Live vs. Dead axles

[Not2B]

Mmm... both.

I like live shafts, because it's easier to get things that don't fit together to go together. Drill a hole, cut a keyway, and you're done. Easy to swap parts.

However, we go with dead shaft most of the time. Why? Because we design for low-accuracy and low-repeatablity. If our frame members get out of alignment, a life shaft with bearings has proven to be more difficult to dead with. Same if the shaft bends. With dead, the frame can warp, the shaft can bend, but as long as the chain (or timing pulley) can still compensate - you are still driving. Somewhat.

We kind of look at each application to pick a live or dead shaft. How easy is it to put together, how much abuse will it take, how well can we make it.