
In my own mind I have thought of possibilities, like creating yokes joined to the shaft by a short, VERY thick "Cable" stout enough to take torque yet flex....

Even where CV joints are concerned... you'd think there would be a better retainer by now than the flimsy metal rings; something more along the lines of a sealed ball that bolts together in the center but keeps the joint tight and clean...

just my thoughts.

 

[bowtiehatr]

the ford joint is pretty stout, now when you go aftermarket greaseable joints, you give up some integrity due to the cavities for the grese to reach the caps. if you want a mean joint, OX makes some pretty bulletproof stuff, but i am not sure if they make a joint for the powerstrokes.

 

[mrfixit]

You gotta forgive me,as I'm a throwback to the days when a U-joint could win or lose a race, lol... I appreciate the input tho!

I looked up the OX, and it appears to only be available for dana 30s & 60s, and aftermarket performance lockers.
http://www.oramagazine.com/archive/2004/08-august/0106-tech-oxu.asp

 

[6L PWR]

Ever heard of Torque-Fuses? They may not keep you from losing the race, but they keep you from breaking the driveshaft or u-joints and are quickly and easily replaced.

http://www.powertrainsavers.com/

I'm surprised if you haven't heard of these Tom, as they were originally developed for the Big trucks llike yours.

 

[mrfixit]

Ever heard of Torque-Fuses? They may not keep you from losing the race, but they keep you from breaking the driveshaft or u-joints and are quickly and easily replaced.

http://www.powertrainsavers.com/

I'm surprised if you haven't heard of these Tom, as they were originally developed for the Big trucks llike yours.

In 20 years driving Big rigs, I've seen a lot of guys throw a drive shaft... never done it myself, lol. I like to think it's cuz I do it right, but as old as some of the trucks Ive had to drive are, I consider it more LUCK lol.

 

[6L PWR]

Just curious though, have you ever seen or heard of these things? It's a pretty clever idea, at least for the big over the road trucks I think.

I do also wonder why someone hasn't come up with a better joint though too. I like the flex shaft idea, but boy would that be a big cable.

 

[mrfixit]

Just curious though, have you ever seen or heard of these things? It's a pretty clever idea, at least for the big over the road trucks I think.

I do also wonder why someone hasn't come up with a better joint though too. I like the flex shaft idea, but boy would that be a big cable.

At another company I worked for, we had a couple trucks with those on them. one of the guy's handles was "Twister" and the other called himself "TorqueShift".... that oughtta explain alot.
Those OX would be an awesome Ujoint for our trucks if they get them up to OUR TRUCKS, hehe... I've left them an email asking about that.

 

[Fellro]

Looks to be along the basic idea of shear pins... new application, not a new idea though... Probably would work good until someone goes and screws with it, putting in something other than what they give to use...Might be further ahead with a basic clutch type setup that is designed to slip at a certain point...

 

[mrfixit]

Looks to be along the basic idea of shear pins... new application, not a new idea though... Probably would work good until someone goes and screws with it, putting in something other than what they give to use...Might be further ahead with a basic clutch type setup that is designed to slip at a certain point...

They tried something like that back in the early nineties, but quickly discovered that they too were prone to fail. As trucks age, more and more contaminants are thrown back along the driveline, plus road oil, salt, etc... the units worked great at first but there was just no way to seal them properly from all those elements.

 

[Fellro]

if they made a sealed unit that had oil in it, like a wet clutch setup... there is always a way, depends on cost and feasibility... The shear style, or fuse as they were calling it, seems to me to be askng for down time. When you get stuck or such, and then get a good bite, pop and it's gone... and there you sit. Same story on u-joints, but it takes a lot to snap them as well. Just can't engineer for operator stupidity...

 

[blacksnapon]

The tried and true u-joint is actually pretty stout when maintained. There have been other uses in this area (Jaguar-lincoln Ls- Thunderbird) using a thick rubber, instead of the u-joint. Dont think its as strong though!

 

[Fellro]

worksok for theirapplication, but forget it on high hp or torque apps... the other problem is that the rubber degrades after a while, even sitting there, a u-joint won't.

 

[bowtiehatr]

yeah that hole rubber idea never went well with me.

 

[mrfixit]

yeah that hole rubber idea never went well with me.

it can be especially disheartening if you go in and out of a tunnel too many times... It could break and you'd wind up with a whole fleet of escorts...

 

[bowtiehatr]

dude, you are not right.

 

[mrfixit]

dude, you are not right.

You just now finding that out?

 

[bowtiehatr]

nah just sobered up!!

 

[Blue Goose]

Bowtiehtr, wait till his counterpart, Gunner shows up...You'll have to be on meds to keep up...

 

[blacksnapon]

nah just sobered up!!

See, I told you I needed help with this crowd!

 

[bowtiehatr]

ah just need some elbow room!! i make my living throwing comments and on break i work on 6.0s. plus i try not to do this in threads due to the ifo they consume.

hi ho hi ho its 6.0 to work i go.