Car looks and sounds great in the video, can't you just have a small lift off the throttle rather than use the clutch on changes ?
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Car looks and sounds great in the video, can't you just have a small lift off the throttle rather than use the clutch on changes ?
If it is like a convensional dog box withi it propably does not like the easy going gear change using the clutch. For my Tran - X they said its the worst thing you can do to dog gears.
And the best thing is to do like jonboy said. Apply pressure to the lever and quickly flick the throttle. It should upshift like on its own allowing rapid engagement of the dog gears thus reducing the wear. So I've been told.
Quick rack looks like it could be useful, and like roadsport says clutchless shifts will help the box. Car looks like its really going great in that vid though, very rapid!
Good save :D
I've always done brief lift off the throttle and bang it in on the way up, and clutch on the way down
I discovered on Sunday evening that the C bracket I'd made for the gearbox torque limiter had worked loose, and has bent itself out of shape. My fault that it worked loose. I'd used two of the rear crossmember mounting points for the bracket [these are the holes that are underneath the steering rack, in the centre of the bulkhead]. Stupidly I hadn't used the original reinforced holes that had the steel tube inside. When I first fitted the zetec I'd relocated the crossmember towards the drivers side, and made two new mounting holes. One of these never had a steel tube inside. That was one of the holes I'd used to locate the C bracket with. Over a very short space of time, the hole has gone oval, the bolts had worked loose, and the constant push pull on the bracket from the gearbox, not only made the hole worse, but bent the bracket. I'd made it from 3mm steel. I'm cutting out the same shape bracket tonigth from 4mm steel. And after I've welded it all back together, I'll make sure that I use the original mounting holes (with the tubes inside) and that I torque the bolts up properly to prevent it from moving again.What I'd also like to do also is extend the drop link on the rear of the box, forwards to the front cross member, and that'll well and truly hold the box in place and prevent it from squirming around under load.
At least I've now found the explanation for why there was so much backlash when changing gear, as the gearbox was effectively swinging around between changes/lifting off/on.
The wheel speed sensors were to be fitted in the next couple of weeks before Harewood, and I'll be hard pushed to get everything done now I'm fixing this problem.
I've got the dual channel hall effect gear posn sensor from Geartronics.co.uk and I'll wire it in this week. The sensor allows full throttle gear shifts via the ecu monitoring the barrel movement as the lever is pulled. Neil reckons it may work, and time will tell.
I have made the replacement 4mm torque limiter bracket, just needs fitting on the car and the zorst refitting.
I'm at Harewood on Sunday 26th and I'll be using it as development testing for the box and the rear wing will be altered to find more rear grip.
Alas the gearbox sensor is duff, and it needs to be replaced. Its been programmed as a TPS by P&G and not as a 359 degree gearbox sensor, so it wouldn't have worked. I'm so glad I didn't find out the hard way. Luckily Neil at GT told me as soon as he found out, and the batch of sensors will all be returned to his supplier for reprogramming.
http://www.zetecinside.com/xr2/pictures/20120823_1.jpg
The wheel speed sensor, fitted on a length of M6 threaded rod. I'll try and fit the connector tonight so I can plug it in to the wiring loom. Need to repeat the process on the near side rear also. I'm using Ford Focus rear hubs, attached to the modified Fiesta rear axle, with Ford Puma Racing alloy spacers to push the wheels outwards. The HiSpec caliper is underslung and mounted on an alloy bracket. The sensor is perpendicular to the rear disk, its just the slightly wide angle lens on the camera makes it look skewiff. The holes in the disk will be opened out to 7mm diam to give the sensor a better chance to read the movement.
http://www.zetecinside.com/xr2/pictures/20120823_2.jpg
The torque limiter bracket (grey primer) fitted to the chassis, and the gearbox attached using the drop link.
4th in class at Harewood, clutchless gear changes almost perfected, sliced 1.1s off off my pb set last year, and just a shame it rained before the T2 runs as I reckon there was at least another 2nd or two in the talent bag.
Next time :)
Nice one! :thumb:
http://youtu.be/Dbx3gRz4yHA
I used the clutch once on the upchange, some habits do die hard.
New pb of 51.72s at Aintree yesterday.
0-60 mph in 5.23s
Good days racing. So tired today though. 2 practice and 2 timed runs before lunch, and then 2 more timed runs in the afternoon. 5th in class behind the Juno and the 6R4 and the shared exige. But I beat the 2.0 Mini.
Video and pics to follow.
hi graaham can you pm your phone no please need som details of electrical items that we discussed last week ,cheers rob
A friend of mine has just bought Gordon Sheddon's ex-BTCC Ford Focus, which I'm going to view on Thursday. He's running it in tin tops at an event in October, and its not turned a wheel in 7 years apparently. Looking forward to having a good nosey round the shell/suspension etc. I'm also hoping to see Mark Wrights Zakspeed Ford Escort RS1600 which is in the same garage.
Fitting the gearbox position sensor tonight. I had two fluffed 1st to 2nd gear changes at Aintree, (one during practice and another on one of my slower timed runs) and this should prevent that from happing again.
This is the video from Saturday of my quickest run. I'll get a foot rest on order :D
http://youtu.be/JurSltTxQsc
I removed the two screws that held the position sensor in the gear box and oil
started Pissing out the two holes.
I couldn't budge the sensor, seemed
glued in with sealant so I quit while I was ahead and refitted the screws and
the leak stopped. I assumed that I could just remove it without any oil loss,
but it is a prototype box so I'll leave it be until after Loton before I try
again.
1st in class at Loton on Sunday. Unfortanetly Windy retired before the first timed runs, so it was just me and and Elise, which I beat by 3 seconds on my first timed run.
I span at Triangle on my 2nd timed run, the rear brakes locked the wheels again after I registered -1.2G under braking before the back end over took the front. Lots of plans for the winter to solve the braking problem, stiffen the rear with an improved ARB, new tyres (Avon slicks), split rims, and a few other electronics aids to help keep the power down.
This is my video of my 1st time run.
http://youtu.be/owprSIUZq1w
Clutchless gearchanges again (on the upshift) and new tyres meant I shaved nearly a second off my PB, but I've still 2 seconds to remove to get near to Windy's times from Saturday.
Heres my spin on T2. I braked too hard, and the rears locked up, puff of smoke from the rear tyres at ~29s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmogRmY6VW4&feature=g-upl
http://youtu.be/_rL6m8yssPA
I went to the Pod on Saturday, and ran a 13.4 before giving up with due to the excessive axle tramp. I reckon the gearbox steady bar is loose, again :thinking:
I did a 13.4 @105mph, and 0-60 was 5.17
http://youtu.be/Yaa6eLTp4wc
Removed the engine and gearbox on the Mk2 today. I used the GoPro in timelapse mode to capture the work.
The new gearbox has a shorter ratio 1st and 2nd and is brand new, so we'll soon see if its easier to get up the grassy slopes in a few weeks. It was built for a Dellow, but the owner long since sold the car. My Dad trials the Escort and is suffering from too taller gearing on some of the slippier stuff.
We had to remove the cross member and steering rack in order to lower the engine and box to the ground. Was quite an experience, working on such an old girl. They're rather agricultural when you get close enough with a set of spanners.
The engine we discovered, had a weeping core plug on the flywheel end of the engine, so we'll remove the flywheel and fit a new one.
Hoping to get it all back in next week over the course of a few evenings.
Dropping the engine and gearbox back in to the Escort again tonight. Dad's had fun and games sourcing the right sized core plug for the block, but QED came to the rescue. Its now got a new sump gasket too, as the original builder had two paper gaskets back to back, and it leaked at the front of the block. Hoping with the cork gasket set that it wont leak any more. Or at least not as much as before. It is a X-flow after all. :cool:
Burtons do a decent sump gasket for xflows that doesnt spread like the cork ones
Grahamb - Hi, I've just got a gopro and I'm hoping to do a few of these time lapse vids, did you have to use any software to string it all together and make it a movie? Also what time interval setting did you use to take photos?
Thanks
Lewis
Thanks 1962 for that Picture. That's me with my lad at Prescott in 2011, one for the family album.
Doughman, if you use the Cineform studio software free from GoPro it does a more than adequate job. I tried other packages, but Cineform was by far the best tool.
You can specify the target film size (I chose 1080p) and the frames per second during play back. I recorded at 30s intervals, at the highest resolution.
Ok thanks for the info. The video looks spot on.
Time to get this show on the road for 2013.
Bought a Kiley Clinton steering rack, with a 2.2 turns lock to lock ratio. That arrived yesterday. And should put paid to all the push pull on the steering wheel when I go round some of the twistier stuff. £229 incl delivery from Kiley Clinton direct.
And I've an urge for more BHP at the moment, and assisted by dobuy and a few others, I'm sourcing the parts I need to get around 260BHP.
www.part-box.com are supplying me with a set of K1 forged H beam rods, delivery today. Fantastic discount from Paul Dolan again. Thanks for the support guys. :clap:
I still need to get some 12.5:1 pistons, and R500 cams + pulleys & springs, and these will be ordered in March. I'm running the high flow 2008 head already on the Duratec and I'm told that it needs nothing doing to it to achieve 260BHP other than matching the ports. :thumb:
Last night I removed the wiring loom from the engine bay, and various hoses etc, the front air-dam, and other bits, so the engine and box can be removed over the next few days. The clutch developed a very serious judder in September, and I'm concerned that its the paddle clutch thats the cause. I cant live with it, so it needs curing. It could be a broken tri-lobe joint on one of the drive shafts, but I'll soon see as I dismantle everything. If its the clutch, I may go back to a conventional one, as just manouvering the car in the paddock lead to wheelspin it was such a severe take up. So much so I just hated moving the car.
The gearbox is leaking quite badly but last night I found the cause. When I disturbed the gear position sensor last September it pissed out oil everywhere and though i screwed it back in, the silicon rubber around it hasn't resealed, so this will be another job for Quaife when the box goes down for its inspection.
The new engine will also have a raised RPM limit of 8200, which will give me a top speed of 125 (instead of 116) which should pay dividends at Aintree (assuming I can reach top speed in the old girl)
exciting sounding plans graham, but i would strongly recommend you re think the clutch, with an 8200 redline you are firmly in exploding clutch territory, cerrametalics are much more user friendly than sintered, a sprung cerrametalic is the way to go if you dont want something really off/on snatchey
Interesting what you say about exploding clutches, never heard of that happening on a Duratec, saying that can't be any different to any other engine
Is it the friction plate that comes apart?
Both my cars revved to 8200 or so on a regular basis, so far without problems, hope it stays that way!
its clutches in general that explode, ive seen ford (though not duratec) bmw and vauxhall, its not usually the centre plate that explodes its the big donut casting part of the pressure plate, they usually let go when you dip the clutch having just redlined the engine, cluctch in the diaphragm clamps every thing together, when you delclutch theres nothing to resist the centrifugal force,
I don't use the clutch anymore on upshifts Graham. :thumb:
Point taken, I'll do my homework on what I need to buy.
Its the pootling round the paddock that's the killer.
thanks Graham, learn something new everyday, note to self, do not clutch it close to redline.......
Might make up-shifts a bit interesting tho'
Some progress at last.
The sequential gearbox is off the engine, and I've fitted the replacement 'circular' clutch, and will be selling the paddle clutch plate if anyone wants it. The flywheel and cover have slight polished marks on them where you can see the paddle clutch was biting. This would explain the judder. I'm not getting the surfaces skimmed, as time is too tight at the moment.
Refitting the box tonight, and getting the engine and box back in to the car. I have to get the car back on the trailer for the weekend.
Engine and box are back together and in the car. Tonight I'll refit the engine mounts, clutch pipe, etc, and get it back on its wheels hopefully.
Picking up the pace a bit now, the engine and box are in the car, zorst is on, should be back on her wheels again tonight.
New high ratio steering rack is also fitted. I have two complete turns lock to lock now (3.1 std) so with the steering wheel central, I have one complete turn either direction to get full lock.
Been watching this for some time now and have enjoyed the read.
What negative effects will you have now with a much lower steering rack ratio?
Cheers Scott
I'm hoping my guns are big enough to turn the wheel. The steering is probably going to be a lot heavier, but only noticeable when moving the car in the paddock. Out on the track it should still be (I hope) like a Fiesta to drive.
Nearly there. Just a list as long as my arm left to do, and I'm stuck out in Germany again until Saturday.
http://www.zetecinside.com/xr2/pictures/20130505_1.jpg
http://www.zetecinside.com/xr2/pictures/20130505_2.jpg
The engine rebuild is on hold as impending house move is about to bankrupt me.
At Lydden yesterday at the Apex Festival. A 3h20m tow from Leicester, but it was so worth it. I ran two 15minute track sessions, during the Demo Cars, and its was an absolute cracker of a track. I love the short straights and tight corners, my Fiesta is so setup to do that. My quickest lap as a 50.4 with a peak of 96mph which I'm happy with given the little seat time on my first visit. I was visibly much faster than most of the other cars, and really enjoyed realling them in and waiting for the marshals to wave their blue flags.
The car was faultless. Never even needed to take a spanner to her. Water temp was around 80c and oil pressure around indicated 100psi at full revs. The new clutch was so worth the aggro of taking the car apart. I'll never fit a paddle clutch again, dreadful. The gearbox was really working well and I was trying clutchless downshifts for the first time, which again was taking some getting used to.
The GoPro decided it was going to have a flat battery (again) despite charging it the day before, so no onboard video, though some is now surfacing on Facebook (look in www.facebook.com\zetecinsidemotorsport)
Made some great new friends. Three Escorts were there, a blue Mk1 and blue Mk2, and an orange Mk1 (BDA 666L) and I'm going to Bristol tomorrow so we're meeting up to discuss some work on his car he wants me to do for him. The blue Mk2 Escort slowed down on my 2nd session to let me catch up, and then was unable to keep up with me :D (his words)
A great event, some stunning cars there. I love shows combined with track action. Its the future :D
My photos can be found here.
https://plus.google.com/photos/11502...513?banner=pwa
Great to meet Rob and chat about his LS1 Capri he's building too ;) he recognised my car and came and introduced himself.
Lots of comments about the car and my driving, it was ripping round and the noise from the induction roar sounded incredible.
Just need to get my ARDS and get out and do some proper racing now. Bored of hillclimbs and sprints.
Yes it was great day I was in the blue MK1 Escort :thumb:
Nice one! :thumb:
glad you had a great time
Warning! once you do your probably never work up the excitement to sprint againQuote:
Just need to get my ARDS and get out and do some proper racing now. Bored of hillclimbs and sprints.
I saw you there I was with the RDC drift demo that Fiesta was flying
Great to meet you Graham & like i said - the car sounded incredible both coming & going!
Even the VW chaps i was with were very impressed! Thanks for the quick rack tip - i'm having one made by them as we speak!
Where did you say you got the loom plug from again?
Pleasure Rob, glad I could help. And Graham, I'm having difficulty getting the enthusiasm for sprints, even without my ARDS :D
The connectors Ive used are the 48-way ITT Cannon Neptune range from RSWWW.COM
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/?searc...ne&sra=oss&r=t
They also do fewer pins in the connectors, and some connectors which are a mixture of high capacity and low capacity pins.
One thing I dont have are any photos of me hooning around on Sunday. If anyone has any pics I'd love to see them.
Great vid
My first article is in this months (July) Retro Ford Mag, on pages 92 & 93. Hope you like it :D
Connecting the ECU to the gearbox pot tonight, getting her wired up for flat shifts.
Last months RF article seemed to go down well, on Adding Lightness. Next months magazine article is on Sequential gearboxes.
I've removed the rear wing, and it is now sitting halfway down the rear hatch, to lower it below the height of the roof line (to make it legal in the eyes of the MSA). I've also connected the Gearbox to the ECU so that it now allows for full throttle gearshifts. Just needs setting up.
Was planning on going to FF in August for a track session, and my next event is the Aintree sprint on September 7th, followed by a Forge Motorsport action day at Castle Coombe (my first visit) the following weekend.
I'm buying a new house at the moment, so this has focused my funds this year, but next year when things have settled down, and I've extended the single garage to add a workshop on the side, I'm hoping to do some events in the British Sprint Championship, with some proper slicks and more downforce.