Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Can You Have a Drive Shaft Balanced
A driveshaft transfers the force created by the engine to the drive wheels. Driveshafts can become out of balance, which may cause a number of problems both in terms of mechanical soundness and driving comfort.
Symptoms
An unbalanced driveshaft will wobble while spinning. This wobble may create a vibration felt in the steering wheel while driving or may shake the entire vehicle. The driveshaft may wobble only at certain speeds and not be felt otherwise. An unbalanced driveshaft will also cause increased wear to related components that may require frequent replacement.
Causes
Driveshafts can become unbalanced for a variety of reasons. A vehicle wreck may bend the driveshaft. The driveshaft may also become unbalanced due to loss of balance weights, corrosion or other damage. Bent or significantly damaged driveshafts may be incapable of being balanced and will require replacement.
Repair
Balancing driveshafts requires specialized equipment. A large device similar to a lathe spins the driveshaft and measures balance. Technicians weld small weights onto the driveshaft where needed to properly balance the driveshaft. Car owners should use only an experienced repair technician to tune driveshafts, as the process is complicated.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
What Is a Friction Drive Belt
Friction drive belts, also known as V-belts, are used in a variety of automotive, agricultural and industrial machines that use pulley systems.
Function
Friction drive belts are used in mechanical systems that utilize pulleys to do their jobs. The friction drive belts, which are also known as V-belts because of their trapezoidal shape, are attached to a set of pulleys, and the friction of the belts against the pulley surfaces causes them to move, much like a gear or a chain system.
Significance
The unique V-shape of the friction drive belts is what increases their efficiency. The area where the belts make contact with the pulley surfaces are wider, allowing them to achieve more grip and better transmission of power. The tops of the belts are compressed more tightly to produce a more solid, durable "spine" that increases the overall strength of the belts.
Considerations
Friction drive belts transmit power purely through friction between the belts and the pulleys. Because of this, you should never make the mistake of lubricating them as you would a normal gear or chain system. Lubricating a friction drive belt system will only make the belts slippery, which will cause them to lose their grip and their efficiency.
