Freewheel hubs, how do they work?

[Alex@POD]

I am planning to adapt freewheel hubs to my van (see the million other thread I seem to be creating about it these days), could nyone explain to me clearly how they work? I have a pretty good idea about the concept, but I kinda need to know exactly what to expect...

[eliot]

Is your van four wheel drive then? They are for 4wd's where you want to save a bit of power not driving the front axles.
Really not sure where your'e going with this one...

[Alex@POD]

That's because I must have spared you with the other threads. I will be running a twin engine setup in the van, and I want to be able to run either engine on its own if necessary, to save fuel and in the event of a breakdown...

[wildoliver]

Is this an LDV van running on a 50/50 mix of optimax and engine restore?

[steve_d]

The ones I have seen are simply a dog drive that you engage or disengage. Simple technology with no fancy bits. You just pull and twist what in another hub would be the grease cap.

Steve

[GreenV8S]

wildoliver said:

Is this an LDV van running on a 50/50 mix of optimax and engine restore?

You'll need some Water Wetter in there too to keep it cool.

[nsashby]

I think it's illegal to run a twin engined vehicle on UK roads. Might be OK if both engines drive the same axle but not if they drive different axles. Worth checking...

Edited by nsashby on Wednesday 30th August 10:42

[gorvid]

nsashby said:

I think it's illegal to run a twin engined car on UK roads.

Yet fun....

[Liszt]

nsashby said:

I think it's illegal to run a twin engined vehicle on UK roads. Might be OK if both engines drive the same axle but not if they drive different axles. Worth checking...

Edited by nsashby on Wednesday 30th August 10:42

Nope, it is fine. Have a read up on a company called Z Cars.

[Alex@POD]

Liszt said:

nsashby said:

I think it's illegal to run a twin engined vehicle on UK roads. Might be OK if both engines drive the same axle but not if they drive different axles. Worth checking...

Edited by nsashby on Wednesday 30th August 10:42

Nope, it is fine. Have a read up on a company called Z Cars.

Trouble is Z cars haven't made anything with two separate engines... Their twin engine cars have the two units side by side, linked to only one gearbox.

[ginganinga]

Ah ha good point.

[wadgebeast]

nsashby said:

I think it's illegal to run a twin engined vehicle on UK roads. Might be OK if both engines drive the same axle but not if they drive different axles. Worth checking...

Edited by nsashby on Wednesday 30th August 10:42

Only if you get caught!!

[MR2Mike]

Alex@POD said:

Trouble is Z cars haven't made anything with two separate engines... Their twin engine cars have the two units side by side, linked to only one gearbox.

Yes they have, their twin engined Ultima had separate engines for front and rear wheels, as I think did their Tiger Z 100.

Why would it be illegal anyway? There are several 4WD systems where the F/R split can be adjusted on the fly using a clever center diff, having two engines is just another way of achieving this.

FWIW a guy a knew many years back built a twin engined Metro, with 2x Metro Turbo engines and it passed the MOT ok.

Edited by MR2Mike on Thursday 5th October 16:37

[tr7v8]

A grolly green golf ran sometime ago with this & also a twinny engine Alfa 164.
Can't think why it would be illegal!

[mds automotive]

the golf had two 2.8 vr6 engines however only the front was allowed to be used when on public highway. remember the metro that got banned what was it called a 9x7 or something

[Alex@POD]

I don't know why it would be illegal, I just think it is. I guess it might be in case something goes wrong and makes the car uncontrollable...

Some people have made twin engined vehicles where the engines drive separate axles, but afaik they always have some kind of quick release mechanism on gearshift and throttle...

[iamthestig]

what about the mini moke then?