Something not quite right?!

[Mark G]

Whoops!

[Bulldog Bri]

Oh dear!!!  What you done???

Your missing an engine mate 

[Mark G]

I was hitting false neutrals in between 3rd and 4th and also between 5th and 6th.  Obviously on a sequential box thats not a good thing.

As with most bike engines the box is in the engine so I've had to remove the lot.  Took the engine up to Silverstone with me on Saturday where Andy B from AB Performance stripped it, replaced the gearbox and rebuilt the engine for me all in his van in the paddock area.

Now I've got the joys of refitting the engine, but before I do that I've got a few other little jobs to do.  Tonight I remanufactured a pivot on the gear linkage as it always put play in the gearshift.  Whilst the engine is out.  I'm fitting oil temp and pressure gauges, gear indicator and also an aeroscreen.

I've got the old gearbox parts so I'll take a couple of photo's of the damaged items as its quite interesting to see how much damage there is in there.

Hopefully I should have the car back on the road before too long. 

['The Gaffer']

Thats a real shame mate.

I get those false nutes occaisionally too, mainly on downshifts.

It sounds horrible trying to get back into gear but what i've learn't is to try up shifting again rather than downshifting. The moment is lost anyway and upshifting goes in smooth.

Also a clutch to the floor helps stop mis gears.

Hope you are back on the road soon so we can compare transmission clunks.

[Speedy J]

Oh dear

[Mark G]

Sounds like you're having similar troubles to me phil. I'd be more worried with neutral's on down shifts as you could need engine braking into a corner. I'll bet that ur gearbox is knackered too.

I had bad wear on my selector barrel and on some of the dogs.  I've improved the gear linkage now too so there's less stress on the box when shifting.

The rigidness of the sierra drive train is too stiff for the bike box, the rear wheel of the bike has built in damping to prevent wear. Apparently the way around gearbox wear is using a torque resilient prop shaft.

['The Gaffer']

Hmm thats interesting stuff Mark.

I only have a problem say once in 200 shifts, and only then when stuff is happening pretty quick. Could just be my electric shifter just slightly out of line.

It wouldent surprise me if the gearbox is worn though as the the prop and drive shafts are at the moment.

I am having prop cut and shortened, new heavey duty splines fitted, new UJ's and rebuilt drive shafts soon.

If its any consolation, my car has been driven round every track in the UK by press journalists and not to mention every man and his dog too, and its still working, albeit a bit worn. The engine was rebilt by Andy Bates some time ago, so maybe I have some breathing space.

At the moment I love the bike engined car, its just so different to a car engine so wouldent consider swopping.

When will you be back on the road?

[Mark G]

I'm out of town next week so won't get to fit it then, hoping to fit some toys this weekend and maybe have the engine back in next weekend.  Fingers crossed I should be able to make it to the next meet on the 13th.

['The Gaffer']

Hope all goes well, look forward to seeing you

[Richard]

Ug - does not sound literally very good.

Hope you get it all put back together before too long.

[Mark G]

some pics of the worst of the gearbox,  The engine and gearbox are all built back up and are in the garage waiting to go back in the car.  I've got to wire in oil temp and pressure gauges and also a gear indicator.  Then install them in the dash.  Then I've an wind deflector to fit and after I've done that lot I'll be able to put the engine back in.

I don't think it'll be back on the road for this weekend.  Shame really as I'd have liked to give it a drive over the lakes. 

Maybe when she's back on the road some of us might be able to take an evening drive up to cheddar or something...

['The Gaffer']

Nice pics Mark, I can see some signs of wear there but not sure what i'm looking for.

I am just in the process of having transmission totally rebuilt so i hope I dont end up with gearbox wear too 

Anyway, yes I'm sure an evening run will be in order and look forward to seeing your car back on the road.

Where do you plumb in a oil temp and gear indicator? I have 919cc so maybe different but I would like oil temp, sorted with Veypor VR2 for gears, fuel and speed etc.

[Mark G]

The oil temp sensor goes straight into the side of the sump pan where the oil sits.  I got Andy to tap the hole when he was doing the box.  The oil pressure sender will sit on a T piece which is on an extension from where the oil pressure switch is now.

The gear indicator takes a signal from road speed and a signal of RPM and works out the gears from that.

I'll circle the wear patches on the images above so it is clearer where the damage is...

['The Gaffer']

Ah, so I will have to have a hole tapped. I have pressure guage allready so no big deal. Always nice to know oil temp though, especially if you track it.

I have an unused Acumen gear indicator with battery voltage display if you are interested?

Look forward to your pics.

[Mark G]

I've already got the gauges and an Acumen DG8.  I bought them ages ago but decided to wait before fitting them as I was pushed for time for the SVA test.  I've not had the opportunity to fit them since, I figured now would be the perfect time as its all apart anyway.

It was going to be my winter job for the car,  I'll have to think of some other stuff to do now instead...

['The Gaffer']

Gear indicator is great, especially the am I in 5th or 6th scenario. Or am I in 2nd or 1st

[Mark G]

I'm having such a hard time getting motivated to go and fix this.  Yesterday it wasn't going well I actually kicked the workshop door frame off the wall because the gearshifter was playing up!

Turns out that was the only thing that actually got repaired successfully yesterday!

['The Gaffer']

Perhaps we can summon up the BKCC A Team.

A few more hands might make light work.

[David H]

I'm having such a hard time getting motivated to go and fix this.  Yesterday it wasn't going well I actually kicked the workshop door frame off the wall because the gearshifter was playing up!

Turns out that was the only thing that actually got repaired successfully yesterday!

yup, smashing things definately helps. Sometimes it is the only way to fix anything.

[Mark G]

Things have been going much better this weekend.  Spent some time on the car and have managed to get the engine running tonight.  The car's back on the floor now so only a few little jobs to do to get it back on the road.  Hopefully only 1 or 2 nights work left.

When its back on the road I'll be having my stripes fitted which I can't wait for.  Time to sticker up!

[Bulldog Bri]

Good luck with it all Mark...