Reducing wear on a 1339 QuadraTrac

[plasticboob]

Hey everyone, just a few questions. Now that no one makes a decent chain for the QTrac, and of course there are no internal parts available, I'd like to preserve mine.

So we all know that it's okay to run in Emergency Drive (locked center diff) with the front driveshaft removed - but my question is, would this reduce wear on the chain since it is now only driving the rear wheels?

Also, is there any long-term risk to permanently running this way? I can't remember much about how the QTrac works, but I seem to recall the shift fork being made of plastic.

[FSJ Guy]

There are plastic sliders (wear pads) on the shift fork. The shift fork itself is metal.

IIRC, the chain is in use regardless of wether or not it is in E-drive or not.

[plasticboob]

There are plastic sliders (wear pads) on the shift fork. The shift fork itself is metal.

IIRC, the chain is in use regardless of wether or not it is in E-drive or not.

Ah, that's right, the plastic sliders.

True, but since it will only be driving the rears instead of the fronts and rears, it should require less power to get moving since all that energy is now being transferred to the rears only? Now instead of requiring more power to get the front driveshaft, gears, etc. moving, it can be directed to the rears and thus the ground. I know conservation of energy and all that, but it just seems like less wear having only to drive the rears? Someone set me straight before I confuse myself.

[fulsizjeep]

In theory that might make sense to me but you are still pushing the same amount of weight down the road. Drive it and enjoy it or park it and preserve it and wish you were driving it.

[tgreese]

There are plastic sliders (wear pads) on the shift fork. The shift fork itself is metal.

IIRC, the chain is in use regardless of wether or not it is in E-drive or not.

Ah, that's right, the plastic sliders.

True, but since it will only be driving the rears instead of the fronts and rears, it should require less power to get moving since all that energy is now being transferred to the rears only? Now instead of requiring more power to get the front driveshaft, gears, etc. moving, it can be directed to the rears and thus the ground. I know conservation of energy and all that, but it just seems like less wear having only to drive the rears? Someone set me straight before I confuse myself.

No, it won't make any difference. All power goes through the chain, regardless of whether front or rear or both are connected. The tiny reduction in drag from not driving the front axle won't make a significant difference.

Baby it (less throttle) and it will last longer.

[Ristow]

put a D20 in it.