Nigel Riches Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 So in the collected wisdom of the learned brotherhood, has anyone had, or know of a Caterham supplied prop shaft letting go, flailing around and generally causing havoc and mayhem, possibly causing injury to someone in the car? Just a general question, trying to build up some background information, as if I continue on my engine change program I will need to install a propshaft restraint hoop in the tunnel, 150 mm rearward of the front U J, so the flailing shaft can't (1) contact the road, (not likely as my old 1982 car is enclosed underneath) & (2) can't contact persons in the vehicle. Another question here is......prop shaft in a road car (mine) would start to make some awful noises and vibration before throwing in the towel, would this not send a message to me saying "something wrong down here, quit driving NOW", well yes it would, but to some of the pond life that are at large on the roads here it wouldn't register, ére didja éar tha new funky bass and vibro at max chat? BOOOM, and off into the scenery. Regards Nigel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 I know of one that that let go and I believe it is now used as an award at one of the local area meeting's Christmas dinner, don't know the story behind it though..... When I had my 1993 chassis repowdercoated by Arch I got them to add 2 retaining hoops along the tunnel for that just-in-case scenario... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whitley Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 A few years ago the front UJ in a high-power VX let go at Llandow in a big way, ripping through the tunnel but fortunately only bruising the driver. If he hadn't had a bag seat which kept his thigh away from the sides of the tunnel though... The UJ in my old car failed on the road. It did make some awful noises and vibration which did send a message to me saying "something wrong down here, quit driving NOW". Well "quit driving in a couple of hundred yards when you've reached your destination" anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mirylees Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 I had the front UJ in a series 4 Lotus 7 fail at around 90mph on the M4 back in 1971. The car had run faultlessly from Switzerland then a few miles from Bath there was a load of vibration, a terrific bang and flames came out of the top of the centre console. Whole car went up in flames very quickly. (the flailing prop severed the main fuel line) I was told by the 'crash inspector' that it was lucky I was travelling at a reasonable speed and that the prop had disentegrated as it was flailing around and not 'pole-vaulted' the car. Lotus said that it was very unusual for a UJ to let go. So, yes, a hoop is an excellent idea... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBL Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 One failed here on a 250-hp spec Duratec car five years ago. A good deal of luck was involved, I believe. http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/nn384/BBL-Sean/forum_photos/Stokes_prop_fail_zpsde14346a.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
combine Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Crickey !! This is scary ! Hope it doen't happen to anyone one here. Must check UJ's ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug phillips Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Quoting Aeroscreens: I know of one that that let go and I believe it is now used as an award at one of the local area meeting's Christmas dinner, don't know the story behind it though..... When I had my 1993 chassis repowdercoated by Arch I got them to add 2 retaining hoops along the tunnel for that just-in-case scenario... That would be Peter T's shaft 😳, it let go just after a rolling road session. He was ok, but it smashed a kevlar seat and wrapped it's self around the hand brake cable. Thus bring him to a quick stop 😳, it did look nasty but he was ok . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pikey Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Anyone fitted one of these to a Imperial chassis? Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Quoting Doug Phillips: Quoting Aeroscreens: I know of one that that let go and I believe it is now used as an award at one of the local area meeting's Christmas dinner, don't know the story behind it though..... When I had my 1993 chassis repowdercoated by Arch I got them to add 2 retaining hoops along the tunnel for that just-in-case scenario... That would be Peter T's shaft 😳, it let go just after a rolling road session. He was ok, but it smashed a kevlar seat and wrapped it's self around the hand brake cable. Thus bring him to a quick stop 😳, it did look nasty but he was ok . If I remember correctly, Peters propshaft was refurbished by a well known company, but not a "direct from Caterham" prop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Thanks for the information good fellows. I was intrigued with the Caterham R500 only item, but will have to do some poking about in the tunnel to see if there is anything of any substance to fit it to, however I could manufacture a bespoke restraint plate for my old 1982 car, but it's only going to be as good as that to which it's mounted, not much strength in ali sheet and some light gauge steel tubes. Aeroscreens, could you pm me a picture of the hoops from Arch Motors, would be most appreciated. Anyway, onwards in the battle with beaurocracy, cheers Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Instead of welding you could glue some alu plating with Sikaflex or the like and lets say say do this with 3 panels making a sandwich plate. The flexibility of the sikaflex would absorb a lot of the energy if the prop goes pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I've seen a prop shaft where the splined coupling into the back of the gear box has opened up like a banana. Fortunately it was on the start line so hadn't started rotating much. If this had happened at speed, not only would the prop have been flailing around but so would the coupling on the front of the UJ . IMHO containment needs to extend further forward than just the front UJ. All too horrible to contemplate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Nigel, Sadly no photos of mods before car was re-skinned. Next time I get the car up on a hoist I'll try to remember to take some photos from underneath...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2GBR Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Mag 7s test day at Brands Hatch earlier this year a carbon prop centre tube was laying in the middle of the track just exiting clearways then the gearbox end yoke near the start line then a well known car further along at a stand still, Red flaged until parts collected, No damage to car though as tube departed from the yokes fairly cleanly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Riches Posted July 4, 2013 Author Share Posted July 4, 2013 Hi Elie, thanks for your contribution, however I know the NZ Low Volume Vehicle Authority would not allow such a construction. The specification for hoop is, 50mm wide x 5mm thick, or a tubular section material 22mm square, 3mm thick, in a loop around the prop shaft in such a way to stop the shaft from contacting the vehicle floor or the road. Aeroscreens thank you also, I take it your car has an open transmission tunnel, where as older cars like mine are enclosed, by the floor panel. Regards Nigel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted July 4, 2013 Share Posted July 4, 2013 Ok lightness is not alowed then, over to the bush mechanics then, it'll be a piece of gate post then 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now