C5ALIVE Forum

C5Alive Forum - Archive Section => General Archive => Complete Archive => C5 Chatroom => Topic started by: Karl on 12, May, 2009 - 19:15:10

Title: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Karl on 12, May, 2009 - 19:15:10
Voodoo ended the recent London run with a nasty crunching noise coming from the gearbox....so it was not a surprise to find bits of broken plastic in the gearbox when I took it apart earlier today  ::)

Although it is disappointing to see another gearbox fail, at least I know what the problem was and have now replaced the gearbox.

It is also further proof that our decision not to continue with 24v kits was the right choice to make, even though the motors cope really well.

Despite advice given elsewhere, from experience I would say that the gearboxes are simply not strong enough to cope with the extra oomph  :(

This particular gearbox lasted on Voodoo for 2 years, having been used on all the 2007,2008 and 2009 meetings and a few laps around race tracks at Bruntingthorpe and Brooklands, plus the Welsh Autofest run. I don't know of any other 24v c5 that has been used more than Voodoo - so I feel it's had a proper road test & I've had my monies worth  ;)

Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Umpa on 12, May, 2009 - 19:36:07
Do you have any pics karl ? I would like to see how much damage was done.
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Retro Andy on 12, May, 2009 - 20:59:44
Remind me how do you remove the brown end cover from the gearbox ? i am giving Charlie a re-grease and clean etc before the summer and have taken the motor off, i removed the the two long bolts from the end and can hold the fingers apart, but cant remmeber which way do you tap it ?

Retro Andy. 
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Retro Andy on 12, May, 2009 - 21:09:10
Voodoo can never die, he's part of C5 Alive !

Retro Andy
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Karl on 12, May, 2009 - 21:27:14
Voodoo can never die, he's part of C5 Alive !

Retro Andy

As long as my box of spare parts is big enough, Voodoo will keep on rolling  ;)

Dismantling the gearbox doesn't need the two bolts removing, I used small bits of plastic cable tie to keep the fingers raised and then a set of grips to gently tug the gearbox away from the motor. Using a small thin screwdriver I also lifted the other fingers that grip the gearbox, just to sort of break the seal. I hate that part,because I'm always worried I'll damage the gearbox casing  :-\

If you've already removed the bolts though, I'd use the opportunity to clean up the motor and check the brushes etc. Well worth doing .
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Retro Andy on 12, May, 2009 - 21:33:11
Thats what i intend to do, he needs a good service as its a year on Thursday since i finished rebuilding him and he's had quite a bit of use, thanks for the reminder Karl of the removal of gearbox cover, wish me luck.

Retro Andy
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Karl on 12, May, 2009 - 21:38:33
Do you have any pics karl ? I would like to see how much damage was done.

I'll post some piccies a little later, I've just changed our computer and I'm experiencing a few adjustment problems... :P

The damage was a little unusual in that the teeth in the brown outer casing suffered the most. Two of the small white cogs have a little damage, but not much :-\
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Retro Andy on 13, May, 2009 - 06:11:36
Thats why he's called Voodoo  ;D Voodoo does'nt do normal.

Retro Andy
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Karl on 13, May, 2009 - 22:20:19
Do you have any pics karl ? I would like to see how much damage was done.

Piccies of the damaged gearbox removed from voodoo;
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i257/1stbooboo/voodoogearbox006.jpg)

(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i257/1stbooboo/voodoogearbox005.jpg)

..to its credit it was still running, but I doubt it would have kept going for much longer.
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Umpa on 13, May, 2009 - 22:54:08
Quite a bit of damage there, did you wipe some grease away, or is that how it came off ?
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Karl on 14, May, 2009 - 14:44:32
Quite a bit of damage there, did you wipe some grease away, or is that how it came off ?
..some of the grease was removed so I could get a better look at the damage.
Title: Re: voodoo lives...again !
Post by: Umpa on 14, May, 2009 - 16:19:10
Just goes to show how these gearboxes arn't up to the job.