need to source a few things, and some other questions..

[Jaeggernaut]

i'm looking for the combined experience of the group to help me with a few 'n00b' questions:

 

1) i think i'm in the need of a new brushed aluminum hood. anyone have any ideas where i could get that?

2) are there mirrors you can buy so you don't need to attach the doors?

3) the clutch is SUPER light making it hard to smoothly roll from a dead start. normal? it's possible that the accelerator is just super sensitive. which brings me to the next thing..

4) the transmission is super notchy so it's hard to do a fast shift and because the sensitive accelerator? or light flywheel? it's hard to keep the revs in a nice place between shifts so acceleration is not that smooth when going through the gears. normal?

5) i had the soft top blow off on the highway too last year. seems like the buttons don't hold well at high speeds. normal?

6) i screwed in the front windshield (it came with just the short carbon wind deflector installed). just besides the screws, nothing else, correct? worried that might fly off too... o_O

 

 

IF you're wondering why i need a new hood:

I took the caterham out for the first blat of the season.. more to drive it to my mechanic to go over a few small things. disconnected my battery tender, latched on the hood on one side (other side is tight because of bikes in the garage). started her up. reversed out. went into the house to get a few things and let the caterham warm up and off i went.

 

on the highway as soon as i saw the hood flutter i knew i FORGOT to tie down the other side of the hood and just as i started to slow down it flew off! i'm grateful i didn't start an accident but the hood did get run over a couple times. i ran out and retrieved it. bent it back enough to drive on local streets to the mechanic. you can fix the hood.. but you can't fix stupid.

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=15241&stc=1

[xcarguy]

1) i think i'm in the need of a new brushed aluminum hood. anyone have any ideas where i could get that?

Might check with a local race/fab shop and have one made. Or perhaps pick up a replacement from Caterham.

 

2) are there mirrors you can buy so you don't need to attach the doors?

Mighty Mike (forum name) fabricated extensions for his mirrors. I built mounting brackets for mine. Neither car are Cats, but you may get an idea or two (see photos below).

 

3) the clutch is SUPER light making it hard to smoothly roll from a dead start. normal? it's possible that the accelerator is just super sensitive. which brings me to the next thing.

Need some additional info: does the clutch release early (nearly, or at, the floor)? When the clutch releases, do you get a lot of chatter (not smooth)? Is the clutch hydraulic? If so, what size (bore) clutch master cylinder do you have? Do you have a clutch that’s geared more toward track use, street use, or one built for dual purpose?

 

4) the transmission is super notchy so it's hard to do a fast shift and because the sensitive accelerator? or light flywheel?

it's hard to keep the revs in a nice place between shifts so acceleration is not that smooth when going through the gears. normal

More info needed: do you have a light weight fly wheel? Is the transmission hard to shift because the clutch disk possibly isn’t fully releasing from the flywheel during shifts?

 

 

5) i had the soft top blow off on the highway too last year. seems like the buttons don't hold well at high speeds. normAl?

High speeds are normal...tops aren’t. :jester:

 

6) i screwed in the front windshield (it came with just the short carbon wind deflector installed). just besides the screws, nothing else, correct? worried that might fly off too...

Other Cat owners can help put here.

 

IF you're wondering why i need a new hood:

I took the caterham out for the first blat of the season.. more to drive it to my mechanic to go over a few small things. disconnected my battery tender, latched on the hood on one side (other side is tight because of bikes in the garage). started her up. reversed out. went into the house to get a few things and let the caterham warm up and off i went.

 

on the highway as soon as i saw the hood flutter i knew i FORGOT to tie down the other side of the hood and just as i started to slow down it flew off! i'm grateful i didn't start an accident but the hood did get run over a couple times. i ran out and retrieved it. bent it back enough to drive on local streets to the mechanic. you can fix the hood.. but you can't fix stupid.

Using this as fodder for my new book.

[Joe Petty]

My old 7 has the original 2x6 suction cup mounted rear view mirror and it is quite inadequate, especially for a right-hand drive car.

 

I tried a 4 panel wink that is just as wide as the windshield and was not happy. The view was kind of "jagged" and I found the mirror annoying when I had to view a traffic light. Seemed like I was craning my neck to look over or under the mirror!

 

Now I am using a Yamaha golf cart convex mirror and it seems to be working pretty well. I fabricated mounts that use the roof snap studs, so no modification to the windshield frame was needed.

 

Joe

[pksurveyor]

http://mirrorsforsevens.com/

 

This mirror is fantastic. You will not need side mirrors.

[Kitcat]

What engine and what transmission? My 5sp. was much smoother than my 6sp.

 

The top should be very secure. Mine was very tight, even at high speeds (80+mph). It took real effort to stretch it to button it up, but then it was very secure.

 

The windshield bolts in (doesn't screw) on each side and the bolts should have a backing brace (made by Caterham) that fits on the inside of the aluminum skin/scuttle so they bolt to something solid and that spreads the load. I think my Birkin used huge washers to the same effect.

 

The Flying Hood is a well known se7en phenomena, unfortunately. Right up there with the burned bare calf:).

[JohnCh]

For mirrors, see this thread. Several options including what's been mentioned here. The bonnet is a little tricky. If it has to come from the UK on it's own (i.e. not bundled in a container with some kits) shipping costs won't be cheap due to the size. I'd check with Rocky Mountain Caterham and Beachman Racing to see if either have any spares in stock or incoming shipments to which they can add it. As per xcarguy, also check local fabricators. The cost may be much higher than a new bonnet, but it might net out when shipping costs are added to the total. Perhaps the bonnet isn't so far gone that it's more cost effective to have them fix and refinish it?

 

In addition to engine and trans information, what clutch master is installed (brand and part number)? If it's the stock part, the clutch shouldn't be overly light, but you never know what changes have been made by prior owners. Also, when was the transmission fluid last changed and do you know what's in it? That can also play a factor in shifting smoothness.

 

Thanks,

John

[Croc]

For the bonnet, keep an eye on Ebay. Periodically a new unpainted Caterham S3 bonnet gets listed for sale. Not there right now but keep checking once a week regularly

[Jaeggernaut]

Thanks for the replies. You don't know how much it helps me on a mental level to find out that I'm not the only one this happens to. Someone else on a different forum made it sound I can get a direct replacement from Caterham which I hope is correct.

 

As for my clutch/shifter, I might not be describing it incorrectly. I think it may be because of a light flywheel? I have a Caterham CSR200. I'm pretty sure it's stock from Caterham and has a 6 SPD. Where the clutch pedal engages is correct. It's just I have to keep the revs up and they drop immediately when I'm off the accelerator so leaving in first is a bit tricky as well as the drop between gears. Which is exasperated by the gear shifter being notchy. I watched something on 'top gear' that showed someone having a bit of trouble getting into reverse in a Caterham and I immediate thought 'oh, it's not just my car'.

 

Regardless, thanks again everyone. I'm going to check out that mirror thread. It's curious why someone hasn't come up with a side mirror that slots right into the existing door hinge slots.

[Croc]

You do seem to be describing a light flywheel. I have driven Caterhams with the various flywheel weights and the lighter two versions can be tricky to get away smoothly. I am a little surprised the gearbox is notchy - how many miles on it? 2016 or later? The 6 speed initially starts off a little stiff and gradually eases up as it wears in. Does it feel vague like you cannot locate the next gear? If so then there is a little plastic clip that frequently breaks and can be sourced from the UK and replaced by removing the gear stick.

 

If you have a standard CSR then you can order your clutch easily through Caterham UK by phone or by calling Raceline UK. For the record my CSR clutch is very light but I have a regular flywheel. It still has kangaroo moments if I am distracted and don't have enough throttle. Just a thought - Are you getting kangaroo hopping/stuttering when you pull away? There was a known CSR fault related to the throttle return spring needing to be beefed up on pre-2010 cars.

 

For your question 6) the windscreen is actually a counter sunk bolt - 2 each side. Behind the scuttle there is usually individual nuts for each windscreen bolt OR there was an extra captive nut attachment (one each side) for both bolts that gets mounted. By your description you have the captive nut kit installed - thats a good thing. It actually makes changing between aeroscreen and windscreen really easy.

[Jaeggernaut]

these cars are so rare it's nearly impossible to try another one in comparison. it was built in 1990 but it has less than 10,000 miles. i have kangroo moments when very low throttle in 1st.. as i'm idling along in very slow traffic.. but i feel that it's not that unusual. i'm just happy i found out i can get a replacement hood straight from caterham which i'm looking into right now..

thx.

[yellowss7]

As for the mirrors, i made a simple bracket that uses the two bolts that holds the windscreen and/or aeroscreen on. It's just a piece of angled aluminum that I got from ace hardware. I ordered a couple long stalk motorcycle mirrors on Ebay and drilled the two holes for the bolts and a hole for the mirror.

 

bolts on simply and removes easily. I'll try to post a picture a little later. Cheap and simple and works great.

 

Tom

[xcarguy]

As for the mirrors, i made a simple bracket . . . I'll try to post a picture a little later. Cheap and simple and works great.

 

Tom

 

Tom, gotcha’ covered. Had this photo form the 2014 event.