Bit of history....Vaclav Knob - Perth-WRX.com

BALISTC · #1 30-03-2009, 07:42 PM

So I had a conversation with Jme last week regarding a particular moment in the history of PWRX, that sticks in most of the original members minds.

Two words: VACLAV KNOB.

Ramon knows the story better than me, but back in the day when gearbox upgrades for WRXs consisted of inferior Chalak/BPM/PAR dog boxes, PPG's that weren't as good as they are now, Mythical Ivan Albans gearset and the fabled Holinger (and that was all that was available, 6 speeds were unheard of), along comes Vaclav Knob.

Basically, we're talking about a Czech Republic manufacturer of gearsets, diffs and sequential shift mechanisms. Their Subaru gearsets had workmanship straight outta the Eastern Bloc, and their Engrish rivalled that of the Japanese.

I've searched and searched for the original pics, and all I can find on archive.org (the organisation who archives the internet and has been doing so since 1996), is the following. If any of the old school PWRXers have any of the original photos saved somewhere, please feel free to post them up. I'll try and find more of the original pics, heaps of thumbnails have been found in the archive but only one full size.

Quote:

Description:

Examples of used technology
Teeth
# mostly it is not used here common evolvent, milled gearings with standard modulus
# geometry of tooth curve is designed as special circle system which provides lower rolling-resistance force and higher strenght – it means lower losses and lower noise
# most stressed wheels – 2nd and 3rd gear are made by world unique technology as only 1 piece with reinforcement between them for the highest possible strenght and duarbility (Subaru)

Clutches and hubs
# dog engagment clutches are straight – it means 90° , this is enabled by using special patented self locking hubs which guarants best locking of engaged gear
# clutches hase only 5 teeth after 72° with great angular room
# this solution enables very easy engaging and disengaging with safe locked gears in drive
# lots of drivers shift this system under full power – it is easy and attrition of dog clutches is surprisingly very low – it provides you improvement of acceleration.

Separation gearbox spaces
# differential space and gearbox space are selected by sifter – in case of demage of one part could not be demaged anotherone

Subaru shifting
# Subaru hase troubles with shifting – sometimes driver could engage 2 gear together what could destruct the gearbox – our system is protected from that by modifiing shifting system
# Sequent shifting system for Subaru is under construction

All conditions mentioned above offer using the best quality and original system, which is competitive also in WRC races.
Still – when 1,5 year is this system runing in Subaru – no gearbox was not demaged by design or material defect, no one needs reparation.

So there you have it....when you hear someone bust out "Vaclav Knob", you know the story

Strubaru · #2 30-03-2009, 07:59 PM

ahhhhhh the candle heat treatment & angle ground gear comment all makes sense now

fukn lol & cheers for sharing joe

Fozzy · #3 30-03-2009, 08:01 PM

I <3 Vaclav Knob

BN01 · #4 30-03-2009, 08:14 PM

Thats much better when read with a Russian-type accent in mind

scoobygez · #5 30-03-2009, 08:17 PM

ha ha quality some one find piccys........

chee · #6 30-03-2009, 09:02 PM

haha. blast from the past!

teejay · #7 30-03-2009, 09:08 PM

LOL looks worse then the stock gearset

EXPLICIT · #8 30-03-2009, 09:57 PM

Awesome! Candle heat treating at its finest. Top work Guiseppe.

Rossco · #9 30-03-2009, 10:25 PM

Looks like a brand new Chrysler part.......Factory rust and sharp, jagged stress risers between the rear gear teeth = paper weight

Here's three prior failed attempts........ before they worked out steel was stronger than wood!

(Note the custom racing exhaust in the background)

dtrally · #10 30-03-2009, 10:29 PM

"straight – it means 90° , this is enabled by using special patented"

FAIL.