Sc drop gear set sound

Sc drop gear set sound

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Discussion

camelotr

Original Poster:

570 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st June 2011
quotequote all
Hi,

I have just started a "newborn" project engine. This is the first time I use sc drop gears.


The engine is developing some horrific sounds. It is like intensive timing-chain-clicking. But if I engage the cluch, it goes away. Is it the normal? I have kept the revs above 2K for the cam-running in, soo I report the sound there. It became much more calm at idling.

Many thanks for any input!

Cooperman

4,428 posts

257 months

Wednesday 1st June 2011
quotequote all
Sounds like the usual awful nasty straight cut drop gear noise. It is so bad when driving that you will need to use ear plugs on any journey over about 5 miles or you may suffer permanent ear damage (I know because I have 'tinnitus', and it ain't pleasant).
If I didn't need SC drops in my rally car I would replace them with helicals tomorrow.

camelotr

Original Poster:

570 posts

175 months

Wednesday 1st June 2011
quotequote all
Cooperman said:
Sounds like the usual awful nasty straight cut drop gear noise. It is so bad when driving that you will need to use ear plugs on any journey over about 5 miles or you may suffer permanent ear damage
Me? No way! The car belongs to a friend of mine. I told him that it will be noisy, but he insisted on the sc box and the drop gears.

Soo, it is normal? I am happy.

KP328

1,855 posts

202 months

Wednesday 1st June 2011
quotequote all
My Dad had sc gears in his race mini, I could literally hear him a mile+ away.God knows how loud it must have been in the car.

rww

74 posts

216 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
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camelotr said:
Me? No way! The car belongs to a friend of mine. I told him that it will be noisy, but he insisted on the sc box and the drop gears.

Soo, it is normal? I am happy.
Yes, it's normal. The key to it being the s/c primary gears is that the noise ceases after engaging the clutch (and removing drive to the primary,idler and gearbox input gear )

Mini_Lund

1,743 posts

217 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
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Standard helical gears and a 3:4 diff is enough noise for me hehe

DanGT

753 posts

233 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
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SC gears what a great sound. My old mini with SC gears is the only car I have driven that would always get people to turn to see what was coming. 30 min was my limit with out ear protection.

camelotr

Original Poster:

570 posts

175 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
Ok.

I have insalled the engine. Not that bad as I expected. The car has a good level of sound isulation though. Not realy my cup of tea, but still I would say that the sound level is acceptable.

Still I am not 100% statisfied with the result. I have planned a good fastroad engine with good torque curve, and it does not feel that strong as I excepted.

May I missed something? what do You think?

The engine is a 1293ccm unit with 10:1 compression, well ported head with 35.6in (std) and 29.3 ex (rimflow), Maniflow "megafone" exhaust system, KN filter with stubstack on HIF 44, ultralight flywheel, electronic ignition (accuspark), SW5 cam. Fully balanced.

My target was 90 flywheel bhps. But it does not feel like.

Whats wrong with it? Did I expected too much? Is the cam too light for this application? Or?

Edited by camelotr on Friday 3rd June 10:59


Edited by camelotr on Friday 3rd June 11:00

FWDRacer

3,564 posts

231 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
camelotr said:
Ok.

I have insalled the engine. Not that bad as I expected. The car has a good level of sound isulation though. Not realy my cup of tea, but still I would say that the sound level is acceptable.

Still I am not 100% statisfied with the result. I have planned a good fastroad engine with good torque curve, and it does not feel that strong as I excepted.

May I missed something? what do You think?

The engine is a 1293ccm unit with 10:1 compression, well ported head with 35.6in (std) and 29.3 ex (rimflow), Maniflow "megafone" exhaust system, KN filter with stubstack on HIF 44, ultralight flywheel, electronic ignition (accuspark), SW5 cam. Fully balanced.

My target was 90 flywheel bhps. But it does not feel like.

Whats wrong with it? Did I expected too much? Is the cam too light for this application? Or?

Edited by camelotr on Friday 3rd June 10:59


Edited by camelotr on Friday 3rd June 11:00
rofl

Who specced this?

The spec chosen will make 90bhp if built and set-up properly - of that I am 100% sure. But why put it on S/C drops and S/C box? Madness!

The strength of the S/C set-up isn't needed until an engine is showing a torque curve of greater than 90lb/ft. It is a fact that the Austin Metro Turbo (which shares a A+ engine/helical box design common with the Mini) had the boost modulated to peak at 90lb/ft and no more despite the blown A-series being capable of a whole lot more. Reason? Gearbox life and warranty. If you drove a Metro Turbo err "enthusiastically" you'd lunch/destroy the box inside 10K miles. This is as sure as the sun will set tonight and rise tomorrow morning hehe

Back to your engine build - The S/c drops are the major conributor to the noise and the power of the engine doesn't warrant the use of them. It won't put enough torque into the idler set-up that will result in a damaged drop gear housing.

In short, he's deafening himself for no apparent reason hehe

Pardon?



AlleyCat

811 posts

178 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
after a while you cant hear them anymore. i use mine daily and it has all the s/c drop gear and box.

i think i have just become numb to it.

you'll be fine smokin

Pooky67

577 posts

166 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
I fitted s/c drops to my small bore as it was just a weekend car and my bit of fun. I love the noise and the attention it gets, the looks on peoples faces as you drive past is comical and dogs seem very confused also!

YouTube Link to my S/C drops

http://youtu.be/Vwqiz_unmvI

guru_1071

2,768 posts

241 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
ive been pulled before and got a 7 day wonder for making 'excessive mechanical noise' thanks to runing an sc box and drops! smile

camelotr

Original Poster:

570 posts

175 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
FWDRacer said:
Who specced this?

The spec chosen will make 90bhp if built and set-up properly - of that I am 100% sure. But why put it on S/C drops and S/C box? Madness!
The spec is mine. A friend of mine has a neverending-project-mini, and he wanted afastroad engine peaking below 6K with as much strenght as possible. Soo did I concluded in this setup. The sc box/gears was only for fun.

I set the engine today with wbo, and it looks like it runs spot on eith the metro turbo BDK needle. ? Strange. I assume it is a lot of fuel, and the engine burns it at afr14.6 on the whole range up to 5k. Acceleration is at afr 11.5-12.5. Just about perfect. donno.


Cooperman

4,428 posts

257 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
To have SC drops without always using either a crash helmet or ear plugs is plain madness.
I now have severe Tinnitus and I can tell you that it is misery. Permanent noise like a jet engine in your head 27/7. Never a quiet moment - ever. It never goes away and there is no cure.
SC drops are for competition use only.

Mrtee

90 posts

200 months

Saturday 4th June 2011
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Ive got SC drops and SC gearset in my '61 car - no soundproofing, no carpets.

having driven from Scotland to the 'ring 3 times, and the last 6 London to brighton's (each an 1100 mile round trip), all with the "noisy" gearbox, I cant say my hearing is in any way affected - done 1500 miles in the last 2 weeks in it.

but back on topic -

my engine spec is about the same as yours, (1312cc and have 1.5 roller-tips on mine) 90 bhp is possible with very careful assembly, but if you want something stronger, you really shouldnt have chosen the SW5 - its a fabulous road-cam, but runs out of puff a bit early. Im about to change mine for something a bit more potent - I will miss the lump of torque at 1500-2k, but after 6 years of hard use, its time to revamp with some more extreme engine components and head for the magic 100bhp.

incidentally, what FD ratio are you using? gearing the car correctly for the use will make a substantial difference to the way the car feels - Im on a 3.2 diff - probably shouldve fitted the 3.1, but my gearing on 10" rims is about perfect for the engine spec, without making it all too frantic on the M6 at 70 mph for the 7 hours it takes me to get anywhere.

camelotr

Original Poster:

570 posts

175 months

Sunday 5th June 2011
quotequote all
Mrtee said:
but back on topic -

my engine spec is about the same as yours, (1312cc and have 1.5 roller-tips on mine) 90 bhp is possible with very careful assembly, but if you want something stronger, you really shouldnt have chosen the SW5 - its a fabulous road-cam, but runs out of puff a bit early. Im about to change mine for something a bit more potent - I will miss the lump of torque at 1500-2k, but after 6 years of hard use, its time to revamp with some more extreme engine components and head for the magic 100bhp.

incidentally, what FD ratio are you using? gearing the car correctly for the use will make a substantial difference to the way the car feels - Im on a 3.2 diff - probably shouldve fitted the 3.1, but my gearing on 10" rims is about perfect for the engine spec, without making it all too frantic on the M6 at 70 mph for the 7 hours it takes me to get anywhere.
Our fd is 3.2 just like Yours. I intended to fit a lower, but my friend wants to do hightway drives. The engine was assembled carefully - at least as I assume. The cam was timed in 108degrees, all clearances checked etc.

The car left the day before yesterday. The guy hasjust informed me that the idle has rised significantly, and the engine seam much more willing. Did any of You experienced significant powerrise after running in? The car now has about 500kms on the clock with the new engine.