reduced drive in 1st and 2nd

[tel777.]

During the race at Mallory this weekend my car developed a problem with drive in first and second gear.

I have to ride the clutch to pull off and also very low revs and little drive comming out of the hairpin. It's ok in 3rd onwards.

I have a 5 speed box on an academy car any clues?

I asked Caterham but was told it could be any 1 of 100 things.

I have had a constant leak on the gearbox since it was built but was also told by caterham "it's ok, it's the speed transducer sweating" could this have anything to do with it?

Tel.

[SimonY]

I wouldn't like to comment on what the actual problem with the gearbox is, but a small leak from around the speed transducer is quite common and unlikely to be the problem, the amount of oil you are losing from there is probably insignificant.

[ewenm]

Have you had a look in the gearbox? It's possible to get the cover off the gearbox in situ and have a peer in - you never know, something may look obviously wrong.

[tel777.]

on close inspection I seem to have a load of mud/grass baked into the bell housing. (from a spin or two on the track day on sat)

a) could this cause the problem?

and

b) how do I get welded mud out of the bell housing with out taking things apart or damaging things?

also

does anyone know why the bell houing is open to the elements? surley it's not good to get water, stones etc in there?

lots of questions i know sorry!!!

tel

[Murph7355]

a) I'm not sure you do. And if that detritus got in there, it may be worth a more full look anyway.

b) Not sure it is really. I believe there's a hole where the release fork is that's not always covered. But you'd have to be unlucky to get lots of junk in there...?

Does the problem only occur in 1st/2nd? Is it only at certain revs? If so, I do wonder whether that's the only problem...

[tel777.]

The problem has only been noticed at high revs in low gear. I don't have any diagnostics to tell me whats happening in higher gears but lower revs, but it feels that it's pulling fine.

I did have someone say it may be a glazed clutch, I don't really know what that means or what one looks like, any ideas

thanks

[bikemonster]

Fuelling problem perhaps?

Are you getting to the same high revs in the higher gears?

I doubt it's the clutch unless you are using a different clutch in the higer gears. (And you most prolly are not.)

[dannylt]

Can't be fuelling, since the ECU doesn't know about gears. Gearbox? Sounds bad news if so!

[dannylt]

Can't be fuelling, since the ECU doesn't know about gears. Gearbox? Sounds bad news if so!

[MikeE]

wow that's some double post, did you fall asleep on your keyboard again Danny

[ewenm]

MikeE said:

wow that's some double post, did you fall asleep on your keyboard again Danny

[GreenV8S]

In the lower gears you get more torque applied to the engine so it rocks further. If it's load sensitive, perhaps you have some electrical fault which only shows up when the engine moves?