Tailshaft security chain/strap

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

I'm considering doing one of the charity 4WD events here in WA and looking through the 'Vehicle & Equipment Requirements' it states that a 'Tailshaft security chain/strap' is mandatory.

I've not heard of these before but can guess what they are and what they're for.

Anyone know where I can get one of these for the Prado?

Thanks

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

You could try someone like Chris Mills in Kewdale - they might have a similar tail-shaft loop for drag cars and burn out cars. You might be able to modify one. Basically it's just a loop that will support the tail-shaft should it drop out the gear box or smash the uni joints. The bolt to the floor pan or tranny tunnel and loop under the shaft, supporting it should it fail and preventing it from spearing into the roadway or flexing wildly and smacking against the floor.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Maybe you could contact the event organisers and ask them for a preferred installer.

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

You could try someone like Chris Mills in Kewdale - they might have a similar tail-shaft loop for drag cars and burn out cars. You might be able to modify one. Basically it's just a loop that will support the tail-shaft should it drop out the gear box or smash the uni joints. The bolt to the floor pan or tranny tunnel and loop under the shaft, supporting it should it fail and preventing it from spearing into the roadway or flexing wildly and smacking against the floor.

Thanks Dave, I guessed that was what it is. Might have to look at making something.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Chris Mills, there is a blast from the past! Just shows you can take the boy outa Perth, but you can't take Perth outa the boy.

Feeling homesick again........

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

He helped me with machining when I built my first 289 that I shoved into a 66 XP Falcon sedan delivery.

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

I've just found that if you Google 'Tailshaft Loop' you find what you are looking for. There are several on eBay at $50 to $60 (inc. postage). Lot's of images available too - I'm going to have to crawl underneath the car and look to see what I could do.

Apparently Mythbusters did an episode on this and only managed to put the tailshaft through the boot of the car disproving the 'pole vaulting' theory but from what I've read their testing was very limited.

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

You could try someone like Chris Mills in Kewdale - they might have a similar tail-shaft loop for drag cars and burn out cars.

They do:

http://www.cmp.com.au/heavy-duty-tail-shaft-loop.html

They all seem to be of a similar construction 50mm x 6 or 7 mm flat bar bent into two L shapes and two semicircles. Definitely have to look at making one up.

[Trekrider Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Trekrider]

I went back to the charity and asked why they had a tailshaft loop on the mandatory list - this is the reply I got:

".... has asked me to respond regarding the ‘Tailshaft Security Chain/Strap’ requirement for vehicles participating in The ...... This is a safety precaution in the unlikely event the tailshaft separates from the gearbox extension housing. This is a very rare event but if it happened (and it has once to my knowledge), the tailshaft would drop, pitch into the road surface causing the vehicle to either catapult into the air or push the rear diff backwards, or both... not a good look and very dangerous. You will find that probably all 4WD’s and most 2WD vehicles already have provision for the front part of the tailshaft to rest upon should this occur. The easiest thing to do is look under the vehicle and see if there is any structure under the tailshaft near where it connects to the gearbox.

If you are planning to use a 4WD on the event, you will most likely not need to do anything... it is more for very old 2WD vehicles where this could be an issue. We keep it in the mandatory equipment list to ensure participants travelling in old 2WD vehicles actually check to see if this requirement is necessary for their vehicle."

I'm not sure I'd agree with the statement that "all 4WD’s and most 2WD vehicles already have provision for the front part of the tailshaft to rest upon should this occur" I've personally never seen one on any vehicle.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

In my somewhat irresponsible youth a mate and I were in his twin cam Celica doing an extraordinary speed on the highway from Brisvegas to the Goldcoast when the front of the tailshaft decided to dive into the road. We end-over-ended around 3 times, then rolled about 7 times coming to rest about 75 metres off the road and perched in a big roadside advertising hoarding which, coincidently, was advertising Goldcoast Smash Repairs. I felt quite impressed that I managed to keep the lid of the foam esky tightly secured on our "roadies". (NB: I in no way wish to condone drink driving by telling this story).