Aluminum drive shaft vs steel drive shaft?

[tomk]

What are your thoughts on using aluminum? TKS has been running a 1.25" aluminum drive shaft on one of the bikes this year with zero issues weighed it agains others and lightest by 2 lbs!

1.25" AL= 3.5lbs
1.25 steel= 8lbs
1" steel with half sided 7tooth drivers=5 lbs

 

[tomk]

Previous was aluminum, this one is 1" steel

 

[tomk]

1.25" steel

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

I love it, suprised we havent seen it yet.

its more then capable of handling the power demands we are requesting from it. but probably would not hold up so good for a std 1" keyway drive, so splining or something of that nature makes it a little more of a PITA for mfg.

 

[swedenturbo]

Aluminum shaft might be an option but I think a hollow steel shaft is stronger.
Center of shaft has zero stress so you can drill that out without loosing strength.

Our hollow 27 mm shafts with 7 tooth drivers came out at 1,97 kg or 4,34 lbs
Thats more or less same weight as a solid titanium shaft.

 

[off road rider]

I don't know about the snowbikes. On the hawks Ive snapped 2 alu shafts and its a regular fail point. I think I would rather have a bit more weight than a broken shaft

 

[tomk]

What size are the hawk shafts?

 

[Hawkster]

What size are the hawk shafts?

1.25