gear box post by Scott Elkes (swiped from facebook)

[ted johnson]

The Helix gears were helical cut instead of straight cut. Straight cut gears are noisier, but do not produce thrust loads axial to the gear shaft. Straight cut gears are much cheaper to make. Helical teeth are stronger, as there is more tooth in contact, but those pesky axial loads must be accounted for. The lack of axial loads is the main reason that race transmissions use straight cut gears. The straight cut gears in the Halibrand quick-change rear ends were supposedly the inspiration for the Margay gear change setup-a much more important factor in the days of serious kart racing than in today's exhibition racing and fun running. Sure is easier to clean up a gearbox kart than one with a chain! Ted