Quaife box

[conibear]

Friends got a 255bhp @ 8k rpm VX with a Quaife type 9 straight cut close ratio box. The box has had it, can't change up or down to third 50% of the time and sticks in fourth.

What would you recommend him to do.

1). Repair it?

2). Replace it with what? : -

a). Another quaife unit?

b). Dog box?

Are Trans X boxes better than quaife?

Any other manufacturers who realibly produce good boxes?

Can BGH boxes cope with 8-9k rpm?

Ta

ian

[Mark Stanton]

Get it repaired and don't rev it so much       sorry  

Part ex for dog box - it's still worth something  or just simply get it repaired and uprated    

Quaife are as good as any    

[I.S.M]

Elite sequential straight cut box ought to do it.

Otherwise quaife 4 speed dog is an alternative.

cheaper still would be repair it and apply mechanical sympathy with gear changes.

[stu999]

Ian, is the box a Clubman, or Professional? If it is a Clubman, he has been on borrowed time for ages -get it repaired and flog it in anticipation for upgrade. If it's a Pro box, get it repaired and refitted. Nothing lasts forever, but the Pro box is probably as good as they get...

HTH Stu.

[conibear]

Stu, we was told buy the previous owner it was a Pro box. But me mate has only had car since Stoneliegh weekend. Been on track twice, with immediate evidence it is kaphuk'd.

We've adjusted the clutch cable, clutch is disengaging and not slipping. Topped up gearbox oil level as well, not gear lever mechanism apparent problem either. We thought these boxes were the nuts but not heard any good reviews about then TBH.

Ian

[stu999]

It is difficult to advise really. If you look at the Quaife website, they only 'rate' the clubman box to 180bhp. However, I know qutie a few cars, with much more hp running these boxes, with no issues - or at least nothing over and above what would normally be expected. I personally think Quaife put a conservative 'catch all' limit on it. In other words, they assume that a good percentage of their customers are going to be fitting their boxes/kits to rally cars, and other competition vehicles, and receiving the associated abuse that goes with it. The box itself is sensitive to how it is treated, as mentioned above, the type 9 in it's standard form is not keen on high rev gear changes, especially as this usually means the gear change is likely to be faster too. Some of it will be down to the driver. The 'Pro' box has extra bearings and other mods to help overcome these inherent problems. Other things can be chnged too, like fitting steel syncro rings, but the downside to this is that they wear out quite quickly.

A Dogbox from one of the reputable companies will get over the problem of the syncro's not being able to cope, but if this car is primarily a road car, a dogbox is probably not a wise move - they (or rather, the 'dogs' can wear quite quickly when subjected to road miles.

Otherwise, as ISM says, chequebook out, and talk to Elise...

[markcoopers]

I had a BGH type 9 with a toyota engine. The box took the 9K changes, the clutch (x2) didn't. Fixed that with much fancier clutch plates.

However Toyota was only 160-165bhp, and not much torque, so probably not even remotly a direct comparison.

MArk

[Blatman]

I think Stu has covered it. Revs will kill type 9's.

The only other comment I have that differs from Stu's is the steel synchro question. I don't think they wear as fast as brass ones, but they need lapping on to the shafts every so often to keep them running sweet. Of course, if that is down to wear, then Stu was right all along...

I suspect the 'box in question has a broken synchro ring or two. Depending on budget, you could get it fixed and run it again, but try to be a bit smoother with the gear changes and clutch, or you could buy a pro box. Oh, pro boxes have needle rollers on the gearshafts, clubmans have balls, so it's easy to tell what you have with the lid off. And you can't fit needle rollers in to a clubman box 'cos the gears are actually different to accommodate the needle rollers. I've already looked at that for when I break mine...

[Matt Seabrook]

What clutch is in the car if it’s a 7 1/4 without spring dampers on it this could be contributing to your problem?

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

I had a similar problem to this and it turned out that the bellhousing had worked loose causing the selector rod to jam where it protrudes into the bellhousing. It might be worth a look.

John

[conibear]

Matt, don't know clutch diameter, but we've adjusted it and not improved matters. It's only 3rd and occasional 4th problems and as clutch appears to disengage, we don't think its relative.

Bell housing not come loose but thanks for lead John.

Spoke to Quaife today, who state that their type 9 straight cut professional box is NO good for 8.5k rpm long term. They recommend a 5 speed dogbox, which is what we thought would be the answer      It costs about £2300.00 + vat and not available until July

Tran X £2500.00 + vat (2 weeks).

Why does the Quaife T9 SC whine when it has bl**** synchro's and why is it soooooooo bl**** expensive when compared to similar products        

[Blatman]

It's the gears that whine, not the synchros. It a result of them being straight cut, but I don't know precicely why that makes them noisy. I gues it's due to how they engage with each other...