Changing gear ratios

[HungryHebbo]

I got to thinking about this having just read about the gear box in the RA107 thread that one of the users has bought...how do they change ratios in F1 gearboxes?

Ok, obviously it's swapping out cogs, yes, I know that. But, do they have to take the entire gearbox out to do? Pull of the back of the thing and swap some shafts with different ratios on in/out? How fast can they do it?!

On the back of all this chopping and changing that you can do, how is it regulated that it's the 'same' gearbox from one race to the next? Surely if you're chopping out gears it's essentially replacing bits..? Obviously it's not the entire box, but everything helps...right?

[Paul]

Here is part of regulations:

Code: Select all

At each Event seals may be broken once, under supervision and at any time prior to the second day 
of practice, for the sole purpose of changing gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or 
reduction gears). Competitors must inform the FIA technical delegate which ratios they intend to fit no 
later than two hours after the end of P2. However, one additional change of ratios and dog rings will 
be permitted if a gearbox change is necessary on the first day of practice before the end of P2.
  Gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears) may also be changed under 
supervision for others of identical specification at any time during an Event provided the FIA technical 
delegate is satisfied there is evident physical damage to the parts in question and that such changes 
are not being carried out on a systematic basis. 

[HungryHebbo]

Aha, well that answers that one
Cheers

[strad]

If you can change the gears to affect a ratio change you rebuild a goodly part of the box that's likely to fail.

[conni]

we run a test box in practice to sort the ratios then the race box seal is split on friday night and the gears are changed then its re-sealed

conni