This is Coleman's heavy-duty...
This is Coleman's heavy-duty unit that is designed for excessive abuse.This quickener is available in three ratios: 1.5:1, 2:1, and 2.5:1. The2.5:1 ratio might be helpful in a Street Stock-type car where the OEsteering box has slow ratio.
Somehow, years ago, most quickener builders settled on a 2:1 ratio forspeeding up the steering. Some also produced a 1.5:1 and a 2.5:1 ratiounit. I would think the size of the track you run would determine whichratio you use.
There are two basic types of quickeners made today: the chain andsprocket type; and the gear type.
This is a size comparison...
This is a size comparison between Coleman's standard quickener and itsPro Lite quickener. The weight is proportionate to the size.
The chain and sprocket unit such as the one made by D&M is simple andlight. Also, D&M offers a rebuild service for its quickeners. Two lightaluminum billets bolt together for the case. When opened, there are twosprockets. One has twice the number of teeth than the other. These arewrapped by No. 35 American-made chain similar to that used on racingkarts. This chain is not weak; it can hold onto 25hp kart motors.
Gear types are manufactured by both Howe Racing Enterprises and ColemanRacing Products.
Unzipped, the Coleman Pro...
Unzipped, the Coleman Pro Lite unit shows what it's made of: precisionbearings and machine work throughout. The sturdy shafts and gearscontrast with the small outer dimensions.
Coleman produces several different quickeners: a heavy-duty unit, astandard unit, and a new Pro Lite unit. The Pro Lite unit has smallergears and housing than previously used. The long shaft extending fromthe housing allows the unit to be mounted on the dash crossbar with thesteering wheel quick-release welded directly to the shaft. No additionalbrackets for the steering wheel are needed.
Pro Lite quickeners are available with two ratios, a 2:1 and a 1.5:1.The heavy-duty units have three ratios. The 2:1 and 1.5:1 arecomplemented by the addition of the 2.5:1 ratio. This gives you an evenfaster steering ratio--a nice touch when the stock steering box has aslow ratio.
Howe Racing Enterprises has...
Howe Racing Enterprises has recently introduced its newest quickenerunit. This small (41/2-inch long), light, streamlined unit houses afour-gear arrangement where the input and output shafts are in directalignment. This setup puts no side load on the bearings, allowing lessfriction and wear.
The Coleman units have a ring with internal teeth. This ring gear ismade on the input shaft, the steering wheel end. It drives a gear withexternal teeth machined on the shaft. When the larger ring gear turnsonce, the smaller gear turns twice. The weight reduction is achieved byreducing the size of the gears and thus the size of the unit.
The Howe quickener's die-cast...
The Howe quickener's die-cast end bells. Notice they are threadedtogether. One half bolts to a mount while the other half has a hexsection for tightening.
Howe Racing Enterprises has developed a new lightweight quickener, newenough that it has patent-applied-for status. It has a unique internalgearing system that Howe refers to as "an inline balanced design." Theunit consists of two die-cast end bells that contain the gears. Theinternal gearset is described as four miter gears with thicker teethdriving the shafts. This gear arrangement allows the input and outputshafts to be in a straight alignment so as not to put a side load on thebearings.
Howe's new 2-pound quickener is a 2:1 ratio box. This quickener is only41/2 inches long, excluding the splined shafts. It has drilled andthreaded mounting holes in the standard pattern.