Dakar rally on SBS

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 16:59

ThreadID: 41315 Views:2533 Replies:6 FollowUps:4

This Thread has been Archived

phil

Hi,

After the discussion about the ABC program about the Dakar, I wonder how many are watching the current segments covering the last rally on SBS at 6pm.

It covers bikes, buggys, cats and (monster) trucks. Very informative. Each day covers 1 day of the rally.

There are some really mean machines out there! Some of the snippets about the mechanicals are facinating also. The Mitsubishi "Pajero", so called, in the car section has a system which allows the clutch to be exchanged in 15 minutes, in the sand. The car has built in hydraulic jacks which can lift it right up off the ground. The transmission has the clutch unit mounted on the rear of the housing, along with a spare unit. All that is needed is to swap units. Not quite your common Pajero!

Watch it tonight!

Phil I

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 17:40

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 17:40

Been watching the Dakar on SBS for the last few years.

As you say, any similarity between the Pajeros/BMW X5s/VW Tourags and the road versions is co-incidental.
If you saw it last night you would have seen the mitsubishi service engineer change the clutch. There are two supplied for the centre diff. One behind the other after the transfer box. The front one is the one in use, and is hydraulicly operated. If it fails, take them both out, reverse the order and bolt back in. Without the hydraulic line, the cutch just transfers all of the drive, hence the 2nd one, even if not working, transfers all of the load. Takes 15 mins to change, in the sand. He did it in about 3 mins on the bench.

AnswerID: 215948

Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 18:05

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 18:05

It was a downright clever setup those dual clutches.

Clever buggers those engineers when they're given a free rein.

Did you notice the alloy gearbox was actually sand cast? It was no production line job allright. A pure bred race special just like the gearbox in an F1 car.

I'd love to know what that gearbox, transfer case setup owes Mitsubishi in R&D.

Geoff

Geoff,

Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 476248

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 at 08:11

Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 at 08:11

Not if they fail but when...
They got 100klms out of a clutch on one stage... good idea for the quick change, but makes you wonder why not all the teams are having this issue - eg poor design?

FollowupID: 476387

Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 at 08:23

Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 at 08:23

Too true Truckster,
They shave the weight down on those race specials by grams, sometimes they cross that line.
I remember reading somewhere when Jaguar had the F1 team the art department was allocated something like 80 grams for their paint and stickers.

Looks like Mitsubishi have with the clutch, still a clever design.

Geoff

Geoff,

Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 476395

Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 18:30

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 18:30

Most probably the difference in price between a Hyundai Teracan and a Pajero, by about a few thousand models sold a year. Hyundai just bought the gen II technology for parts of the teracan.

AnswerID: 215963

Reply By: CLC50 - Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 19:38

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 19:38

Thanks Phil

I just finished watching it on SBS @ 6Pm ,Gee I am sorry I missed the other Night.

Thanks for you Post

AnswerID: 215981

Reply By: Robin - Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 20:29

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 20:29

The thing I liked about the Pajeros were there tyre deflators - better than my not to consistent Strauns ones.

Wonder where you get them (portable dial in a pressure ones)

Robin Miller

AnswerID: 215998

Reply By: Ozrover - Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 20:57

Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 at 20:57

Yep! Great stuff, I've been watching every day where possible, the only bad thing about going away for the weekend!!

Not one of those vehicles is standard, some are full on race Bikes/Cars/Trucks/Buggies with only carbon fibre cladding making them look similar to a production vehicle!

AnswerID: 216007

Reply By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 at 00:02

Thursday, Jan 18, 2007 at 00:02

Best one is the so called hummer..........nothing to do with the real one at all..........motor in the back, different chassis........but hey they spelled the name the same :-)

Reiner

AnswerID: 216059