Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

Some weeks later on the way home from a recent outing some slip under load in top gear was noticed. This failed to respond to some fine adjustment so with our next competitive event in just four weeks it was decided that the only real solution was to replace the friction lining on top gear, in effect a cone clutch. so this morning the gearbox came out and is now up on the bench. Fortunately this operation does not involve a complete strip down but requires the front cover and input shaft to be removed. For those interested I will try to post some progress photographs tomorrow.

Bj

Thank you Ken

I checked the clearances between each gear annulus last time I had the box apart but I will have another look I also intend to replace the large ball race that carries top gear male cone. My car does have to work fairly hard for its living. Since the last time I had the gearbox out it has been running (mainly in club competition) with a drive plate in lieu of the clutch. I had been running a modern diaphragm clutch for some years but it had created an many problems as it had solved. I will be able to tell you more once I have the front off the box this morning, yesterday much of the day was consumed with Grandfather duties. I have found that the garage is not the ideal place to entertain a very active five year old and an equally enthusiastic three year old.

Bj.

With the box apart it was soon obvious that the problem lay in wear on both the male top gear cone and the friction lining in the cone. Fortunately I have in stock both a reconditioned (hard chromed) male cone and a secondhand female cone with an almost new friction lining so the box is well on the way to being re-assembled and back in the car. Providing there are no distractions it should be almost back together by this evening. You can see in the second photograph that the male cone is virtually bottoming in its female counterpart. Back to work.

Bj.

10-18-2012

My friend and fellow Rapier owner Bruce Rodgers has been going through some old files and has sent me some of his photographs from our 2009 European tour. Here are a couple that I thought some of you may like to see. You may even recognise the location of at least one. Bruce's car is the one at the rear. It is the only Rapier to have been fitted with a Bertelli (of Aston Martin fame) body. 

Bj.