[Fot] Reproduction Steering Racks - INFO NEEDED

Tue Nov 12 11:32:11 MST 2013

Hi chuck

Yes I'm due to meet Jeff on this as soon as they come back to me on dates.

Thanks

Tony

Sent from my iPhone

> On 12 Nov 2013, at 17:40, Chuck WATSON <clw2000 at msn.com> wrote:
>
> FOT -
>
> I bought my rack from Moss Europe and I have contacted them about the issue.
They are interested in hearing about the problems encountered as they
determine the appropriate action.  I would encourage those of you with
first-hand info to contact Jeff Marks at jmarks at moss-europe.co.uk even if your
rack was purchased from Moss USA.  Hopefully this will get all of us a good
resolution.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck Watson
>
>
>
>
> > Subject: Re: [Fot] Reproduction Steering Racks
> > From: tr4.tony at virgin.net
> > Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2013 09:20:37 +0000
> > CC: clw2000 at msn.com; fot at autox.team.net
> > To: tony at tonydrews.com
> >
> > Hi Tony
> >
> > I'm afraid I'd be very doubtful of it personally, although clearly I have
no knowledge of what exactly you have- you need to check it carefully. The
issues are;
> >
> > The tube pulls out if the pinion housing
> > The pinion nut falls off
> > The threads on the track rod ends aren't always machined properly
> >
> > I suggest you check with MOSS - I learned yesterday that MOSS Europe have
'frozen' sales of racks in the UK - I'm not sure what that means exactly, but
they have agreed to meet with me to discuss my problem at least.
> >
> > Meanwhile I'm using a modified rack before the Titan parts arrive - I will
not countenance a rack as supplied by MOSS for fear of our and others safety.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Tony
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > > On 8 Nov 2013, at 19:08, Tony Drews <tony at tonydrews.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > FYI - I've got a Moss Quick Rack that I was planning to install this
winter - says "Made in Argentina" clearly on the sticker on it. Guess I'll
stick with the old stock one that's in the TR4.
> > >
> > > Tony Drews
> > >
> > > At 08:08 AM 11/7/2013, TR4 Tony wrote:
> > >> Chuck
> > >>
> > >> I would suggest that it is worth checking all racks, but I only have
first
> > >> hand knowledge of the TR4 (TR6 etc) racks. I would be suspicious of any
'Made
> > >> in Argentina'.
> > >>
> > >> Steve Hall at TR Enterpises is having a batch of weapons grade racks
made now
> > >> with an ETA of march 2014 - if anyone is interested I suggest you
contact
> > >> Simon Watson at simon at trenterprises.com to discuss. NFI but I will be
running
> > >> one of the first when they arrive.
> > >>
> > >> Regards
> > >>
> > >> Tony
> > >>
> > >> Regards
> > >>
> > >> Tony
> > >>
> > >> Sent from my iPhone
> > >>
> > >>> On 7 Nov 2013, at 13:24, Chuck WATSON <clw2000 at msn.com> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Serious stuff! Is that the quick-ratio unit from Moss USA? That one,
they
> > >> claim, is a heavy duty unit designed for competition. I have their unit
for a
> > >> Spit/GT6 application and would like to figure out if the issues are
universal.
> > >> If possible, please email or post some pics on the Facebook site so we
can see
> > >> exactly the areas you have identified. Thanks for the info Tony.
> > >>>
> > >>> Thanks,
> > >>>
> > >>> Chuck Watson
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>> From: tr4.tony at virgin.net
> > >>>> Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2013 12:59:48 +0000
> > >>>> To: fot at autox.team.net
> > >>>> Subject: [Fot] Reproduction Steering Racks
> > >>>>
> > >>>> All
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I thought I'd give you all a heads up on my position with
reproduction
> > >> TR4
> > >>>> steering racks made in Argentina and supplied by MOSS or via others.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I have had another near lethal failure this weekend on the Rally of
the
> > >> Tests,
> > >>>> costing me a high placing and a class win as well as the car or
worse.
> > >> People
> > >>>> could have been hurt very badly. This is the second time.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The issues are threefold in my experience, the first two are serious
> > >> safety
> > >>>> matters hence my email to this group.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> 1. The main steel rack tube is pressed without any notching or
machined
> > >>>> scoring into the alloy pinion housing, meaning that on left hand lock
the
> > >> rack
> > >>>> tube parts from the housing and control is lost. This is because the
rack
> > >> has
> > >>>> nothing to bear against and therefore the wheels end up pointing in
> > >> opposite
> > >>>> directions. The alloy housing appears to be made from a material of
> > >>>> insufficiently high quality in my opinion and the press fit is poor.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I am aware of 7 failures now, 6 on competition cars, one of which was
mine
> > >> and
> > >>>> which I was lucky to walk away from.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> 2. The nut and spring on the top of the pinion housing (which allows
the
> > >> rack
> > >>>> preload / play to be adjusted) unwinds and falls off, causing loss
of
> > >> control
> > >>>> and excessive play in the rack, as well as ingress of material as
it's
> > >> open to
> > >>>> the atmosphere. This is another potentially lethal failure mode and
> > >> caused
> > >>>> because the peening of the pinion housing / nut fails and the nut
just
> > >> spins
> > >>>> itself off. Again my opinion is that this is due to poor material,
design
> > >> and
> > >>>> manufacturing.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I am aware if two such failures now, one on my car again which we
were
> > >> lucky
> > >>>> to survive unscathed.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The cast alloy pinion housings also appear to be poorly cast, with
blow
> > >> holes
> > >>>> evident in the assembly indicating poor material, process and
quality
> > >>>> control.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> 3. There is a third problem in that the threads on ends of the rack
are
> > >> not
> > >>>> cut properly, so track rod ends will not fit. Theses need to recut
and
> > >> again
> > >>>> is evidence of poor manufacturing and dimensional control.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I am working with TR Enterprises in the UK to develop a short term
fix
> > >> (which
> > >>>> we have done) and ultimately have some racks made that are fit for
> > >> purpose,
> > >>>> however meantime my opinion is that anyone who has one of these 'Made
in
> > >>>> Argentina' steering racks should talk to their supplier and satisfy
> > >> themselves
> > >>>> of their safety in use.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I for one will not be using such a rack in an unmodified form and
will
> > >> replace
> > >>>> it as soon as is possible with a product that is designed to be safe
in
> > >> use.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Needless to say I wish to discuss this with MOSS and I am awaiting
their
> > >>>> response.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Regards
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Tony
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>> fot at autox.team.net
> > >>>>
> > >>>> http://www.fot-racing.com
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> > >>>> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> > >>>> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> > >>>> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> > >> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/fot/clw2000@msn.com
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> fot at autox.team.net
> > >>
> > >> http://www.fot-racing.com
> > >>
> > >> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> > >> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> > >> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> > >> Unsubscribe/Manage:
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