how do I fit swiftune drop gears? Help needed

[Lenhamracer]

Someone out there who has fitted swiftune s/c drop gears? I am not shure how to fit them, do I have to drill a hole in the flywheel housing to remove the screw which holds the bearing in place??
Thank you very much

Thomas

[Smiffy]

If your on about the bolt, it goes in from the gearbox side.

[Lenhamracer]

shouldn´t the head of the bolt be on the flywheel housing??

[Smiffy]

Why would it need to be in the flywheel housing ? You'd need to pull the flywheel housing to adjust the side clearance whilst you set it up or are you thinking you don't need to split the block and gearbox to fit these ? You need the gearbox and flywheel housing bolted together to measure and adjust the clearance of the idle gear.

[ianh1968]

Someone out there who has fitted swiftune s/c drop gears?
I am not shure how to fit them,<SNIP>

Why don't you just email Swiftune to ask them?
... or phone them?
Surely you will get the official answer from them...

If I had that pile of random parts in my hand, and no instructions,
that is exactly what I would do...
(Especially if they had just cost me £355!)


Ian

[ianh1968]

I have not had one of these, I have just looked at the pictures
on the Swiftune website...

http://www.swiftune.com/Product/1328/sw ... -sets.aspx

TOTAL GUESS:

One part of the central spindle will be a press fit in the gearbox.
This will be the bit with the female thread in it and will go in from the
outside.

The thrust clearance issue will be irrelevant as the two sides of the
shaft assembly will be sized to clamp up the central race of the bearing.

The bearing will run central of its own accord because it will be a ball-race
as opposed to a pair of needle rollers.

There will be no inherent side-thrust because the gears are straight cut...

The bolt will go in from the outside and there will be no need to split
the engine and box. With the bolt going in this way, there could be no
possibility of it dropping out into the gearbox. There would be no need
to put a hole in the transmission case as the shaft is counter-bored and
the bolt head ends up inside the shaft.

I suspect that the bolt would not need to be be done up very tight, because
of the press fit nature of the "nut" part, thus requiring Loctite or similar to be
used for retention.

The outside half of the shaft will be a sliding fit in the transmission case.
(It would need to be, otherwise you would have a problem getting the thing
together and apart again afterwards...)

END OF TOTAL GUESS

Ian

[rich@minispares.com]

TOTAL GUESS:

this is exactly how the old timkin minispares drops fitted/worked

I have a set fitted in my race engine

[rich@minispares.com]

odd double post, sorry!

[ianh1968]

Thanks, Rich - I just applied the "Mk1 Eyeball" and a bit of logic...
Sometimes you have to think "outside the box".


Perhaps the "Smiffy" brand of drop gears are different, or else
he is also making a TOTAL GUESS but is not making this clear?

Either way, I'd still advise Lenhamracer to check with Swiftune,
just to be on the safe side...

Ian

[Smiffy]

You mean like these.

[ianh1968]

Smiffy:

That's great, but in order to actually benefit others here,
perhaps you could provide a sort of "step-by-step" guide,
in a similar fashion to my "TOTAL GUESS".

This would be far preferable to just saying:
"Do it this way, you don't think it's done the other way, do you?"
(Which is just a bit patronising and typical of many of your posts).

We are all here to learn from others, and when people on the
forum punt out "one-liners" with no detailed explanation, it would
be easy to be a bit sceptical. "Because I said so" is not a valid
response to a technical question...

I am still confused as to the thrust clearance issue. If this was
a standard type setup, I would totally agree with you. Given the
approval that I got from Rich as regards my description which
matched exactly the MS type, would you please explain how
these setups would differ.

I am also wondering how you tighten up the bolt if this goes
in from inside the gearbox - What stops the outer spigot from
spinning round?

On the basis that the photo is one you took and not one you
found on the internet, you should have no problem in providing
some decent information.

Perhaps you should have shared your expert knowledge more
comprehensively in the first place?

Ian

[rich@minispares.com]

minispares no longer sell the timkin type roller idlers, the ones we do now have the large single roller bearing in (like the swifty ones)

ours don't have the centre bolt in them either, they just have a sliding shaft - 99% of the time the preload will be right, but they do have a hardened washer that could be thinned down if the endcase has been skimmed at anytime.


as a point of interest we found that in high power / hard use the bolt would snap and spit its self into the gear box, normally with expensive results.

it was found that the shock loadings of banging (normally a dog box) into gear would send a shock up the drop gear and distress the bolt to the point of failure.

we are shortly going to be selling a helical gear with the roller bearing idler, so no hassle with idle bearings / shims, but the peace and quite of helical gears - heaven!

[Spider]

we are shortly going to be selling a helical gear with the roller bearing idler, so no hassle with idle bearings / shims, but the peace and quite of helical gears - heaven!

Awesome stuff!

I know it's probably early days and you probably can't let the cat out of the bag - too much - just yet, however any hint on available ratios?

[Smiffy]

Smiffy:

That's great, but in order to actually benefit others here,
perhaps you could provide a sort of "step-by-step" guide,
in a similar fashion to my "TOTAL GUESS".

This would be far preferable to just saying:
"Do it this way, you don't think it's done the other way, do you?"
(Which is just a bit patronising and typical of many of your posts).

We are all here to learn from others, and when people on the
forum punt out "one-liners" with no detailed explanation, it would
be easy to be a bit sceptical. "Because I said so" is not a valid
response to a technical question...

I am still confused as to the thrust clearance issue. If this was
a standard type setup, I would totally agree with you. Given the
approval that I got from Rich as regards my description which
matched exactly the MS type, would you please explain how
these setups would differ.

I am also wondering how you tighten up the bolt if this goes
in from inside the gearbox - What stops the outer spigot from
spinning round?

On the basis that the photo is one you took and not one you
found on the internet, you should have no problem in providing
some decent information.

Perhaps you should have shared your expert knowledge more
comprehensively in the first place?

Ian

My days of explaining thing's are long gone, to many 'five fingered jugglers' on The Mini Forums for that.

Ahh come on Ian I do apologise if you thought I was patronising, I wasn't honestly, if I had been patronising that would mean I only thought I knew more than you

[rich@minispares.com]

Awesome stuff!

I know it's probably early days and you probably can't let the cat out of the bag - too much - just yet, however any hint on available ratios?

they are going to be a plus tooth form, im just waiting for a set to build into my test engine to see that all the clearances are ok.

[GraemeC]

So it'll just be an idler to mesh with standard A+ primary and input gears?
That should sell well!

[ianh1968]

My days of explaining thing's are long gone,
to many 'five fingered jugglers' on The Mini Forums for that.

Translation:
You think we're all "wankers", so you can't be bothered to explain things properly?

Ahh come on Ian I do apologise if you thought I was patronising, I wasn't honestly,
if I had been patronising that would mean I only thought I knew more than you

Translation:
You weren't being patronising, you think you know more than everybody?



NO REPLY EXPECTED

Ian

[Smiffy]

Translation:
You think we're all "wankers", so you can't be bothered to explain things properly?

only the ones that make post such as the one above.

[ianh1968]

Thanks!

I just emailed Swiftune and got a "Swift" reply...

Hi Ian,

I have attached the fitting instructions for you. If you would be so kind as
to pass them on or ask the person having trouble to email me.

Many Thanks

Spencer

Sales Team
Swiftune Engineering Ltd
Longs Corner Farm
Bethersden
Ashford
Kent TN26 3HD

Tel; +44 (0)1233 850843
Fax; +44 (0)1233 850842
http://www.Swiftune.com

Drop gears 2013.doc

Summary:

The assembly is pre-built.
The gearbox side of the shaft is a press/interference fit.
The bolt head goes on the outside.

Best Wishes,

A Wanker.

[Spider]

Thanks!

I just emailed Swiftune and got a "Swift" reply...

Hi Ian,

I have attached the fitting instructions for you. If you would be so kind as
to pass them on or ask the person having trouble to email me.

Many Thanks

Spencer

Sales Team
Swiftune Engineering Ltd
Longs Corner Farm
Bethersden
Ashford
Kent TN26 3HD

Tel; +44 (0)1233 850843
Fax; +44 (0)1233 850842
http://www.Swiftune.com

Drop gears 2013.doc

Summary:

The assembly is pre-built.
The gearbox side of the shaft is a press/interference fit.
The bolt head goes on the outside.

Best Wishes,

A Wanker.

Well, the manufacturer's advice is always best,,,,,,,

Good move ianh1968