I don't know. I think somewhere between 50 and 60kmiles with only bearings, clutch shaft/its gear, and pinion gear couple being new at about 40k. Case # I did not know there was one. The car is a late 1990 build titled as a 1991 2.7motronic unit with presumably the older twitchy subframe.
It looks like that nut I was speaking of came loose, as it virtually fell off the shaft. I'll try to clairy from Richard the Great. The dealer who worked on the car this winter went into the gear box and said the nut was loose then as well, and tightened it up...
Well fatman, looks like you are correct! It's the ring nut! Well at least in this case anyway. Now what number Locktite did we use again?
So has FBB figured the whole curse out?! Do we have a pic/diagram? Ring nut gets loose then shaft torque causes side-load to crater one or two bearings, then the bearing races break up and grenade the box?? Anything that can be done proactively like a free test for shaft play or anything that can be done with working tranny still in car, or is it all blind until we do a tranny-out job?
my hillbilly fix is in post #9...it works too. There are no specs for shaft play. I'm not sure it is really needed if you do the hillbilly fix anyway. Bruce was at my house when I dumped my gearbox oil during my engine out service. It was so clean I thought about saving it and pouring it back in...that was a joke son.
The only thing I can think of is to pull the inspection plate off the bottom and check the play from there. I dunno how successful you'll be, but that's all I can think of at this point. I really don't see any other way of testing it with out removing the gear box, or tearing it apart.
I believe that No Doubt is correct in what happens: the nut loosens; thereafter, it starts additional side load movement that first destroys the brass cages which then allows the balls in the bearings to no longer be equally spaced and run together. This action then allows side movement in the shaft that start working on the races because the bearings now are being run together, not how they were designed to run. E.g., take two balls of the same size, put them together on the floor, and try rolling them both in the same direction touching each other; the ball in back will try and roll up over the first because the second is hitting the back of the first which is moving in an upward direction and its moving in a downward direction. That may be a bad example, but as an engineer, it's the best that I can do. As for the specific nut that came loose in Juan-Manuel Fantango's box: there was no LocTite..
Are you saying his balls are uneven and nothing sticky holding them to the shaft? BTW, anyone want to buy my old/blown complete 348 g'box? I no longer need my old one. Seriously. Das tricks up me sleeve are completed. Image Unavailable, Please Login
When the gear box was working at VIR...http://www.carolinaspeedzone.com/VIR_track_day_101307/videodata/VIRquentin_101407_video12.wmv
Crap, I thought that car seemed faster than I normally am...it's a 355! I've run VIR and someone said that was my car, but noooo... Anyway, pump failure, after nut that had no locktite failed, no damage to gears or synchros even though ball bearings were loose...Richard may have located turbin aircraft quality replacement bearings, more later.
Hey Greg, VIR is a great track, we'll do it again in 08, or maybe, just maybe Road Atlanta instead when the Challenge comes there. From above..nooo it is someone else having their way against the pcar in a 355c. A friend sent it to me and said it was my car, upon closer examination, it is a 355, not a 348.
Ernie, thank for reminding me to finish this thread. Here's what happened: The parts cost more than expected due to Ferrari UK taking over all supplies. The bearing were provdied at cost:#103042SKF at $453.00 per bearing, and 108656SKF at $154.00 per bearing. Lot's of little O rings and misc parts that are way overpriced but required. I have been told the prices will be going up again soon, as UK had complete controll now of pricing. All parts came from Ricambi, and Daniel/David were great help with everything including diagrams, advice, etc. My friend Richard saved me a bunch of money, as he took on the project rather than a Ferrari Certified Service. The previous Ferrari Certified Dealer's servcie depatment indicated I would more than likely have problems with the box, as they opened it up during an complete valve job while it was off. I belive they indicated the ring nut was loose at that time. Only five months from my warning from the Ferrari Service Dept did I have 4th gear faliure. Richard indicated that this was the problem, the ring nut was loose. No loctite, nor was it pinged properly, and this is after I got it back from a Ferrari Dealer's Servcie dept with only five months useage. How strange. All back together for just under 5K, and now that it is properly tightened for the first time ever, I hope to have no problems. Special thanks to all on FCHAT, especialy Fatbillybob, Earnie, Daniel at Ricambi, and special thanks to my friend Richard who repaired the box! I'm looking forward to some long Blue Ridge Mountain runs soon. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks to Richard Thompson for the great photography during the 07 FCA Interntional Meet at Watkins Glen. Toronto, 08-Gentleman racers and the Challenge Series. Get ready guys, FBB bring your Challenge to MoSport! http://www.fca2008.org/
I wanted to Thank David for the nice write-up above on his transmission problems and the outcome. I am the Richard that repair David’s transmission and would like to ask if anyone needs service on there car’s around Columbia please give my shop a try. I am located just outside Columbia in Lexington, SC the shop phone number is (803) 356-2886 just ask for Richard or Rich..
I'd do it if I could find a cheap way to get my car to Toronto. Do the same FCA guys who run this national meet run the national meet some years ago at laguna seca? Those guys convinced me that I should drop out of the FCA yet again.
I hope not, as my experiences have been only good with FCA. Ran Indy, right in the F1 tiretracks in 05, Summit Point in 06, and the great Watkins Glen in 07. Now MoSport for 08-Nothing but first class all the way with the FCA. Maybe you could ship your car by sea container? LOL!! It's about the memories, not the money, as I will not need that once I'm old and drooling, and done with life.
