Track Day Maintenance Guide?

[Audio Addict]

Hello All,

I was wondering if there is a comprehensive guide anywhere of what should be checked regularly on an R400D particularly if doing quite a few track days? 

I’ve got limited mechanical knowledge but want to learn what I should be looking out for and how to fix issues when they come up. I’ll still get a Caterham specialist to look over the car on a regular basis but want to do as much myself in between times.

Thanks

JP

[South London AR]

Hi JP,

It might not be quite what you're after but there's the Club's Trackday Safety Requirements and Recommendations.  Nice to see someone willing to get their hands dirty.

 

[South London AR]

And there's Get To Know Your Seven guides.

[Audio Addict]

Yeah I was after something more specific 

[Audio Addict]

That's more like it, I might have to put together a check list of things to check before each track day myself. 

This has partly come up because I snapped a throttle cable at Brands recently after three laps which probably could have been avoided if I had checked the condition of it beforehand  

[Jonathan Kay]

There's also the service schedules and quite a lot of advice on first trackdays, but you're past that.

... I might have to put together a check list of things to check before each track day myself. 

That would be great. How about including that in a Guide that covers both settings?

Jonathan

[SimonR300]

You're right JP,  your own checklist is probably best.  At the very least I find giving the car a good clean after a trackday helps.  I get the car up off the floor with the wheels off, get underneath and look for leaks etc.  Then you have time to get things fixed or replace before the next trackday.

I think the starting point is safety, so check for anything that might cause an off if it failed first.  So brakes, (fluid and pads, no leaks from the calipers), take the lid off the pedal box and check the clevis pins and play in the pedals, throttle cable, etc.

Steering, check all the bolts on the column, rack and steering arms. Turn the steering wheel and check for play.

So that's most of the controls done.  Then check each corner, looking for play in any of the wishbones, bushes, bearings, etc.

Have a look at the propshaft.  Ideally all these safety critical bolts will have been torque checked and marked so a visual inspection will quickly show if a nut or bolt has moved.

Then there is the obvious stuff like all the fluid levels, condition and pressure of tyres, wheel nuts/torque, harness, your own safety wear/helmet.  Most race teams will "life" components that wear or are safety critical so try to take the same approach and replace them before they fail and carry a few spares for things that you really can't fix with tape and cable ties and a toolbox.

 

[Audio Addict]

"There's also the service schedules and quite a lot of advice on first trackdays, but you're past that.

... I might have to put together a check list of things to check before each track day myself. 

That would be great. How about including that in a Guide that covers both settings?"

 

Definitely way past my first trackday but I'll have a look at the information, I might still learn something lol.

I'll try and put something together but it might take a while.

[Audio Addict]

Thanks for the info Simon that's very helpful, definitely a good shout on carrying spares I just need to work out what..........throttle cable being one!

[Audio Addict]

Are the assembly instructions for an R400D available to download anywhere?

[Jonathan Kay]

The current Assembly Guide and Owner's Handbook are on the Caterham web site. Free but registration required.

For older versions please send me a Private Mail with your email address and details of the Seven: year, model, engine dash etc.

Jonathan

[SimonR300]

JP,

A lot will depend on whether you drive or trailer to the circuits.  Here are a few suggestions that could get you out of a spot;

Cable ties, tank tape, a couple of wheels nuts, a tube of araldite, Radweld (best not), a couple of jubilee clips, set of spark plugs, spray cans of brake cleaner & WD40/GT85, small tube of copper grease, spare ignition master key, master cylinder cap seal, couple of split pins, clevis pins, throttle return spring, something to bodge a cycle wing back on, spare brake fluid, some fuses and relays, some random new/used nuts & bolts, fuel pump....some general tools, a torch and a magnet on a stick, always saves the day.

The list of parts is endless obviously, it's just trying to think of the simple things that you could fix that otherwise would mean game over, whilst keeping it to the bare essentials.

And there's always someone willing to help.

[Audio Addict]

"The current Assembly Guide and Owner's Handbook are on the Caterham web site. Free but registration required.

For older versions please send me a Private Mail with your email address and details of the Seven: year, model, engine dash etc.

Jonathan"

 

Thanks for this Jonathan I'll have a look on the website and let you know if mine isn't on there 

[Audio Addict]

"JP,

A lot will depend on whether you drive or trailer to the circuits.  Here are a few suggestions that could get you out of a spot;

Cable ties, tank tape, a couple of wheels nuts, a tube of araldite, Radweld (best not), a couple of jubilee clips, set of spark plugs, spray cans of brake cleaner & WD40/GT85, small tube of copper grease, spare ignition master key, master cylinder cap seal, couple of split pins, clevis pins, throttle return spring, something to bodge a cycle wing back on, spare brake fluid, some fuses and relays, some random new/used nuts & bolts, fuel pump....some general tools, a torch and a magnet on a stick, always saves the day.

The list of parts is endless obviously, it's just trying to think of the simple things that you could fix that otherwise would mean game over, whilst keeping it to the bare essentials.

And there's always someone willing to help."

 

I always trailer my car to track days so that I can take various bits including a spare set of wheels with wet weather tyres and if something happens to the car I can get home easily. Some bits in your list I hadn't thought of so that's helpful thank you.