Worn Damper Plate

[Aros More]

Hello any thoughts on the situation below will be appreciated

The R&D damper plate between my Perkins 4236 and the velvet drive gearbox has had the splines stripped completely. The worrying part is on 50% of the spline was being used.

Does anyone know if its possible and safe to fit a spacer between the flywheel and the damper to bring the damper aft 1/2" so the spline is fully over the gearbox shaft

Thanks

 

[AEdie]

Hi, I don't have info. on spacers, but there is another possible solution. If the original damper was mounted with the spring element pointing toward the gear, and the R&D was mounted toward the engine, the misalignment that you describe could be the result. The position of the female damper spline on the male spline of the gear will vary nearly an inch depending on which way the damper is mounted.

Good luck,

Allan Edie

 

[AEdie]

Spacers might work if you have room for them, but there is another potential issue here. If the original damper plate was mounted with the spring element toward the gear, and the R&D replacement plate was mounted with the with the element toward the flywheel, the sort of misalignment you describe could result. Some of the R&D plates can be mounted either way, so if you replace the damaged plate with one of those, you may be able to solve your problem by simply flipping the plate so that the element is toward the gear rather than toward the flywheel.

If you want to use the high displacement R&D plate that allows the most angular movement however, it can only be mounted one way because it can only be torqued in one direction. In this case, I suggest that you call the R&D people and see if they can orient the spring element so that you can install it with the element toward the gear. The PYI people should be able to help you out.

Good luck,

Allan Edie

 

[Jcorstorphine]

Hello any thoughts on the situation below will be appreciated

The R&D damper plate between my Perkins 4236 and the velvet drive gearbox has had the splines stripped completely. The worrying part is on 50% of the spline was being used.

Does anyone know if its possible and safe to fit a spacer between the flywheel and the damper to bring the damper aft 1/2" so the spline is fully over the gearbox shaft

Thanks

It is quite normal to fit an additional heavy ring to the flywheel of a marinised car engines such as the Ford Escort as they require an additional mass to be fitted to the flywheel to reduce low speed torsional vibration from damaging the gearbox.

However the norm is to fit the damper plate first then the mass. I fitted a mass ring to my 1.6 Ford Diesel. The ring was supplied by Marinemart now Midland Chandlers. You could also talk to Lancing Marine who are the experts on this type of activity.

If you let them know the actual R&D damper plate ref number, they may be able to provide you with a balanced spacer as you use the same holes to bolt through. Just make sure you torque up the longer bolts, even a touch of Loctite might be a good move.

However!!!! I do have a slight worry that there may be some additional shearing action on the bolts as the damper plate fixing would now be (say) 20 mm from the bolt hole.

Good luck


PS, the spacer dropped my ticker over revs by approx 200 which is good for a long gearbox life when engaging gear (mechanical Hurth box)

 

[AEdie]

Sorry about the double post, there was a delay in the appearance of the first, and I thought it had disappeared into some sort of cyberhole. AE

 

[Aros More]

Thanks to all for their ideas and views.
The problem has been resolved in the following manner. It seems for whatever reason a 10mm spacer was machined to fit all round the gearbox and onto the bell housing. I refitted the box without the spacer which allows the spline to locate fully on the damper plate. This did of course mean I had to have a 10mm spacer machined and fitted to the prop shaft coupling. This seemed the preferred option to keep the RD damper as close to the flywheel as possible.
Many thanks again for replies

 

[Caer Urfa]

Agree with others best talk to R & D who I find are very helpfull

http://www.randdmarine.com/contactus.asp

Mike