Do we need new reverser handles with sheer point?

Discussion in 'Pit Buzz' started by Will Hanna, Jul 7, 2008.

  1. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    I brought this up a few months ago when Lee Callaway had a major transmission explosion off the line in his TAFC. Luckily, the front case didn't totally sheer off, it had 3-4" left holding it together.

    Yesterday, Dale Creasy suffered some pretty serious injuries to his legs from a major driveline explosion that lead to the reverser housing sheering off, which in turn sent the reverser handle freewheeling. The handle hurt his legs pretty bad. Tom Hoover and Bucky Austin have had similar incidents.

    Since his transmission incident, Callaway has talked to his chassis guy, Chuck Haase. Chuck wants to build a carbon reverser handle with a sheer point built in. I have heard that Hadman has already built such a handle.

    I just got off the phone with one fuel car owner, and they may be able to combat the problem somewhat by lowering the angle of the handle to keep it 'low' in the car, thus keeping it's potential radius down. The reverser is a lot further out than an alky car. With the transmission being back between the legs in an alky car, we don't have that option.

    The main concern in such a handle is that it doesn't become a blade if it does sheer. I would think a carbon handle would be less prone to sheer to a razor sharp point like a metal handle would.

    I'm throwing this out there to the racers, what's your thoughts.
     
    #1
    Will Hanna, Jul 7, 2008
  2. Ro Yale

    Ro Yale Member

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    Someone lost my reverser handle so I made one of carbon fiber. It's plenty strong but if it started spinning it would snap off. Pu:rolleyes:rely by accident that I did this.
     
    #2
    Ro Yale, Jul 7, 2008
  3. Worms

    Worms Member

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    I'm thinking about a cable operated deal like in a dragster.
     
    #3
    Worms, Jul 7, 2008
  4. Dave Germain

    Dave Germain New Member

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    I had a catastrophic transmission failure that blew it completely in half. Thankfully the Taylor motorsports blanket contained it. But what caught my attention was that if it had rotated the transmission as I have heard they do the shifter lines would have shredded my legs. They were braided stainless steel then. Now they are plastic. Sure they might burn, melt or blow up but they won't cut my legs off. Now the reverser handle? A complete different problem. Dave Germain
     
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    Dave Germain, Jul 8, 2008
  5. fc196cc

    fc196cc New Member

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    Reverser

    I have seen many types of reverse levers in my life, and it seems that for some reason you guys are having a competition to see who can make the biggest strongest most dangerous lever out there. My reverse handle is 3/8" thick and round, I have a bend in it that sends it to the top of the trans. We did not design it for safety, but for light weight and extra room in the drivers compartment. I look at it now and if it has pressure applied from the sides the lever will just bend up and around the trans hugging the blanket, No sharp edges and no extra broken projectiles in the car that could hurt the driver. Just for thought why do you guys use those big handles anyway you never have to pull or push hard on it, atleast you shouldn't.
    Matt
     
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    fc196cc, Jul 9, 2008
  6. Dennis Taylor

    Dennis Taylor Authorized Merchant

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    I will always run the reverser upside down. What I meen by this is the handle on the left side. If you have a failure and the trasmission rotates, you want the handle to bend over the transmission and not come from the right side and spear your leg.

    DT
     
    #6
    Dennis Taylor, Jul 9, 2008
  7. Bill Naves

    Bill Naves Member

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    reverser

    DT interesting theory, but I wonder...does anyone know if it breaks in a lower gear,will it rotate backward due to the sprag? Never thought about it before.
     
    #7
    Bill Naves, Jul 9, 2008
  8. Dennis Taylor

    Dennis Taylor Authorized Merchant

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    It will rotate the same direction as the engine is turning.
    DT
     
    #8
    Dennis Taylor, Jul 9, 2008
  9. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    good point

    good point Dennis. I've always thought putting the reverser that way was a good idea just to keep it from trying to throw it out of gear at the launch.

    still, i think it would be a lot better to have a sheer point if the handle does hit you rather than have it hit hard enough to bend whatever metal the handle is made out of break/bend. not to mention i've seen reverser handles made out of tubing. think how hard you would have to hit your leg with tubing or even aluminum to break or bend.

    the cable idea has merit, just some cars may not have room for an extra handle in the cockpit.
     
    #9
    Will Hanna, Jul 9, 2008
  10. tafccrewguy

    tafccrewguy New Member

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    How about a handle of some sort that once the car is backed up, you put it in forward and remove the lever.In top fuel the crew could take it out when the body is up.In alcohol,not sure of a good way.I dont think it would be hard for something like this to work.
     
    #10
    tafccrewguy, Jul 11, 2008
  11. Worms

    Worms Member

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    Yep, this sounds like the winner. Just would have to make sure that if it was refitted before you went over the scales that it was not counted as removeable ballast! ;)
     
    #11
    Worms, Jul 11, 2008
  12. Randy G.

    Randy G. Top Alcohol

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    Probably not, as you trypically have to finesse it or feel it into reverse.
     
    #12
    Randy G., Jul 11, 2008
  13. mark6052

    mark6052 Member

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    I put a cs2 in my car. its short and required a very long handle. looked like something out of my old pickup. sooo... I went with the cable idea. ( I thought I was the first) the handle is on the left but below the top rail. sofar so good.
     
    #13
    mark6052, Jul 11, 2008
  14. Woodchip

    Woodchip Top Alcohol Dragster

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    someone over at the mater posted about using an anti rotation device which I thought was an excellent idea.
     
    #14
    Woodchip, Jul 11, 2008
  15. Nathan Sitko - 625 TAD/TAFC

    Nathan Sitko - 625 TAD/TAFC TAD / TAFC

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    I was thinking about the same thing, we have to have one for the rear end, we sorta have ones for the can (blow-back tubes), why not the transmission?
     
    #15
    Nathan Sitko - 625 TAD/TAFC, Jul 11, 2008
  16. Dave Germain

    Dave Germain New Member

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    removable reverser handle

    I had a removable reverser handle. It wasn't intentional. Have you ever noticed they have a spring loaded detent and if you don't put a bolt into the shaft from the end the detent will eventually push the handle off the shaft. Imagine my surprise in a final round once where after the burnout I was flailing around trying to find the damn lever, it had falled off. My point is -I tried removable and it sucked- Dave Germain
     
    #16
    Dave Germain, Jul 13, 2008
  17. Tony Garanzuay

    Tony Garanzuay Jr. Dragster

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    Anti Rotational Device

    My recommendation is to install an antirotational device on the tail end of the transmission. We now have a heavy 3-speed transmission that is swinging around on a flexible titanium can that is putting extreme loads on the can; the alignment clearances on the driveshaft to coupler are being stressed; not to mention the input loads created by such a mass suspended on the end of the can/engine itself. I've seen the sheet metal covering the output cover of the reverser bent up sufficiently to cause one to wonder how much the chassis is really flexing or is the transmission being wound up in an out of control circular motion causing it to hit the flimsy sheet metal cover. I've seen what a loose transmission can do to your legs and it isn't worth the weight saving of an antirotational device on the rear end of transmission. The injury to or loss of one more racer's leg is not worth it, no matter how infrequently it has occurred.
     
    #17
    Tony Garanzuay, Jul 14, 2008

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