What's wrong with my gearchange...

[BertBert]

Any ideas? Only happened round Clearways, not coming out of Druids or Graham Hill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvd5Qv7P3Yc&fea...
Cheers
Bert

[mbm5]

Great quality footage! Sorry I have no idea what's wrong but can you post more footage -especially from brands race 1 (part1) as my camera wasn't on in the race. A bit too preoccupied with the flat battery remember to press the on button.) Cheers mb

[BertBert]

Certainly Martin, I'll put more up tomorrow!
Bert

[mbm5]

What video and data system do you use Graham? Looks really good!
Cheers
Martin

[BertBert]

It's the standard Radical system with Aim data logging and SmartyCam camera.

[Count Johnny]

Hi Graham

I don't know anything about The Big R's system, but noting the paucity of responses - were I trouble shooting my Proshift system - I'd be wondering about the ignition cut on upshifts or the adjustment of the shift lever.

Obviously, I'm a bear of very little brain so this may be rubbish!

[BertBert]

Thanks Johnny, we have adjusted the activating mechanism according to Radical spec as we had the problem at Donington too (at Craner there, RH bend going from 5th to 6th).

Looks like we are going to try and diagnose it at Oulton on the friday test day with R's help. Apparently they have some kind of logging mechanism they can put on.

If my theory is right (albeit unlikely), it'll happen in a 1g right hand bend!

Graham

[dsl2]

My bet would on chassis twist slightly misaligning something, stopping the shift going through...

[BertBert]

yep, sounds very likely Darren. It's just a question of finding out what's binding and where!

[Count Johnny]

dsl2 said:

My bet would on chassis twist slightly misaligning something, stopping the shift going through...

Is the solonoid/actuator not mounted to the engine/gearbox, then?

If not, it does seem a bit like trying to hit a moving target with a moving object and might explain a right hand/corner radius based malfunction - although I'm sure you must be pulling more than 1G @ Druids.

Interesting...

Edited by Count Johnny on Wednesday 4th May 13:04

[splitpin]

As it seems to be so 'corner specific' (with a prolonged period of high right hand generated G where upshifts are being made/or rather required - as is the first part into Craner), given it seems sweet enough everywhere else, could it be something 'totally daft'?; e.g. like a sloppy onto gearbox gearchange lever?

With a Flatshifter type principally electrical system rather than Radical's air system, one would thinking that the shift rod setting might be just a bit 'low', resulting in the upshift 'cut' being triggered before (rather than just after) the gear lever has reached full travel i.e. too early, the symptom of which is yep, missed gears on the upshift.

Let's hope this is sorted for Oulton Graham - it must be a real nightmare racing a car which constantly haunts one with the prospect that on this or that corner/upshift you may or may not have to have three gos; i.e. do I risk putting it up against the limiter if it does miss or just in case it does, do I play safe and cog up a bit early @ say 9/9.5K to give myself (and my wallet) a bit of float.

Fair to say not the sort of peripheral distractions any racer anywhere wants to have?

[tonto1]

BertBert said:

we have adjusted the activating mechanism according to Radical spec

Assuming we are discussing the Radical PS sysyem, if so any chance you could share this 'Radical Spec', as I am trying to properly adjust my actuator. Cheers

[BertBert]

Count Johnny said:

Is the solonoid/actuator not mounted to the engine/gearbox, then?

I don't know, although I should, shouldn't I?

Count Johnny said:

although I'm sure you must be pulling more than 1G @ Druids.

Yep, that's true. Can't work out how to convince my Aim analysis software to tell me what gear I'm in, but I suspect that 3rd to 4th is at virtually 0g.

splitpin said:

As it seems to be so 'corner specific'...could it be something 'totally daft'?; e.g. like a sloppy onto gearbox gearchange lever?

Yep, but we don't know what yet!

splitpin said:

With a Flatshifter type principally electrical system rather than Radical's air system, one would thinking that the shift rod setting might be just a bit 'low', resulting in the upshift 'cut' being triggered before (rather than just after) the gear lever has reached full travel i.e. too early, the symptom of which is yep, missed gears on the upshift.

Yes it could be a timing issue, which I hope R's logging stuff will spot.

splitpin said:

Let's hope this is sorted for Oulton Graham - it must be a real nightmare racing a car which constantly haunts one with the prospect that on this or that corner/upshift you may or may not have to have three gos; i.e. do I risk putting it up against the limiter if it does miss or just in case it does, do I play safe and cog up a bit early @ say 9/9.5K to give myself (and my wallet) a bit of float.

It definitely needs sorting as even with starting early as you say, I was running out of revs before the gear actually changed. The engine cut without a gearchange, gives a -/+ 300 rpm swing. So on the limiter, it goes down to 10,200 then up to 10,800 before the limiter gets its act together again. Not good for longevity at all!

Hey ho, all good fun.

[dsl2]

You could always try being old fashioned & stick a gear lever in it, don't think my elbow ever refused a shift in the last couple of seasons!

[BertBert]

tonto1 said:

Assuming we are discussing the Radical PS sysyem, if so any chance you could share this 'Radical Spec', as I am trying to properly adjust my actuator. Cheers

Ahh, that's testing as I didn't do the adjustment myself! If noone else knows it offhand, I'll find out for you.

[BertBert]

dsl2 said:

You could always try being old fashioned & stick a gear lever in it, don't think my elbow ever refused a shift in the last couple of seasons!

Yep, that's the fallback.

[Count Johnny]

Hi Bert

In case it's of any use, my data from a lap of Brands (not the one where I only did 3 corners (ahem!)) looks like this:

Mid Blue - Speed
Grey - Brake (On/Off)
Green - TPS
Red - Lat G (Although it only measures up to 2G, so runs out of puff at Graham Hill & Surtees)
Dark Blue - Long G

[BertBert]

Thanks CJ. I've had another look at the logging and coming out of druids, the 2nd to 3rd change is at about 1.2g, the 3rd to 4th is almost in s straight line (-0.3g). 2nd to 3rd has not given a problem so far. So if it is related to rh bends from 3rd upwards, then I think that Clearways is the only place at Brands that would exhibit it!
Bert

[Count Johnny]

Hi Bert

I don't really understand your G numbers (are we talking Lat or Long) but could the problem with your shift be something as simple as a loose fastener, or two?

[BertBert]

I'm talking lateral g there CJ. Neil has been through the whole thing, so there aren't any obvious things adrift.
Bert