My Argento 360

[Modificato]

Work and other commitments mean I haven’t picked up the part yet but looking into it a bit further I can’t see it working....and TBH it’s a bit of a bodge/sticking plaster which I’d struggle with.

So I see three options....

1. Leave alone for now. It seems to be common and working perfectly.

2. Remove the actuator and send for a rebuild.
There’s a question with that though.....who to?
There’s a guy in Didcot who offers the service for a comparatively reasonable price. I spoke to him a while back and he seemed very knowledgable but I’ve no direct feedback on his rebuilds. I can call again though and see how long they’ve been in the field.

3. Take some brave pills and take it apart myself and replace the faulty seal (and any others that I can source).
I’ve done plenty of this type of stuff before in a previous life (Mike D (swynradar) once called me...a “fitter with a handbag” which isn’t that unfair, but he knows the truth ;)).

The rebuild services are quite expensive but that is because of set-up costs for low volume work and they have to stand-by the service whereas I don’t.

Good advice I’ve had is leave alone but I can’t help think this could be a reseal. My time is free and I could still go 3 then 2 if I fail......

When I’m researching I generally look for images/patent drawings rather than read material that might be wrong but there is an absolute vacuum on info out there.....

Decisions?....

Try looking at Alfa Selespeed system as that is the origin and where all the patents are. There are also a few Alfa Selespeed anoraks who no doubt can help you.

[Mike01606]

I can vouch for Simon Stoj. He's a good chap and knows the F1 system well.

Yes Simon is the guy I spoke to a while back and he was very helpful.
I was going to buy a faulty used unit to have a look at then potentially to get him refurb it but he advised against that particular one.

Try looking at Alfa Selespeed system as that is the origin and where all the patents are. There are also a few Alfa Selespeed anoraks who no doubt can help you.

Even though the 360 actuator has selespeed on the dust cap the actuator is quite different to the Alfa and Fiat group units although many of the hydraulic power system parts and controls are shared eg pump, accumulator and SV’s.
I’ve found plenty of general info but nothing useful to date on the actuator itself.

I’ll keep looking as the winter is long and thanks for the responses.....


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[Mike01606]

Slow progress.....too many Christmas parties [emoji6]

I’ve spent a bit of time cleaning the engine off and making a parts list of the bits I want to change.

I’ve also pulled the gear position data from the TCU and created a gear position grid from it.

I changed up and down the box logging the engagement and selection positions.
Think of them as x and y coordinates on a graph.
Selection across the gate is along the x axis and engagement into the gears is along the y axis.
The TCU knows where the automated ‘stick’ (the actuator) is from the two sensors which give a value between 0 and 950.
So for each gear there is an x (selection), and y (engagement) coordinate e.g.





From these you can plot a grid of the gears positions. I repeated up and down and the positions a very repeatable. It also shows that the damp sensor is working perfectly.



There are also limits in the TCU which are set as part of the self-learn procedure.
The software I have doesn’t have the best descriptors but it is easy enough to work out which is which.
Here’s a couple of examples.





I added these to the grid as yellow boxes. They define the threshold of each gear position.

I’ve done this as it gives me good baseline data if I disturb the actuator.
Even though I should have the ability to trigger a self-learn, I’ve never tested it.

The sensor spacer did turn up and with a simple mod I can route oil away from the sensor. If I do nothing else I will at least do that.

[MWStewart]

Good work, Mike.

FYI the min/max secure are static values set from new and are the physical design limits of the actuation assembly.

The aim of the self-learn process is to calculate the offset of the actuator on the X and Y axis as installed on the gearbox. Although it is dowelled, I suspect it's more to cover wear and/or production tolerances.

[Mike01606]

Good work, Mike.

FYI the min/max secure are static values set from new and are the physical design limits of the actuation assembly.

The aim of the self-learn process is to calculate the offset of the actuator on the X and Y axis as installed on the gearbox. Although it is dowelled, I suspect it's more to cover wear and/or production tolerances.

Good info and it explains the very wide tolerance or window.

The reason I’d thought they were part of the self learn is that they’d changed from a previous SD2 print out I have but thinking about it, that was a different TCU......

I should also point out that anything I write isn’t verified it’s just me trying to suss it out.

What I can say it is a very impressive system when you realise what it is doing in such a fast and sequential way.

Thanks again Mark..........M


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[Kyodo]

What I can say it is a very impressive system when you realise what it is doing in such a fast and sequential way.

Indeed
Thanks for the insight Mike.

[Mike01606]

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning although pics won’t show it.....

Cats tonight.

Before and after.





I haven’t the bottle to use Terry’s thermonuclear option. I just used a fairly mild acid based cleaner with a small stainless steel wire brush and wire wool to remove the brown tarnish and rust along the seams and wiped off. I’ll polish next and they’ll be sorted [emoji106]


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[Nosevi]

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning although pics won’t show it.....

Cats tonight.

Before and after.

I haven’t the bottle to use Terry’s thermonuclear option. I just used a fairly mild acid based cleaner with a small stainless steel wire brush and wire wool to remove the brown tarnish and rust along the seams and wiped off. I’ll polish next and they’ll be sorted [emoji106]

Looks great already, Mike

Exactly which cleaner did you use? Some day I'll get around to doing this to the old cats and exhaust which came off my car. Only been saying that for 5 or so years......

[Mike01606]

Looks great already, Mike

Exactly which cleaner did you use? Some day I'll get around to doing this to the old cats and exhaust which came off my car. Only been saying that for 5 or so years......

Raceglaze Alubright Pete.....I don’t want them mirror just flat stainless.

Manifolds next but that’s after the gearbox comes out....


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[Nosevi]

Raceglaze Alubright Pete.....I don’t want them mirror just flat stainless.

Thanks