74 replies to this topic

[panky]

Only just found this as it was before I joined.

Dashed good work no wonder the Spider is a legend

I'm a bit embarrassed now talking about filing the gearbox casing to match the drain plug face

[Spider]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful words.

 

Has there been any problems with this now it's being used, or is it working as well as it looks?

 

It hasn't done a lot of miles since going back on the road. As far as the Gearbox goes, all reports are that it's been perfect and for the first time in Ross's ownership of the car (~ 20 years), it's not leaked a drop of Oil.

 

It hasn't done a lot of miles as there's other issues with the way the car's been built, it has chronic bump-steer and a poorly linked rear end, the net result being that it swaps ends easily, even on tarmac and in 2WD, though slipping in 4WD does settle it, but it should drive and feel like any other Moke, but presently doesn't.

 

Between Ross and myself, we just don't seem to be able to get a clear space of time to properly analyse exactly what's going on (I know, but have no measurements) and then come up with an appropriate solution (which I think I have sused out).

[Ethel]

Just occurred to me last night, what rear axle do you use with this set-up Chris?  Robin Reliant perhaps?

Since We're having a revival, any excuse to admire top notch engineering, it could be from a Triumph, Herald Spitfire...?  Looks suspiciously Mini around the UJ's though.

[panky]

The transverse leaf spring looks like a Herald (don't lift off on a bend or you back end will overtake the front ) but the diff is something else.

 

Edited by panky, 05 August 2017 - 11:37 PM.

[Spider]

 

Just occurred to me last night, what rear axle do you use with this set-up Chris?  Robin Reliant perhaps?

Since We're having a revival, any excuse to admire top notch engineering, it could be from a Triumph, Herald Spitfire...?  Looks suspiciously Mini around the UJ's though.

 

 

Yes, the rear suspension (if you could call it that) is Triumph Herald I believe, though there are some factor prototypes bits added to it (eg, the diff).

I actually prefer to sum it up by saying it's a Triumph in Engineering Stupidity, not that I want to come off as a 'knocker' but what's more or less a great and unique, highly capable vehicle is really badly let down but that abortion of a rear end.

[Orange-Phantom]

Moke that is some fan bleedin tastic work there!

 

I love stuff like this!

[panky]

Maybe the later Rotoflex set up would tame it a bit, not ideal for off roading though.

[sledgehammer]

The transverse leaf spring looks like a Herald (don't lift off on a bend or you back end will overtake the front ) but the diff is something else.

 

 

Had a spitfire do this on me at speed       
 

thought I lost a wheel or something , terrifying

 

I found it better with different tyres on the back , more slip less grip , over-steer rather than over roll

 

the triumph design , looks like a great money saver on paper , till driven at speed around a corner

 

that moke is just     

Edited by sledgehammer, 06 August 2017 - 10:58 AM.

[Ethel]

Shh,

 

Don't let Volvo hear you.

[markking]

Thread revival. Amazing work! Utterly amazing.

Any progress on your 5 speed 4x4 gearbox? Sound super interesting.
Mark.

[no66]

Nice job and an interesting post. More! 

Edited by no66, 18 April 2020 - 07:06 AM.

[surfblue]

Only seen this thread for the first time today - blown away by the engineering you did on this Spider!

Just looking at the above picture, the output flange from the diff looks as if it is pointing downwards at quite an angle? I take it thats just a UJ that then takes the drive rearwards, will that not cause problems eventually running at that angle - or maybe its just deceiving in the photo?

Just off to do some '4x4 engineering' myself this morning, time to remove the Haldex from my Freelander 2 to change the oil, filter and clean the pump!

[Spider]

Wow - it really is a Thread revival, but I'm saddened to say that the owner of this Moke, Ross, passed away last Saturday. I've not replied here until now as I'm rather shaken by this turn of events, however, at least one of his legacies can live on here.

 

 

Thread revival. Amazing work! Utterly amazing.

Any progress on your 5 speed 4x4 gearbox? Sound super interesting.
Mark.

 

Many thanks here Mark for your kind words.

 

Yes and no !

 

To keep costs down, I've been on the lookout for a suitable set of gears (with the right ratios) from another vehicle. I * think * only a few days back, I may have found a suit donor set, but have yet to more details and actually acquire them. The original idea was to include High and Low Range a well, but the more I thought about this, the less sense - in a Moke - this made.

 

I've also gone a little cold on the whole idea as the more travels I do in the Moke, the less I am finding a need for it to have 4WD. It's length and weight also make it a poor candidate to have 4WD on. Indeed Ross also found this with his Quadra. He did say, in driving it off road, you couldn't use 4WD all the time, in fact, he said, he found it best to leave it in 2WD and only once in trouble (stuck), use 4WD to get out of it and then switch back, right away, to 2WD and this reinforced my own ideas and thoughts on the Moke as being a less than idea vehicle for this.  Certainly, as Nick suggested somewhere in these pages, a Viscus Clutch would go some way to resolving the issues here, but, I don't think on it's own, it would be a complete solution. Part of the issue comes from the Moke having Trailing Arms and as these move, it changes it's wheel base.

 

I'm also only just these past couple of weeks deep in the throws of designing a new Gearbox casing, which is a serious weak point.

 

 

Only seen this thread for the first time today - blown away by the engineering you did on this Spider!

Just looking at the above picture, the output flange from the diff looks as if it is pointing downwards at quite an angle? I take it thats just a UJ that then takes the drive rearwards, will that not cause problems eventually running at that angle - or maybe its just deceiving in the photo?

Just off to do some '4x4 engineering' myself this morning, time to remove the Haldex from my Freelander 2 to change the oil, filter and clean the pump!

 

The output here is actually a Drum Brake CV Joint - not what you'd be expecting ! This couples up to a stock long drive shaft which has a Pot Joint on it. This provides a sliding coupling to the rear diff to allow for normal movement between them. The use of the Driveshaft up front here gives clearance to the shifter as it's all rather cosy up there !
 

[nicklouse]

Spider just your comment about the trailing arms. Funny that as the Viscous coupling also came from a Vehicle with trailing arms the VWT4 (also air operated locking diff).

[Spider]

Mark Radford from the Victorian Moke Owner's Association (and long time Moker) recently put together a nice little Video Clip that briefly chronicles most of the history of this unique Moke;-