🔩 Flange – 1616 Bus (Diamond Cut / Serrated)
📌 Component Purpose
A flange with diamond‑cut serrations is a drivetrain interface part used in heavy commercial vehicles such as the 1616 Bus. It’s commonly used either at the gearbox output, intermediate coupling, or differential coupling position, where it interfaces with the propeller shaft, centre shaft, or another flanged component of the driveline.
“Diamond cut (serrated)” describes the machined serrated surface on the flange face that ensures positive mechanical engagement with the mating flange or companion yoke. This serrated finish improves torque transmission and reduces slippage and vibration under load — especially important in buses that carry heavier and more variable passenger loads.
Serrated / Diamond cut surface: Provides stronger mechanical bite between coupling flanges. This helps maintain alignment and reduces driveline noise/vibration.
Typically used on driveline flanges: Gearbox output flanges, intermediate shaft/centre couplings, rear differential flanges.
The 1616 bus platform often uses multi‑piece propeller shaft systems (front + centre + rear sections), and flanges with serrated faces help reliably transfer torque between these components.
⚙️ Where It Is Used
In the 1616 Bus chassis (and many similar heavy passenger/commercial vehicles), serrated flanges may be found at:
Gearbox output flange — connecting gearbox to propeller shaft
Centre coupling flange — joining front and rear propeller shaft halves
Rear differential coupling flange — linking differential to the driveshaft