Posted by Paul Cook in Kempner, Texas on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 10:58AM :
In Reply to: Now I'm more confused posted by Robert Nitsche on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 10:33PM :
As Paul said, you must turn the tire two complete revolutions when you have one tire on the ground. This is the preferred way.
You can measure wheel and drive shaft revolutions and compute the ratio directly with both wheels off the ground. Often there will be some brake or other drag that will cause the wheel you are not turning to not turn freely. When this happens, the differential will change the effective ratio and your count will not be accurate.
Counting with one wheel on the ground and turning the other wheel two full turns will compensate for the action of the differential.