How does a cycle-rickshaw turn without a differential?
How does a cycle-rickshaw turn without a differential? This answer applies to a rickshaw with two wheels on the back, which are connected by a fixed axle. On the front, is one wheel which is used for steering. When a car’s engine turns the back wheels through a differential, only one wheel is being driven at any given time. This is necessary because, when turning a corner, the outside wheel takes a larger diameter curve than the inside wheel. If both wheels turned at the same speed, as without a differential, the inside wheel would spin on the road and not grip. I once bought a car that had been used for racing. The differential had been welded to prevent normal functioning. On straights, the car really accelerated well because the engine transmitted its power equally to both wheels. But on corners, one of the back tires would scream – even at low speeds. A rickshaw, without a differential would act similarly to a car with a welded transmission. The big difference is that a car’s engin
