5 speed type 9 replacement options
Discussion
I have a Birkin with a 5 speed type 9 which was a factory build.
I think the T9 is good standard for 180 bhp, but if I believe the hype, my up graded tuned and ECU'd 2.0 duratec engine is giving about 245bhp.
The gearbox is the biggest let down on the car as it is very stiff and lets everything down.
As an aside the gear stick is a little too far forward for me, but that is not a deal breaker.
Can anyone give an opinion on the options open to me to improve things?
I was thinking how a 5 speed compares to a 6 speed (the birkin has a Subaru diff)
But also how a Caterham box differs from the others available.
I know I don't own a Caterham, but I have helped many a Caterham owner out at track days!! So be kind!
Cheers
Ed
I think the T9 is good standard for 180 bhp, but if I believe the hype, my up graded tuned and ECU'd 2.0 duratec engine is giving about 245bhp.
The gearbox is the biggest let down on the car as it is very stiff and lets everything down.
As an aside the gear stick is a little too far forward for me, but that is not a deal breaker.
Can anyone give an opinion on the options open to me to improve things?
I was thinking how a 5 speed compares to a 6 speed (the birkin has a Subaru diff)
But also how a Caterham box differs from the others available.
I know I don't own a Caterham, but I have helped many a Caterham owner out at track days!! So be kind!
Cheers
Ed
Sorry for not getting back, I have been sorting a few things on the car.
To up date everyone, I changed all the oil I could get out of it with the Ford recommended oil (as I'd bought it before reading the MTL advice).
The gear change has certainly improved but I still find it very easy to select reverse!
I want to suck it and see for a while but the weather is against me!
The Birkin has 15 inch wheels as that is all that fit over the brakes.
To up date everyone, I changed all the oil I could get out of it with the Ford recommended oil (as I'd bought it before reading the MTL advice).
The gear change has certainly improved but I still find it very easy to select reverse!
I want to suck it and see for a while but the weather is against me!
The Birkin has 15 inch wheels as that is all that fit over the brakes.
Mine was not as bad as that but fingers crossed it helps.
My reckoning was the metal ones can't clip on like a plastic one, and in the instructions they say to crimp them on a bit, I think they mean bend it round.
There is also supposed to be Zing from the metal ones, a claim from a competitor! I have no idea what 'zing' is!
Anyway, I have ordered a plastic upgraded one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYPE-9-ESCORT-CORTINA-C...
I will let you know once fitted, in case anyone is interested.
My reckoning was the metal ones can't clip on like a plastic one, and in the instructions they say to crimp them on a bit, I think they mean bend it round.
There is also supposed to be Zing from the metal ones, a claim from a competitor! I have no idea what 'zing' is!
Anyway, I have ordered a plastic upgraded one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYPE-9-ESCORT-CORTINA-C...
I will let you know once fitted, in case anyone is interested.
For the sake of completeness and in case this could help anyone:
The gear stick was too deep into the gearbox. (It is possible a spacer or gasket had been lost between the gear stick mounting and the gearbox, or that the stick mounting was at one end of a tolerance, but unlikely as a quick shifter also didn't work. So I think it was the tolerance of the box).
This caused two problems.
The shoulder on the bottom end of the stick, which hits against the reverse detent and locks out reverse (unless you push the gear stick downwards) was almost already underneath the detent. Coupled with a tiny bit of wear which rounded off the shoulder meant it was super easy to hit reverse.
Also, incredibly, both myself and the previous owner found the box very stiff, raising the gearstick has somehow sorted out something else causing too much friction by being low, as now it has a perfect bolt action and has transformed the car.
Google gave so many solutions to stiff type 9 problems and easy to get into reverse problems, but this solution never appeared.
And all it cost was 6 washers!
Result.
The gear stick was too deep into the gearbox. (It is possible a spacer or gasket had been lost between the gear stick mounting and the gearbox, or that the stick mounting was at one end of a tolerance, but unlikely as a quick shifter also didn't work. So I think it was the tolerance of the box).
This caused two problems.
The shoulder on the bottom end of the stick, which hits against the reverse detent and locks out reverse (unless you push the gear stick downwards) was almost already underneath the detent. Coupled with a tiny bit of wear which rounded off the shoulder meant it was super easy to hit reverse.
Also, incredibly, both myself and the previous owner found the box very stiff, raising the gearstick has somehow sorted out something else causing too much friction by being low, as now it has a perfect bolt action and has transformed the car.
Google gave so many solutions to stiff type 9 problems and easy to get into reverse problems, but this solution never appeared.
And all it cost was 6 washers!
Result.
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