rear end/ axle question

georgia088

Is there one side of the rear end of a golf cart (or all electric motor driven vehicles) that is stronger than the other. I know that if you stall one side the other will turn, but is one side stronger/harder to stall? I am really interested in a mobility scooter's axle, but I figure they are similar to a golf carts.

I can grab the tire of one side and make it stall easier than the other, but both will stall forcing the other to turn. I hope this kinda makes sense.

Thanks for any and all help!

BGW

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scottyb

Both sides are equal. It is an open differential, as you explained stalling one side lets the other side spin. There are posi-traction kits available.

georgia088

Do you think this would be true for a mobility scooter as well?
Thanks

JohnnieB

I'm a retired Clinical Engineer and occasionally maintained electric wheel chairs and mobility scooters over the years. I don't know if there are any kits available, but the closest thing to posi-trac for mobility scooters I've heard of is separate electric motors driving each rear wheel.

Here is an example of what is currently avaiable: http://www.livingmotion.com/pride-mo...r-4-wheel.html

georgia088

Thanks johnnie!
Any idea why one wheel is harder to stall than the other? I am using this motor for another application... if I want to permanently stall one side and use the other side to power something, would it matter which side I permanently stalled and which side I used?

Thanks so much guys!

JohnnieB

If it is a true open differential, both side ought to stall with the same amount mechanical drag. They may be something like the bearings on one side being harder to turn causing that side to appear to stall easier. Based on that, I'd use the side hardest to stall as the PTO.

DaveTM

Neat "stuff" JohnnieB. As a user of cane, seat cane, 3-wheel scooter with "way cool" front basket , and my EZ-GO cart, I never knew they made a duel motor 4 wheel scooter.

I would think for that price ($4-K) it would be more of a "speciality unit" that can get the user into areas that I would consider easy stuff for my hunting cart. The benefit of this 4 wheel scooter would be it's small size and the fact that it could likely be used at most indoor events as well.

OTOH...for the $4-K price, your approaching the cost of a good modified cart that will\can take you more places.

JohnnieB

I'm not sure, but some of the cost might be offset with some of the healthcare plans and other sources, depending on the underlying reason for why it is needed. Some disease related organizations are pretty generous. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on point of view, my mobility issues are not the result any of the diseases that qualifies for much of anything.

Your right about $4k being almost enough for a cart that will go just about anywhere, but in some jurisdictions, a mobility scooter can be used in areas that carts are prohibited. Nature trails and walking paths for instance.

DaveTM

Actually, the DOJ interpretations of the revised ADA regs do not rule out any OPMD. In order for an entity to exclude....say a cart, the entity must have scientific basis for doing so. They cannot say "we don't want cart's because we don't want them." The entity or agency's exclusion must be based on fact, and not "fear of what if."

JohnnieB

I'm not quite in need of a mobility scooter yet and I'm not up to speed on the latest ADA stuff. Thanks for tickling the few working brain cells I have left.