X5 transmission mods
 

very interested in seeing some more detail on the modifications Dan. Ellis and the team are running on the X5. (idler gear and slipper pad mids)

How is that work going and what are the results?

Sorry edited (was distracted by a Michael jackson Joke when posting this)

Wasnt this on the X-5?

it was on the x5, the white spur gear was my idea,no idea who made / thought up the idler gear jobby,

I assume you mean X5, as seen in the EPR Report.

The Spur Gear is so that we can use the B4 slipper pads as we find these much more consistent through a 5 minute run compared to slipper pucks.

The idler gear mod is only run by me and Dan. It requires a speedo where you can reverse the motor rotation, such as the Novak Slydr. It's done so that the motor rotates in the same direction as the wheels. This gives a bit more weight transfer to the rear under acceleration, as well as making the car jump a little better in my experience.

Pretty clever that Tom :D

Several new bits on the go for the X5 at present, more news as soon as we can.....

I like this mod, any chance you boys could help us out with a little guide on the install of the idler and parts needed, i imagine once u install the idler, u couldnt change spur size without moving the idler, which wouldnt be an issue if u have ur gearing sorted.

Writing from the pits at the ROAR Nationals.

It's the same principle as switching from the 3-gear to the 4-Gear on the X - 6, all about anuglar momentum of the armature.

Yes, once you do this you cannot change spur gears. Also, you must get the lotcation of the idler correct on the first try -- it's pretty simple, you're just going to drill an hole -- but you must get the idler-to-spur mesh perfect or you're going to go through a ton of gears. You don't want an egg-shaped hole in the belt tunnel.

Very simple Paul-inspirfed principle, but we suggest you do the work at a machine shop so you get the chassis square to the hole and drill the hole perfectly. We don't recommend you try this at home...

Does the motor rotate in the same direction as the wheels in the XX4?

Nope, Opposite way on the XX4. This mod doesn't fit either as the middle belt gets in the way.

To do the Mod I got a C/S hole drilled on the motor plate so that a screw can be mounted to it, with the screw head against the motor. I then mounted an idler gear to the screw, using several spacers to get it in the correct position.

The idler gear is then in a fixed position in relation to the rotor. Therefore to change pinion you need to move the idler gear to achieve the correct mesh. This requires another hole or a different sized idler gear. You then mesh the spur to the idler gear using the normal method.

The mod can be done with a dremel, that's how the first one was done! :D

If anyone wants more info feel free to PM me.

I didn't say it could not be done at home with a Dremel, just that, if you don't do this kind of work often, you might want to do it under "perfect" conditions.

Don't know why I'm saying this. Selling chassies is nice...

ahhh thanks tom, well the good thing about the way you've done it is that u arent drilling holes into the chassis, just into the motor plate, i like it, so you pick a pinion that you are going to stick with, mount up the idler, then you still have the option of changing spurs to alter gearing.

just one question, are u just using a long screw and a nut on the end to mount the idler? thanks

If you e-longate the 3 holes in the motor mount, you can make the motor position against the idler moveable - I did this once on my X-5, but only because the only motor plate I had then was the lowered one and I should have been using the normal one.

And then you should be able to still have choice of pinion and spurs - but ensuring you have all 3 gears meshed properly, or there'll be teeth all over the place, like at a dodgy dentistry.