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Royston
United Kingdom
48 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Feb 2016 : 17:30:00
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HI can anyone help ?
I am sorting out the wiring on 845 BWN as fitting electronic ignition and there are lots of "spare" old wires hanging about in engine bay.
My mystery is a small metal box directly over the master cylinders, on the opposite side to the control box and fuse box, see picture attached) just what is it , no noise from it so presumably not an old flasher unit ?
Any advice appreciated
thanks Royston
Royston
with a Sunbeam in my life |
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pruyter
Netherlands
323 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2016 : 18:56:23
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Has your Rapier an overdrive? If so it could be a kind of overdrive relay, not the original one but one that is "repaired" or specially fixed. So my advise is: follow the wires and make a drawning were they go to. If you report back on this forum with a drawning then somebody will react. If I understand the drawnimg of the wires I will certainly react!
Regards,
Peter |
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Royston
United Kingdom
48 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2016 : 19:59:21
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Excellent , now you have got me started on the idea, I have tested the overdrive switch and yes, it clicks inside my mystery box ! It IS the overdrive relay , thanks a lot for quick reply.
Just found one for sale on ebay too, £40.
cheers
Royston
Royston
with a Sunbeam in my life |
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pruyter
Netherlands
323 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2016 : 09:22:35
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Your Rapier is original equipped with a Lucas Relay type SB40 with number 33157 and is a non self canceling relay. The Rapiers series 4 and 5 have a Lucas Relay type 6RA with number 33199 E stamped on it.
The last one is the preferable one!
It is possible that your existing relay has been transformed to a self canceling relay hence the changes to the relay. So what I would do is the following: check if your existing relay is self canceling. If it is and all is working fine don't touch it: if it works it works.
The relay which you mention that is on Ebay should be checked for if it is the right one. See above for the right numbers. The majority of the relays that are offered on Ebay don't suit our Rapiers in spite of what the vendor is telling you.
If you really want the new type of relay and oned that is in exellent order then you should approach Jerome Senn from Alpine Innovations,this company is based in London.
Regards,
Peter |
Edited by - pruyter on 12 Feb 2016 09:26:32 |
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Royston
United Kingdom
48 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2016 : 07:26:59
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Thanks for info Peter, My relay works fine but isn't self cancelling,
I have already found myself leaving it in overdrive unintentionally, but it is a new " toy" so I hope that I will remember to switch off once I get some more Rapier driving miles under my belt.
Just for interest I am happy to say that I have now fitted electronic ignition ( positive earth system from Simonbbc ) and have an immediate noticeably improved engine performance, smooth running, slow steady tick over, & responsive acceleration, Very Happy.
Royston
with a Sunbeam in my life |
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pruyter
Netherlands
323 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2016 : 08:43:13
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Hi Royston,
Regarding the overdrive there is one very important thing: NEVER EVER leave it in overdrive when you are selecting reverse gear, because if you leave it in overdrive your overdrive will go to pieces with a big damage as result!
I have in my Rapier series 4 also an electronic ignition (positive earth) from Simonbbc and just as you are I am very happy with it.
The most worthwile change I have made is to install the Webcon conversion while also the diff is transformed from 4.22:1 to 3.89:1.
It changes the car for the better regarding both drive ability and fuel economy.
Regards,
Peter |
Edited by - pruyter on 13 Feb 2016 09:29:48 |
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Royston
United Kingdom
48 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2016 : 19:03:41
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Yes, I understand just how easy it is to wreck the overdrive with a quick reverse ! I really need to be very careful.
I bought the simonbbc positive earth system thinking it would be an easy option, but now maybe wishing I had converted to neg earth , repolarized dynamo and just started from there, although original radio would be defunct.
My distributor had a tacho mechanical drive on it, so the simonbbc distributor would not fit, I had to turn the spade drives down to get them past the gearing.
Today I have been taking apart my Smiths Positive earth RVI Tachometer (no: Z51922/1 ) and have bought an RVI to RVC external converter from Spiyda. and am pondering where I can get a signal feed from, which is supposed to be a neg pulse !
Got my membership number through today also so now a fully fledged SUNBEAM !
Royston
with a Sunbeam in my life |
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Royston
United Kingdom
48 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2016 : 19:29:36
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Peter, sorry I am new to this, but what is a WEBCON conversion ?
Is it carburettor ?
I recently purchased a pair of Zenith WIA-3 carbs from USA and after balancing and sorting out linkage, once again a MASSIVE improvement.
I have not got as far as distance motoring yet ( a blowing manifold stopping me now, and dreadful salty roads with awful weather ) so back axle ratios have not come to question yet !
cheers
Royston
with a Sunbeam in my life |
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pruyter
Netherlands
323 Posts |
Posted - 13 Feb 2016 : 22:01:38
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Hi Royston,
The webcon conversion implicates a special new inlet manifold plus a Weber 32/36 DGV carburettor. This conversion can by bought from Jerome Senn and the details of the kit can be watched at www.alpineinnovations.co.uk The price is 659.79 GBP.
The background of this conversion is in very much details described on the forum of SAOC. For your information: the president of SROC, Ron Atherton, has done this conversion to his Rapier series 3 Convertible and he wrote about it in Cut&Thrust, issue 134. The conversion on my Rapier is also mentioned in Cut&Thrust in issue 139, including some photo's.
Regards,
Peter |
Edited by - pruyter on 14 Feb 2016 10:37:02 |
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Topic |
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Rapier series 3a mystery electrical device !
