pic: Pic 2: "caster wheel" crab drive combo

[JHSmentor]

Originally Posted by Greg Peshek

We're doing direct drive on our 6wd, which made me think about why they weren't doing it. I figure that with the direct drive, they'd have to support the end of the shaft to keep from getting any negative cantilever forces on the wheel. Since they aren't doing a standard crab module, they really don't have an easy way to support the end of a direct drive shaft.

With the two little side plates going down to support the chain driven wheel, they instantly have a well supported wheel with no cantilevering.

At least, that's how it seems to me.

-Greg

Yes, I had the same concern with the cantilever affect but I found a way to mount the wheels very close to the toughbox as a direct drive (through some good luck while using Autodesk). with the low friction surface this year and decent weight balancing, I think this will work out fine. But, supporting the wheel on both sides eliminates that concern so it should be more robust with the only real downside being added weight.