Do you have to use 2x1x1/8" tubing for a WCD?

While I can use it, we've used .5x.5x1/8" steel tubing for our entire superstructure this year and found great success with it. Is there a reason for using the 2x1x1/8" tubing most teams use when making a WCD?

Thanks!

[Joe G.]

It fits the bearing blocks used for a west coast drive well. But if you can make the design work with something else, there's no reason that you have to use 2x1 tubing.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

While I can use it, we've used .5x.5x1/8" steel tubing for our entire superstructure this year and found great success with it. Is there a reason for using the 2x1x1/8" tubing most teams use when making a WCD?

Thanks!

It's the smallest size that can fit a bearing block for a live axle.

Thanks!

[ttldomination]

This is a bit of an aside, but is there somewhere I can look up some detail on these specific bearing blocks?

- Sunny G.

[Gray Adams]

Originally Posted by ttldomination

This is a bit of an aside, but is there somewhere I can look up some detail on these specific bearing blocks?

- Sunny G.

I would just search CD. Everyone does them a little differently, and it's not hard to find pictures and advice.

We tried 1/16" wall tubing on an offseason project for a WCD. It wasn't terrible, but the walls bent in around the bearing blocks. Definitely would not recommend it.

1625 has a nice drive with wider tubes to fit their belts inside the tube. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=86668

[Hawiian Cadder]

We used 3 by 1.5 by .125 tubes this year for our WCD. They were pocketed with 2 inch diameter circular holes. Rather than slide our bearing blocks rotated in place, having 4 discrete positions to both tension chain and achieve proper center drop. We did this because it moved fabrication resources onto the frame that would otherwise have been devoted to the bearing blocks. We also used the larger tubes because they work a bit better with the rivets our team favors. In short, choose a tube size that works for you, smaller tubes favor teams that weld and use smaller wheels, while larger tubes favor rivets and gussets with larger wheels.

[waialua359]

Our team has used 1x3 1/8" the last 5 years.

[Chris is me]

We used 3x1.5x1/8" the past two years in order to accommodate our internal belt drive. It's a weight penalty over other frame sizes, but a zero maintenance drive is REALLY nice.

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

We used 3x1.5x1/8" the past two years in order to accommodate our internal belt drive. It's a weight penalty over other frame sizes, but a zero maintenance drive is REALLY nice.

A regular WestCoast with 2x1 is pretty much zero maintenance as well

Also saves you some weight!

-RC

[MichaelBick]

Originally Posted by R.C.

A regular WestCoast with 2x1 is pretty much zero maintenance as well

Also saves you some weight!

-RC

Correct me if I am wrong Chris. But I believe he means no maintenance as the fact that they never have to tension their belt. On a WCD, you have to maintain it, though a very small job, by making sure the chain is tensioned, and adjusting the bearing blocks when the chain stretches.

[MattC9]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

While I can use it, we've used .5x.5x1/8" steel tubing for our entire superstructure this year and found great success with it. Is there a reason for using the 2x1x1/8" tubing most teams use when making a WCD?

Thanks!

Now is it steel or aluminum, because steel would get really heavy after awhile.

Originally Posted by MattC9

Now is it steel or aluminum, because steel would get really heavy after awhile.

It's steel, but it's surprisingly light. Our entire superstructure this year was under 60 pounds, which allowed us to switch out our entire frame with the steel by our second regional.

[BrendanB]

I think there needs to be some clarification in this thread. WCDs typically use 2x1x1/8in walled ALUMINUM tubing, not steel if I am correct. There is a huge weight difference between the two!

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by MICHAELABICK

Correct me if I am wrong Chris. But I believe he means no maintenance as the fact that they never have to tension their belt. On a WCD, you have to maintain it, though a very small job, by making sure the chain is tensioned, and adjusting the bearing blocks when the chain stretches.

That is a large part of it. The other factor is that there are no exposed runs of chain to deal with.

I do not think 2791's drive is "better" than a traditional WCD, and the benefits of putting belt inside the tube rather than outside are somewhat marginal, but it works well for us and there is certainly something special about a drivetrain you literally never have to adjust.