Driveshafts?

[workhorse]

(was previously posted in wrong section sorry)

We have some drive shafts fitted that have been cut and shut (shortened) they have been raced on and they have worked ok.

Seems to be a method used on quite a few single seater / Busa hill climb cars that are for sale..

I believe the procedure involves making a sleeve (tube) pressing it on then welding it. Has any one done this? Is it a simple m/s tig job? I'm guessing it's not overcomplicated... seems to be a normal alloy maybe EN24 etc..
These look like standard road use drive shafts.
Not sure they were even balanced, welds are equal and sleeve was a lathe job - I'm guessing with a good sleeve distortion is minimal with tig?

Personally a bit dubious as I understand metal properties change through welding (heating) and obviously sleeving something even for a short distance makes it more rigid maybe effecting spring / return factor? but if they work ok for many others, with out getting into heat treating etc.. would be a very cost effective solution for a new set.

I expect the preferred method is to have some made in one section (the norm) - so does any one know of a good manufacturer? - preferred in Northamptonshire or near to for a low quantity order i.e. or one offs? Might go a bit more exotic with materials and have some drive flanges made too...Prototype stuff is surely risky too?

Any first hand advise /contacts would be good - If I'm happy the previous method used is basic, might stick to what has worked so far?

:-)

[dtype38]

Welcome to 10-10ths.

I had some made by the "cut and shut" you describe, but they were rubbish. Where the sleeve was welded to the shaft the weld didn't have enough penetration and just sheared.

For this reason I decided to make my own. I took a pair of standard shafts and turned a short spiggot on the back of the uj at each end. I then cut the uj's off the shaft keeping just the spiggot. Next I cut a tube the appropriate length and turned the inside of the ends to fit the spiggots so that the uj's were a knock-on fit. I attached them by turning a V-notch at the joins and doing a root then fill weld all round with a standard Mig welder.

Didn't bother balancing or doing anything else. Works fine.

Mind you.... Jaguars are a bit more "agricultural" than what you're looking at.

[workhorse]

Thanks's

What type of welder did you use? Tig? - Just noticed, looking at cars for sale - several Hayabusa single seaters hill climb cars have been done this way and to my the best of my knowledge it is not a problem.

We just want to make sure we do it right.

Looking at our driveshafts - which I have no idea how the sleeving was carried out - seems to be the original method used, the job is so tidy almost looks like a stock item. Informed driveshafts would last a season plus like this.

We have splines on both ends of the drive shafts - which we can not cut our selves?

If this is not a satisfactory method - we could really do with a good drive shaft manufacturer that is happy to do one or two sets at a time?

[dtype38]

No didn't tig, just used a good quality 200A mig welder. I have a good drive shaft manufacturer not far from me, but he wanted £150 a shaft. I did my own for £25 of tubing.

[workhorse]

I'd pay £150 a side - but I understand drive shaft splines need a special tool?..

I just do not want to pay more double that per side - which I have seen quoted somewhere.

I Have looked on Google which throws up loads of useless rubbish, revealed when clicking on the sites, but can not find anyone "specialising" in manufacturing drive shafts and or drive flanges locally or otherwise (call me an idiot)

I have even had a chat with the local machining company but it is not something they have tooling to do?

In the US it seems there are some race type manufacturers - but I'd rather it be within a reasonable driving distance of Northampton.

Would like to deal with some one that has made race type shafts before - so it's so not experimental.

The cost of wasting track time through a failure alone makes it worth doing correctly - wont do anything unless confident. I.e. tried and tested or recommendation.

Thanks for your help so far :-)

[MGDavid]

how about
http://www.wilsondriveshafts.co.uk/

I have no connection with them other than once buying lunch from the caravan parked next door !

[dtype38]

My local shop are "Dynoprop Balances. 1a, Harold Court Rd, Harold Park, Romford, Essex RM3 0YU. Tel : 01708 372526" They mostly do commercial vehicle stuff, but the old chap there can make pretty much anything. I would say though that the price I gave you was based on me supplying the splined ends. That price was just for making the shortened centre shaft and rebalancing.

[workhorse]

Thanks guys will check them out once I work out the exact length required as per modification... :-)