So I got one of these Peerless 100 Differential go-kart axles for my pedal truck build. Definitely not the cheapest (or lightest) option but it seems extremely robust, and is used on commercial pedicabs. I thought I'd make a thread on it to share my experience and seek the advice of some others...
I bought it from here: https://www.geminikarts.co.uk/product/peerless-100-series-differential/
I am going to mount it to my chassis using four 1" oval bearings from Simply Bearings. I have already bought these, or I might have gone for these much lighter weight ones: https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p22814/SBPFL205-16-Oval-2-Bolt-Pressed-Steel-Bearing-Housing-with-1-inch-insert/product_info.html. Heck, I've not built the chassis yet, so I might still change my mind.
For the wheel hubs, I have asked a machine shop to machine them out of aluminium. They will fit over the 1" bore of the axle and fasten with a simple shaft collar on the end (https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p152339/CABUI100Z-Zinc-Plated-En8-Steel-Shaft-Collar-1x1-5/8x3/4-inch-with-Set-Screw/product_info.html). I will have to take the axle to another machine shop to have the 1/4" keyway milled onto it. I have also asked them to make an axle adapter, which will accept a 3/8" bearing pressed into it and clamp over the ends of the hubs so I can true the wheel in a truing stand.
It has taken me weeks of research even to get to this point - shaft collars were a recent revelation as I didn't even know they existed! I'm completely new to this, so hopefully this info can help someone else get off to a faster start than me.
I've still to figure out the drive sprocket. I will use a fairly typical mid-drive hub with a freewheel on one side and a fixed gear on the other, but mounting the sprocket on the differential is proving difficult. Gemini karts sells a platewheel to fit the differential, but it is a different pitch from typical bike/trike parts and I'd like to use a standard 3/32" or 1/8" chain if I can.
I haven't been able to find any 3/32" or 1/8" platewheels - does anyone know where I could get one? My plan was to buy one and drill it to mount onto the diff, but I can only find sprockets for much wider chains. Alternatively, I could have another part machined/lasered/plasma cut to adapt it to a standard front chainring, but that would add to the cost. I'd really appreciate some input on this - so that seems like a good place to leave this thread for today. I'll post more updates as I progress towards a completed drivetrain and wheels.
I bought it from here: https://www.geminikarts.co.uk/product/peerless-100-series-differential/
I am going to mount it to my chassis using four 1" oval bearings from Simply Bearings. I have already bought these, or I might have gone for these much lighter weight ones: https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p22814/SBPFL205-16-Oval-2-Bolt-Pressed-Steel-Bearing-Housing-with-1-inch-insert/product_info.html. Heck, I've not built the chassis yet, so I might still change my mind.
For the wheel hubs, I have asked a machine shop to machine them out of aluminium. They will fit over the 1" bore of the axle and fasten with a simple shaft collar on the end (https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p152339/CABUI100Z-Zinc-Plated-En8-Steel-Shaft-Collar-1x1-5/8x3/4-inch-with-Set-Screw/product_info.html). I will have to take the axle to another machine shop to have the 1/4" keyway milled onto it. I have also asked them to make an axle adapter, which will accept a 3/8" bearing pressed into it and clamp over the ends of the hubs so I can true the wheel in a truing stand.
It has taken me weeks of research even to get to this point - shaft collars were a recent revelation as I didn't even know they existed! I'm completely new to this, so hopefully this info can help someone else get off to a faster start than me.
I've still to figure out the drive sprocket. I will use a fairly typical mid-drive hub with a freewheel on one side and a fixed gear on the other, but mounting the sprocket on the differential is proving difficult. Gemini karts sells a platewheel to fit the differential, but it is a different pitch from typical bike/trike parts and I'd like to use a standard 3/32" or 1/8" chain if I can.
I haven't been able to find any 3/32" or 1/8" platewheels - does anyone know where I could get one? My plan was to buy one and drill it to mount onto the diff, but I can only find sprockets for much wider chains. Alternatively, I could have another part machined/lasered/plasma cut to adapt it to a standard front chainring, but that would add to the cost. I'd really appreciate some input on this - so that seems like a good place to leave this thread for today. I'll post more updates as I progress towards a completed drivetrain and wheels.