The Place

Hi,

I seem to be having serious problems driving my outfit, especially around left handers, as I have mentioned on here before now.

Admittedly, I had a much lighter passenger than usual on board this weekend at Snetterton, but the amount of time I loose around left handers to the other outfits is crazy.

Maybe I am just a shit driver? (very possible). Maybe it is the position of my engine. It seems that it could be dropped by around 1.5 to 2 inches, but to do this I would also have to move it away from the front wheel, by around the same distance. Is it better for the engine to be as far forward as possible? or as low down as possible?

Maybe Windles are just twitchy on left handers? I know Brian Ilaria does very well on his, so maybe not...

Some people tell me I need to open the throttle when the wheel comes up, to get it back down, I have tried this a few times but all that appears to happen is that the chair comes even higher, I was scraping along on the fairing a few times this weekend... lol

How far is the crank centre to front wheel spindle in inches ? I took advice when building my chassis and aimed for 25 inch. The height of the engine is somewhat set by the engine sprocket and the swing arm pivot point. From what you described sounds like the rear needs more support from the suspension . Cheers Lee

I measured the bike tonight, the crank is 25 inches behind the front wheel centre.

The engine is 1.5 inches above the bottom of the outfit.

When the outfit is sat at its ride height you should more or less have the 2 sprockets and swing arm pivot points in line through their centres. Engine could well have being put in higher to achieve the given distance to the front wheel and then miss some tubes. If the sprockets and pivot point for the swing arm are not in line it can make the outfit either squat under power or the opposite and lack of traction. I know from experience the pull on a chain and then the angle it pulls at can really upset handling on a superbike and therfore I was carefull when even changing sprockets. Hope this helps .Lee

Ok, So I guess a lot depends on the alignment of the sprockets and swinging arm pivots.

But, what would yopu say is more important? (If you cant have both). Having the crank shaft 25 inches behing the front wheel centre line? Or having the engine as low down as possible, even if this means the engine will be 27 inches behind?

Dave , give Terry Windle or Tony Baker a ring.

windle outfits have the engine set at 25 inch from front spindle to the centre of the crank

Hi Ian.

It seems my engine is in the correct position front to back then. It just seems a little strange how the sump is not as low as possible. The engine is the heaviest part of the outfit, not including rider and passenger, it makes sense to me to have this weight as low down as possible.

I need to find some other windles and have a look I think.

I am going to try a wider rear rim and tyre at Silverstone. Increase the front / rear offset slightly, see if it helps any.

Pop up and have a look at ours at Silverstone

Hi dave sorry mate not seen this post.when wen I converted mine I put My sump level with the bottom tubes of frame and I moved my engine forward to 23,1/2 inches from centre of crank to front axle centreline. Come and have a look if it helps at cadwell.

I will come and have a look at Cadwell, thanks Brian.

It seems I would have to start chopping chassis tubes out to get my sump level with the bottom tubes and 23.5 inches behind the front wheel centre line.

I did drive my brothers Ireson at Donington, It seemed a little easier to drive, and my fastest lap was 4 seconds faster than I did last year on the windle.

I don't mind the chair coming up, I just don't like it when it comes up quickly and violently, as appears to be the case on the windle.

I'll get kettle on

Mark Saunders had the same issue on his windle and had Tony Baker move the front end over about 2inches to the right as you look at the sidecar from the rear wheel.We also run a 10 inch rear. Problem sorted.

Lisa wrote:Mark Saunders had the same issue on his windle and had Tony Baker move the front end over about 2inches to the right as you look at the sidecar from the rear wheel.We also run a 10 inch rear. Problem sorted.

Hmm, very interesting Lisa. I was thinking about the rear / front wheel offset. I was presuming that moving it to the left (as looking from the rear wheel) would make it more stable though?