Test for outriggers - another dumb idea?

[Barkychoc]

I've been having a think about how to be sure your outriggers are OK - my engine is with Rob Robertson at the moment and I had a eureka moment when he was talking about pressure testing my block.

How about pressure testing your outriggers?

So you would need to weld in a pipe union to the outriggers so you could introduce some compressed air - then you pressurise them and see if they hold for say 24 hours. If they don't hold it may also help to find the problem with the air hissing out assuming they aren't like a tea bag.

If they do hold of course then at least you can save yourself the aggro of a body off to check them out and give yourself a bit of peace of mind.

[The Lukas]

It would check for holes, not necesarily for rust or strengh. A good idea, but kind of a last resort kind of check if you ask me. Still a good idea but not something I'd soley rely on as it seems a rather binary approach to it (it either needs urgent work or it has no rot at all).

[rev-erend]

No need .. just tap it along its length with a spanner or poke gently with a screw driver ..

Good steel sounds solid ..

Rust does not.

Try it on a know good area to get a feel for the different sound.

[Pvapour]

doesn't compressed air have moisture in it? rust could attack from both side then

[heightswitch]

Pvapour said:

doesn't compressed air have moisture in it? rust could attack from both side then

Now nitrogen presurisation could work.

Or Helium to help with kerb weight

[V8 GRF]

The easiest way to check your outriggers is to use a fibre optic inspection camera that can be pushed into the gaps above your outriggers and the body.

[JR]

IIRC it was Peter Dumbreck driving a Porsche at Le Mans in the 80s when he noticed in practice that one guage did not move at all. Porsche's chief engineer explained that they had put a gas in the space frame and should a crack develop Peter should bring the car back to the pits carefully. "&*^% that he replied I'll park up on the circuit. As luck would have it a crack did develope during the race and he kept going, finding that the creaking and differing cornering were worsening from lap to lap but adjusting for this he completed the race whilst maintaining position; one of the most memorable Le Mans drives.

[TVR_owner]

Pressure testing will show that the chassis was never fully welded when new!!

After undertaking a chassis restoration some years ago, we injected the cahssis tubes with waxoyl. To my ammusement, the waxoyl started to leak from the welds at all of the low points the first warm day the car was used....

[NTEL]

My chassis and roll cage is full of NOS so the other lads can't see a bottle. Don't tell any of the other Tuscan Challenge lads though.

[TVR_owner]

NTEL said:

My chassis and roll cage is full of NOS so the other lads can't see a bottle. Don't tell any of the other Tuscan Challenge lads though.

Will you be using it this then year Dave

[NTEL]

TVR_owner said:

NTEL said:

My chassis and roll cage is full of NOS so the other lads can't see a bottle. Don't tell any of the other Tuscan Challenge lads though.

Will you be using it this then year Dave

John, I really hope that you think I am

[TVRMARKUB]

NTEL said:

My chassis and roll cage are full of pork pies so I don't have to share em with the other lads. Don't tell any of the other Tuscan Challenge lads though.

[NTEL]

TVRMARKUB said:

NTEL said:

My chassis and roll cage are full of pork pies so I don't have to share em with the other lads. Don't tell any of the other Tuscan Challenge lads though.

[TVR_owner]

NTEL said:

TVR_owner said:

NTEL said:

My chassis and roll cage is full of NOS so the other lads can't see a bottle. Don't tell any of the other Tuscan Challenge lads though.

Will you be using it this then year Dave

John, I really hope that you think I am

Never mind me, I'm just making up the numbers, no championship hopes.

You just need to stay ahead of those young bucks......

[Munter]

JR said:

IIRC it was Peter Dumbreck driving a Porsche at Le Mans in the 80s when he noticed in practice that one guage did not move at all. Porsche's chief engineer explained that they had put a gas in the space frame and should a crack develop Peter should bring the car back to the pits carefully. "&*^% that he replied I'll park up on the circuit. As luck would have it a crack did develope during the race and he kept going, finding that the creaking and differing cornering were worsening from lap to lap but adjusting for this he completed the race whilst maintaining position; one of the most memorable Le Mans drives.

If you're interested in that. You might like the restoration a bunch of americans did. He'res a link to one of the youtube vids showing the chassis. Just behind the cat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C5dLpDPk9c&fea...

Gauge for the chassis at 1:34

Edited by Munter on Wednesday 31st March 08:06