Showing posts with label probatron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label probatron. Show all posts
08: Wednesday 13th May 2009
Picked up the taperlock and hub from the post office collection place. It fits like a glove. I phoned a friend to arrange for him to look at the job of lightening and balancing the flywheel and mount the hub to it.
07: Sunday 10th May 2009
Started quite late doing odd jobs today. Removed clutch and flywheel, engine mount and took out the vehicle speed sensor. Located the connector under the bonnet, but broke the retaining bolt, so I had to dril and tap a new bolt thread taking care not to get any metal shavings in the gearbox. Needed a taperlock hub to continue mounting the flywheel and clutch. I decided not to use regen to start with so I can change gears. I was warned not to change gear with regen as the sudden change in speed can pop the MOSFETs in the controller. I want to work out the best ways of driving before deciding about switching regen on. I am still waiting for an explanation from the controller manufacturer.
06: Saturday 9th May 2009
Mission; to seprate the gearbox from the engine and drain the oil.
I was determined to keep the intermediate shaft in the gearbox to retain the oil. Hoisted the engine up to remove the bottom bolts. I took off the small splash plate and decided in order not lose it I put it back on loose with one bolt. Lowered the engine down and removed the top 4 bolts and started wiggling it. After half an hour of pulling heaving and wiggling I realised the splash plate was holding it on. One sharp tug and I nearly fell over as it came off real easy. Unfortunately the intermediate shaft came out along with a load of oil. I quickly lifted the gearbox round to the front of the garage and put it on it's end. I placed the gearbox on a raised trolley, took out the drain bolt and drained the oil into a bowl. Then I noticed oil trickling down the driveway and found that the bowl had a split in it, so I put the bowl in a bucket and put a cd cake lid under the last trickle. After some contemplation I noticed a puddleforming around the bucket, that also had a split in it. How unlucky am I? Found another bucket and with almost a whole roll of heavy duty kitchen towels managed to get most of the oil up. So much for my plans not to spill oil. So now the garage stinks rancid of gear oil. Mission accomplished (sort of).
I was determined to keep the intermediate shaft in the gearbox to retain the oil. Hoisted the engine up to remove the bottom bolts. I took off the small splash plate and decided in order not lose it I put it back on loose with one bolt. Lowered the engine down and removed the top 4 bolts and started wiggling it. After half an hour of pulling heaving and wiggling I realised the splash plate was holding it on. One sharp tug and I nearly fell over as it came off real easy. Unfortunately the intermediate shaft came out along with a load of oil. I quickly lifted the gearbox round to the front of the garage and put it on it's end. I placed the gearbox on a raised trolley, took out the drain bolt and drained the oil into a bowl. Then I noticed oil trickling down the driveway and found that the bowl had a split in it, so I put the bowl in a bucket and put a cd cake lid under the last trickle. After some contemplation I noticed a puddleforming around the bucket, that also had a split in it. How unlucky am I? Found another bucket and with almost a whole roll of heavy duty kitchen towels managed to get most of the oil up. So much for my plans not to spill oil. So now the garage stinks rancid of gear oil. Mission accomplished (sort of).
04: Wednesday 6th May 2009
Today the motor arrives. Came home from work and there it was on my driveway in a box, on a pallet. After spending about 10 minutes with a knife removing the plastic wrapping and various shipping documents I finally go to open the box to reveal..........even more packing plastic. That removed, I am now the proud owner of an ADC FB4001 motor hurrah.
02: Sunday 3rd May 2009
3rd May 2009.... Today the engine strip out starts. I have the pot box for the throttle and DC-DC converter. This week the ADC FB4001 motor should arrive. The Zapi H3D controller, Zivan NG3 charger, Zapi programmer, Battery Discharge Indicator, direction control, cables and lugs should all arrive in about 2 weeks. The controller is being made up on a heat sink with the contactors and fuse etc. This will all be tested before it is sent. Paid about £160 for labour, but I thought it was worth it as it will be tested as a unit then I just need to hook up the motor, batteries, BDI, potbox and direction switch. Haven't sourced the batteries yet, more research to be done.
First step, remove the bonnet. The battery was removed, but the battery box bolts were all rusted in. Two came out but the third had a damaged head so I had to pull the box off the bolt by force.
Disconnecting the wires and pipes was fun and games. I felt like I was helping a cow give birth putting my arms up the back of the engine pulling connectors off. I think the exhaust was tightened by Goliath's big brother. I couldn't face trying to undo the cross member that was trapping the exhaust pipe, so tomorrow I will try some release oil on the exhaust bolts and if that doesn't work then I will saw it off.
Just the exhaust and the power steering, undo the mounts and it's ready to lift out.
01: The Blog is with you...!
It has taken me some time to get round to doing this blog. I started in May, but I have had the Probe for 3 years now while I have been researching and saving up.
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