neilg

Right well vibration still there, still at 85-87 mph! Interestingly it seems to vibrate under acceleration but vibration dissappears when you lift off the gas. *confused* I'm sure it's down by my left knee around the area of the reversing box. Seems i've just gotta get on with it and get the props checked by BM. It's gonna have to wait until after Stoneleigh though. Next news of the saga next week!! See you all at Stoneleigh.....you can't miss me...bright yellow and black with "BUZZIN HORNETS" down the side. 😬

I'm going to try putting a completely different set of wheels on ( MB's with ACB10s) and just finally convince myself it's not the wheels and then if not it's off with the props. Thing is the vibration suddenly happened and was not a gradual build up and martin the previous owner tells me they were fully recconed by BM only 4000 miles ago. The detective work continues.

Nifty, Will's computer is dead at moment but he is interested in your cover and he will be in contact as soon as his computer is resurrected. Give me a shout if you need to speak urgently and i will relay message. Cheers Neil. ( How are the crops in Norfolk)

Oh yes, talked to Bailey Morris who said they may be able to turn props around whilst i waited so that's good.

Bladerunner, yep already done. I have a drilled bolt going down into top of casing with a cross hole so fluid doesn't fly straight up tube. I have a pipe going from this up to front where extinguisher is and into a bottle. I have changed fluid from ATF to EP90 as i thought ATF as recommended by Graham at Nova a little on thin side. I am now an expert in all things Nova. Graham showed me a rather nice Nova Blackbird set of gears for when mine give up the ghost but at over £ 1000-00 i hope it ain't soon. Really annoyed at having to take box out again as its quite a fiddle but there you go. I'm not even convinced my props are the problem but it seems it's next in line to be suspect. Graham sending me a new doughnut to put on as well. Only just put seat in last night as well which is another ball ache on yer own. Oh well at least i will have a fully reconditioned drive train. Here's hoping it ain't the diff.

So then abit of an update. Have now replaced both wheel bearings, serviced Nova box ( at Nova) , replaced little bearing in doughnut and still the bastard is vibrating at 85 mph. Next suspect then is the bloody propshafts and looking ast them on the ramps this morning when wheel bearings were being done there is a bit of lateral movement on splines of rear propshaft. Rang Bailey Morris and they say i shouldn't have any so now propshaft is chief suspect. Only problem is i have to take ( i think) Nova box out again to remove rear prop i think. What a bloody palava!! It's times like these....... Think i'll ring Nova and get a new doughnut as well whilst i'm at it. Neil

Cheers chaps, i'm going to change rear wheel bearings, i've got some in stock which i've been meaning to do for a while and go from there. My rubber doughnut is just starting to crack slightly but looks generally ok. There is a little bearing/spacer thing inside the doughnut which i've changed as well. The props look ok , the slider splines seem nice and tight. I already use long 12.9 set screws and lock nuts on the nova flages. If it's not the wheel bearings, the bloody diff must be the next avenue to investigate. Sincerely hope it's not that as that'll be a right pain in the 🙆🏻

Hi, at Cadwell the other day i exited barn and was half way down the start/finish straight when a vibration set in at about 85 mph. I changed rear wheels to see if wheel weight fallen off but same vibration. I have since serviced my reverse Nova box and put in new chain and checked. Also i have changed the little bearing in the doughnut. Just tested it again and still a vibration. Question? Could it be the diff, it has a LSD. Wheel bearings feel ok, uj's feel ok. What do you think. Do diff bearings go all of a sudden? This was a sudden thing. I don't think it is the engine gearbox as the vibration is speed dependant and not rev dependant which leads me to the rear axle. Could wheel bearing, if it feels ok, be a problem . There is no noticeable movement. Cheers Neil

My car is a year 2000 build, engine 98 Blackbird on carbs and all the computer came up with was N/A on emissions so they just do a visible smoke test. Seems a very grey area and best advice is to find a friendly tester.

Very nice indeed...good luck with sale, shouldn't hang about for long i wouldn't have thought. Anyone thinking BYK should give it a whirl. Cheers Neil

Spotted this evening on the roundabout by Dingley. Neil

My missus spotted you this morning on her way to Notts.

Chris, ditto above, i have standard fan and radiator and i have done away with the thermo switch as it cuts in too late and just have a manual switch that i put on whenever in traffic . The standard thermo swith cuts in far too late 105 degrees and then the rad doesn't seem to have the capacity to cool down before the whole thing boils over. I switch mine on manually at about 85 degrees or whenever i go through towns etc. Don't fuel injected Blackbirds have an ecu controlled electric fan cut in??? On trackdays i have to really cool it down by an extra slow warm down lap else it struggles to cool down enough on it's own . Willy has a standard Caterham radiator on his with the oil cooler between it and the engine i think. He always gets over cooling!! and the car runs at about 50 degrees!!. Mine does give a few anxious moments when stuck in proper jams that are stationary. Eyes glued to the stack. I think it helps if you shout at the traffic as well ...." Come oooooooon , i'm gonna overheat!!!" Neil

Chris, yes your power commander should sort all that out. Will's was spot on when we tested his on the TTS rollers last year. Maybe it's not working as it should and needs setting up. Neil PS in 5000miles i've not looked at mine yet *redface* Neil

Followed you in my Navara pick up for a couple of miles from six hills towards Belvoir Castle.....are you running it in 😬 😬 😬

Chris, sounds like a leaky exhaust. Does it do it on the overun or on steady throttle. Overun sounds like zorst , steady state throttle maybe on the inlet side. Check all those ht leads , plugs, coils etc. Are you on carbs or injection , can't remember?? Rolling road about £60-00-£80-00 per hour. Cheers Neil

Going past Leicester Forest East on M1 southbound. Full cage .

Bloody hell, almost had to go and check if my car was still in the garage and hadn't been nicked. Mine being yellowy, full cage , black wings and in loughborough!! 😬 😬 No idea whose that is 😬 😬 Cheers Neil

Spotted outside my farm on the A6 between Hathern and Loughborough. I gave you a wave from the pavement but no response was forthcoming....lighten up old chap!! Nice car though. Cheers Neil

Geoff, can me and Byker Will have first dibs if anyone can't come. We've missed the boat again it seems. Thanks

YHM old thing.

er...Caterham. Expensive though.

Phil, i'll give you a shout when i'm around. Fee is 2 times choccy hobnob plus one cup of tea ( milk, no sugar) per hour -1. 😬 😬 Ta neil. ...or jus gimme a shout.

Steve, yes i understood Ron Champion lives in Blathers but i haven't seen him yet. Did he used/still works at Oundle school. Funnily enough i haven't ever seen one Locost in the village. However in his defence i don't live there , just manage a farm/estate there so i'm not there for long periods 'cept in summer. I go in my seven as often as i can but farm tracks are not a Blackbirds best habitat!!

Phil, i live in loughborough but regularly travel to and fro the village of Blatherwycke nr Corby ( where i manage a farm) and also thru to Melton via Stamford etc . I don't pretend to be an expert but having built a Westfield and owned two Caterhams now i 'm not too bad. ( apart from fuel injection , which i know bugger all about!!) . I could call in if you like and add my ten pennies worth. Your nearest club night is this week on Thursday evening at Hathern at the Kings Arms. Drop me aline if you like on 07766912648 or email me n.gilby@yahoo.com. Cheers Neil