--On Monday, October 12, 1998 10:53 AM -0400 I wrote:
> I broke second gear yesterday. It was a brand new gear this year, a
> Webster S-class 15:37 (Hewland doesn't make one), dated 10-96, new to me
> for the 1998 season.
> ...
> I'm replacing it with an identical gear. If I go through that one too
> quickly, then I'll rethink my gearing. Otherwise, I really like this
> choice of ratio for 2nd gear.
The new gear lasted four and a half years. Is that too quickly?
Second gear broke on Saturday in pretty much the same way as it did four
and a half years ago, but this time it broke into only two pieces instead
of three.
Question is, like last time, should I buy another one just like it, or
should I take this opportunity to change gear ratios?
I'm currently using 12-38, 15-37, 17-34, 19-31 with a 9-31 R&P. That's 42,
54, 66, and 81 MPH at 6800 rpm. I like the four-gear setup. We've only
hit the rev limiter in 4th once in five and a half seasons, and that was an
outrageously fast runway course.
I'm considering going a little closer in spacing with a slightly beefier
2nd gear -- 13-38, 15-36, 17-34, 19-32 (45, 55, 66, and 78 mph). The
spacing works out well and we like our current third gear. Closer gears
should mean quicker, less disruptive shifts and fewer missed shifts.
Question is, is 78 mph enough?
I remember that Gary Godula used to use a 19-32 4th gear, good for 78 mph,
but that he later decided to go taller. Was that because he kept hitting
the rev limiter in 4th?
For those of you who are in the short gear camp, please let me know what
you're using for 4th gear and whether you think it's tall enough. Thanks!
Mark
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