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Pre-Build Odds and Ends Questions

EburgE

By EburgE
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EburgE

EburgE

Posted
Posted

Today is my last day as a non-Seven owner. (The kit arrives tomorrow.) It has been lots of fun waiting for the big day, researching the build, and meeting Seven owners. Now a few loose ends before I get started. Maybe you can help with one of these?

 

1. Copper Greese. The build manual calls for copper grease on any bolts that do not need loc-tite. Some have even suggested putting copper grease on all electrical connections. Problem is, I cannot find copper grease in the US. Any alternatives or should I order this from the UK?

 

2. Torque Wrench. My two torque wrenches have been well cared for. Is it necessary to take these somewhere to have them calibrated? Should I calibrate them myself or don't worry about it?

 

3. Fuel Cell. Despite some opposition from experts on this forum, I ordered the fuel cell. Any tips for installing it or keeping it working? I would like to put a glass filter in-line somewhere that I can inspect periodically for debris. Any tips for which filter to get and where to install it?

 

4. Attaching Wings. The front cycle wings call for drilling holes in the fibreglass. One Seven owner recommended bonding fasteners to the wings and attaching them to the braces using cable ties. Problem is I have not been able to locate the fasteners. There is a British fastener called "BigHead" that looks perfect, but I cannot find it in the US.

 

Thanks! :cheers:

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slomove

slomove

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Posted

Not sure if this is any help...on Birkin cycle fenders there are slim steel strips with 2 attached (welded?) M4 bolts laminated to the inside of the wing.

 

I have had a wing support bracket break a while ago, that led to the whole wing twisting and ripping in the middle. But those mounting bolts never broke loose.

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slngsht

slngsht

Posted
Posted
Today is my last day as a non-Seven owner. (The kit arrives tomorrow.) It has been lots of fun waiting for the big day, researching the build, and meeting Seven owners. Now a few loose ends before I get started. Maybe you can help with one of these?

 

1. Copper Greese. The build manual calls for copper grease on any bolts that do not need loc-tite. Some have even suggested putting copper grease on all electrical connections. Problem is, I cannot find copper grease in the US. Any alternatives or should I order this from the UK?

 

2. Torque Wrench. My two torque wrenches have been well cared for. Is it necessary to take these somewhere to have them calibrated? Should I calibrate them myself or don't worry about it?

 

3. Fuel Cell. Despite some opposition from experts on this forum, I ordered the fuel cell. Any tips for installing it or keeping it working? I would like to put a glass filter in-line somewhere that I can inspect periodically for debris. Any tips for which filter to get and where to install it?

 

4. Attaching Wings. The front cycle wings call for drilling holes in the fibreglass. One Seven owner recommended bonding fasteners to the wings and attaching them to the braces using cable ties. Problem is I have not been able to locate the fasteners. There is a British fastener called "BigHead" that looks perfect, but I cannot find it in the US.

 

Thanks! :cheers:

 

I'm gonna post something just to see if you are awake. YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY BE SLEEPING THE NIGHT BEFORE THE KIT ARRIVES :D

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breezy7

breezy7

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Posted

This is a method from the California Caterham Club, showing an alternate way of attaching cycle wings. http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/resources/. I used a can of spray on truck bed lining on both the front and rear fenders on my car. I have seen where guys take fenders to a shop that spray on bed liners but I was satisfied with the results straight from the can. I wouldn't sweat the torque wrench calibration if it hasn't been dropped or abused. I would be skeptical of putting grease on any eletrical fitting, what the build manual calls for is a copper based anti seize compund and any parts store will have it. Plan on posting any pictures of the big day? Good luck.

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slngsht

slngsht

Posted
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4. Attaching Wings. The front cycle wings call for drilling holes in the fibreglass. One Seven owner recommended bonding fasteners to the wings and attaching them to the braces using cable ties. Problem is I have not been able to locate the fasteners. There is a British fastener called "BigHead" that looks perfect, but I cannot find it in the US.

 

Thanks! :cheers:

 

At 7/7/7 Tony Vaccaro and Dino were talking about which adheseve to use to just glue the fender on with no fasteners. Tony had done it several times with great success, and I believe that's what Dino was doing at the event.

 

Drop Dino or Seth a line. Their solution was very clean. No holes.

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Al N.

Al N.

Posted
Posted
al's carbon fibre front cycle fenders aren't attached with bolts to teh wing stays. i beleive they were attached with an epoxy. that may be a better way as the enamel on my wings began to show cracks in the enamel around the bolts.

 

Dude, my fenders are attached with magic fairy dust!

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SR27.Seth

SR27.Seth

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1. Copper Greese.

 

Those Brits and their copper grease! I think they spread it on their toast in the morning.

Use any brand anti-sieze, I highly doubt you will be winter driving this thing anyway.

 

 

2. Torque Wrench. My two torque wrenches have been well cared for. Is it necessary to take these somewhere to have them calibrated? Should I calibrate them myself or don't worry about it?

 

If you actually have a torque wrench- you are way ahead of the masses.

 

 

3. Fuel Cell. Despite some opposition from experts on this forum, I ordered the fuel cell. Any tips for installing it or keeping it working? I would like to put a glass filter in-line somewhere that I can inspect periodically for debris. Any tips for which filter to get and where to install it?

 

Is your fuel cell foam filled? Gas composition seems to be changing every month with more and less ethanol, cleaners etc. There are issues with the foam breaking apart and sending it into your fuel pump and injectors.

Please forget about the glass bowl- there is a reason those things were outlawed 30 years ago. Install two fuel filters- one before the pump (assuming itis external) and one after the pump.

 

 

4. Attaching Wings. The front cycle wings call for drilling holes in the fibreglass. One Seven owner recommended bonding fasteners to the wings and attaching them to the braces using cable ties. Problem is I have not been able to locate the fasteners. There is a British fastener called "BigHead" that looks perfect, but I cannot find it in the US.

 

Under 160mph- 3m windshield urethane works brilliantly. At or near or over 160mph- Urethane plus 'truss head' screws.

 

Thanks! :cheers:

 

Your Welcome!

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tnttim

tnttim

Posted
Posted

1: Copper Grease.

 

I would have to say that they are refering to something like a Copper Anti-seize. But I definetly would not use that on any electrical connection. Incase you ever have the time stick an OHM Meter in a jar of it and you will notice it conducts electricity. This being fine if you can contain ALL of the grease between the connector of a single conducting pin,,,, BUT as we all know that stuff is like snot when it gets on something and never seems to want to come off. But if you have a connection with mulitipe connectors and somthing such as a MAF or a TPS that the computer looks at millivolts it may conduct across the connections. So I would have to say stay far away from it. Although I have used it on Battery Terminals and those pesky 'To Ground' door jam switches that corrode.

 

For bolts use the anti-sieze. It comes in Aluminum, Nickle, and Copper.

For your electrical use ONLY Silicone Grease (not caulk) it will seal the moisture out and prevent corrosion. This is what all manufacturers use.

 

2: Torque Wrench.

 

If you took good care of them they are fine. Unless you are doing engines or a bearing of some sort, the torque specs are more of a + or - thing anyway.

 

3: Fuel Cell.

 

Filters are cheap and on most sevens are easy to replace. If you still want that clear factor, glass is WAAYYY out. The only thing I can tell you is there are some Rat-Rod type out there that are clear plastic or Lawncare equipment ones. But stick with a good old fasion car filter is the safest way to go. Remember leaky gas makes for a nice fire.

 

4: Attached Wings.

 

The Bigheads are the way to go, but I wouldn't use ty-raps to hold them on, use a steel hose clamp or something of that nature.

OOORRRR simply fabricate your own brackets to laminate into the underside of the wings. Isn't that part of the 'Fun' of building a Seven any how?

The idea is to simply spread that contact area over more surface. The cracking from the bolts is due to the head of the bolt is trying to pull through the fender. If you laminate into the bottom side of the fender a plate that helps spread the force of the bolt across the fender instead of one point it reduces the tendency to crack. But it has to be laminated well.

 

 

Good luck with your build I hope everything goes well. Even in boxes yours is more assembled than mine right now.

 

Tim

 

 

 

 

 

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Alaskossie

Alaskossie

Posted
Posted

Sounds like the day before the birth of your first child!

 

I used (and am still using) a Permatex anti-seize compound. Be careful -- it gets all over everything!

 

One thing the Brits apparently have that I couldn't find is rubber lubricant, which is called for in assembling grommets, bushings, steering column, etc. (anywhere you have rubber-to-metal contact and a tight fit). I used silicone spray, but I don't think it is the same thing.

 

I had my front ands rear wings coated with pickup-truck bed liner by an auto body shop. It is a thin coating, and very professional-looking (for anyone looking into my wheel wells!).

 

Steve Taylor's photo showed what a typical Caterham delivery in UK looks like. In the US delivery, the windscreen is not attached so that the height of the crate can be reduced. (Be sure to get the extra pages describing windscreen attachment that have been prepared for US customers -- the build manual does not cover it at all).

 

Here is what a US deliver looks like (as of July 2007, in Greeley, Colorado):

 

/Users/thomasmeacham/Desktop/DSC_0008.JPG

 

(Hope this photo is attached correctly -- I've never tried it before).

 

Good luck in starting your project!

 

Alaskossie

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Alaskossie

Alaskossie

Posted
Posted

And here is what the "mummy" looks like, once the crate has been stripped away:

 

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1272835303_DSC_0016.jpg

 

Unpacking the crate and the large box from Caterham took more than a day.

 

Alaskossie

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Birkin42

Birkin42

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Posted

I looks like it all arrived all in good shape. My Birkin was delivered with 2 fork lift size holes through the side of the car. At least the shipping companies insurance coughed up the money for the repairs but it sure was a hassle getting it sorted out.

Seeing how hard it was to bring a kit cars like this into Canada, I was just glad that I was able to bring it in, fork lift holes and all.

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