KnifeySpoony Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Hmmm I went with track on recommendation from Bruce. I wish Caterham would publish spring rates for all the choices. I have no idea the actual difference between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Proof Pokey's car can move under its own power! -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 So... had my first adventure. This morning I was going to meet John at his place and go for a drive. We are about 20 miles apart, maybe 35 minutes or so driving, and about half way there I noticed the engine stumbling a tiny bit. It cleared up with revs so I thought maybe it wasn't up to temperature or I had fouled the plugs - something that would take care of itself. About two-thirds of the way there I knew I had a problem, but now I was past the point of no return so I crossed my fingers and ventured on. I came to a sputtering stop at about the 15 mile mark. Here's the dumb(er) bit, I brought only a bottle of tire inflator and one box end wrench to adjust side-view mirrors with. A call to AAA to learn that they wouldn't touch me with a 10 foot pole, and then a call to my son to have him fetch my truck and a trailer. In the mean time John delivered tools and we got to troubleshooting with Mike (Croc) on the phone and Bruce on text. The issue wound up being an Econoseal terminal in the fuel injector harness that wasn't fully seated. Strangely, and probably not coincidentally, that pin is shorter than the other five in that connector. Such is life sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Hmmm I went with track on recommendation from Bruce. I wish Caterham would publish spring rates for all the choices. I have no idea the actual difference between them. Yah, you can't find much information from the factory. Heck, their online parts catalog doesn't include descriptions, just titles. But I wouldn't sweat it, if Bruce recommended then you are good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Proof Pokey's car can move under its own power! -John That's awesome John! I had no idea you had the GoPro going on little 'ol Slow Pokey, what fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 The situation today is one reason I love se7ens so much; the community. Mike's on East Coast, probably having a mid-afternoon bourbon, Bruce is on the West Coast finishing another coffee (mandatory here in the PNW), but between the 4 of us, we got the car running and were able to salvage the drive. Greg's car is beautifully finished and painted in the fastest color Short, but fun drive today! -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Not a GoPro. My video consultant (i.e. Croc) put me into a DJI Osmo Action Camera, and Audio Technique microphone. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panamericano Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Can't speak for others, but when I got the Birkin, I did carry a full tool bag for months. May have looked stupid carrying it into the gym. Loved the video. YOU DID IT! Looks like a day/night mirror? How soft can Caterham guys get? Congratulations and it's wonderful your "crew" was able to help. It takes a village, no make that pit crew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 19, 2020 Share Posted July 19, 2020 Looks like a day/night mirror? How soft can Caterham guys get? Um, that day/night mirror is in a Westfield. And we can get very soft. I even have a locking boot with a separate key to keep things safe from valets! -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 As to parts inventory and missing stuff, Caterham has been doing this for a few years, one would think they would have it figured out by now. :banghead: Rather than get frustrated I prefer to think that Caterham is just furthering the great tradition of British car builders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Um, that day/night mirror is in a Westfield. And we can get very soft. I even have a locking boot with a separate key to keep things safe from valets! -John I got the version that vibrates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SENC Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Um, that day/night mirror is in a Westfield. And we can get very soft. I even have a locking boot with a separate key to keep things safe from valets! -John What's next, power steering!?! Looks like a great day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 (edited) A call to AAA to learn that they wouldn't touch me with a 10 foot pole Good to hear you got underway again fairly quickly and that you had John nearby to pitch in. Not to scare you but you will have a few of these glitches in the first year as everything settles in then everything becomes more reliable. I call it fettling. I would be having a follow up chat with AAA to find out what their problem is. They have been my lifeline to get me home when the results of my mechanical adventures are terminal. The top membership gives me 300 miles free towing allowance. You just have to ask for a flat top truck. I expect I will be using them again shortly knowing my luck. Mike's on East Coast, probably having a mid-afternoon bourbon No chance. I was working on car restoration research and parts hunting online. A few hours later... I did carry a full tool bag for months. Yep - still do. If you do carry a full tool bag, make sure it is extremely well padded. Rampaging tools inside the boot area make for many dents in the sideskin. I seem to remember someone in the PNW discovering this after a vigorous blat. How soft can Caterham guys get? Quite. Did you know I have a self cancelling indicator stalk? I also use moisturizer. Edited July 20, 2020 by Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 I keep my tools in a tool roll attached via velcro straps to the top of the passenger footbox in front of the scuttle. The exposure to heat and dirt under the bonnet is irrelevant -- they're tools -- and they don't take up valuable boot space when touring. The shape of available real estate in that area is a little different in a Caterham, but it's workable. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 One of 5 pins in a terminal pin inside the fuel injector harness was a little too short...???? Sounds like the proverbial needle in a haystack, made more interesting by needing to trouble shoot it at the side of the road. Hey, at least it wasn't dark (and raining:)). Croc is on point, first year fettling is to be expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 It was a little more than that. One of the wires in the injector harness connector wasn't fully seated. You could see the rubber seal sticking out the back. With the plastic cover inside the connector removed, and that pin fully seated, we noticed it was still a couple of mm shorter than the five other pins. Now whether that's an issue with the connector itself, or that pin is physically shorter, is an open question. Regardless, it now makes the connection and consistently fires the injector on #1. If there isn't an occasional electrical issue, it can't be British :jester: -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SENC Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Not a GoPro. My video consultant (i.e. Croc) put me into a DJI Osmo Action Camera, and Audio Technique microphone. -John So we need to hear more about your video consultant's advice, the video and audio are quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCh Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 See Croc's definitive thread here. I'm using a DJI Osmo Action Camera w/Cynova 3.5mm mic adapter, Audio-Technica Pro 24 CM microphone w/ Movo WS1 Furry Microphone Windscreen (aka dead cat), and Manfrotto Super Clamp all per Mike's recommendations. My setup also uses a mini ball head, tripod mount adapter for GoPro/Osmo, and an extension cable for the mic which is taped inside the tub below my left elbow. There is a lot of driveline noise in the background thanks to a complete absence of carpet, cushy seats, or anything else to absorb those frequencies, but I'm still experimenting. -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted August 10, 2020 Author Share Posted August 10, 2020 Two weeks to go before my appointment with Washington State Patrol for the prerequisite inspection to get licensed. So far I've been able to get 200 miles on the odometer using temporary trip permits - you can purchase up to three trip permits in a 30 day period, each good for three contiguous days. I've got time left on the current trip permit so am going to try to sneak out and get an alignment. Anyone want to offer up setting advice? Currently I'm setup with neutral toe and with caster set to a bit more positive than Caterham's build manual specifies. I have negative camber, no idea how much, maybe -2 degrees or so. So far my impression is the car is planted, stable at road speed, more prone to oversteer than understeer, and it takes a fair bit of effort to turn in. Turn in might be my caster setting, but I'm thinking that I should live with it for a while and instead compensate with toe. I'll be doing mostly street driving, but plan to track and might autocross. My completely naive and somewhat random thoughts are: Ride height 145mm Rake 10mm Toe 1 degree out Camber -2 degrees I'm also going to get flat floored and am seeking opinions on that as well. So far my wife has been with me a fair amount, but when she is with me I purposely tone down my driving to maintain marital bliss. So my thought is to get flat floored with just me in the car. The reasoning behind this is (a) I'm not pushing the suspension (much) when she is with me on the road, and (b) when on track she won't be there and that is when suspension setup will be most pronounced. Does this reasoning seem sound or am I missing something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky dawg Posted August 10, 2020 Share Posted August 10, 2020 Make life easy on yourself and have Beachman Racing set up your alignment. You're close by and he's been through it a few times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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