You may have heard that a cardan drive shaft will fail if you push it. While that may be true, you must also keep in mind that if the case is secured properly, the problem of failure will be less likely. If you are serious about repairing your broken cardan drive shaft, you must get to the root of the problem and analyze the cause of failure. Let's look at the causes of failure.
There are many possible causes of failure. If the moving parts are not properly aligned, then they are probably not being secured properly. If the rubber bushings are no longer being lubricated, they are usually too. If the wood or plastic on the carriage is cracked, it is the cause of failure.
The only way to know which part is causing the problem is to inspect the wood bed carriage for cracks and damages. If the damage is small, then there may be only one problem causing failure. If the damage is extensive, then you need to consider a second opinion.
If the carriage appears to be operating normally but is in fact defective, then the cause of mechanical failure is the most likely culprit. There may be poor lubrication, improper installation, poor performance, or something else. All of these problems will result in broken shafts, so they must be investigated and repaired immediately.
When inspecting the carriage, be sure to inspect all moving parts, including the rollers, the bed, the bushings, and the carriage wheel. This will provide you with an idea of the problem that you are having.
If your problem does not appear to be in one of these areas, then it is almost certainly in one of the others. Sometimes the entire piece fails for no apparent reason. In these cases, you need to determine why.
If your problem is with the carriage and it simply breaks in the middle, then you may have failed to maintain your cardan drive shaft properly. Another common cause of failure is improperly installed bushings. The right ones may hold the wheel firmly in place, but if they are not installed properly, then they are no longer effective. A properly installed bush should fit tightly but not rub against the rest of the carriage.
The movement of the carriage, combined with the speed of the screw, will cause the balls in the drive shaft to rub each other, causing the rubber to become dirty. When this happens, the belt also gets worn out. If these balls are not properly seated, then they will rub against each other causing both the belt and the ball bearings to wear out.
When one of these components is failing, it will probably also affect the bearing or both. If both are failing, then they are having a knock-down effect. The result is that the bearings will begin to break, resulting in a complete failure of the carriage.
Because there are many possibilities as to what is causing your problem, you need to decide what to do. It is important to call in a professional to examine the situation and have the part replaced. In many cases, this is the best solution.
However, you may find yourself in a position where you do not want to call a professional. It is not always wise to replace a working component unless the problem is so severe that it cannot be ignored. In those cases, you may be able to solve the problem yourself.
In the worst cases, however, you will need to find the cause of failure. In that case, you will need to know the details of your problem. Knowing the information will help you make the appropriate decisions regarding your cardan drive shaft repair.
