This techline article doesn't mean that its warrenty work. That would have been a TSB.

It just means people can get the part repaired and still maintain their cars under stock class rules.

 

Excerpt from the fourth paragraph of chapter 13 of the Solo2 rules...

"All manuals, catalogs and official documentation must be for non-competition purposes."

And from the TSB...

"This problem only occurs to vehicles that have been driven repeatedly on a racetrack or in autocross events."

Thus, it can be inferred that Honda issued this TSB for competition purposes only. It can also be argued that this applies to any car that has been used in competition and that the repair is valid for the street also, but I don't want to have to take this TSB to a protest committee or an appeals committee to see how they read it.

Andy H.

 

Weren't some people weiding another peice of metal in there to help keep the bracket on the frame? Ie: wasn't that the originally suggested fix on the board performed by most everyone. The TSB simply says you must re weild the bracket. It doesn't mention adding support to it. And according to shaggy thats even protestable. Anyhow wouldn't that mean that all the cars that had the previous fix are illegal? If so thats not good news.

 

mine was repaired like listed in the honda article.

 

The reference to autocross is not a problem. Neither is the fact that it isn't a recalll or done for free.

As an approved repair procedure it has standing woth the SCCA. But as mentioned, this one claifies what is not legal, not what is.

Adding extra braces or thickener pieces is now clearly not legal, becasue they are not authorized in the bulletin.

Technically it also disallows TIG which could do a better job in the hands of a skilled welder. But that's a minor issue, and it would be difficult to tell the difference from light MIG by inspection painted repair.

It says you may repair by welding the bracket to the frame rail. No one really doubted that this would be the case. But the question was and remains how. This does not say continuous, 1 in 3, through the spot, or anything else, so no resolution of the question.

It also does not say you can MIG over a crack propagating in frame or bracket, though that is so obvious I'm sure it would be considered legal if that's all that was done. But before and after pictures would be good documantation.

Crash bolts are not a good comparison, because they and associated grinding allowances have been written into the rules: (Maybe it's relevant to discussing what should be in tthe rules on bracket repair, but what should be doesn't help a protest committee since they rule only on what the rules say now.)

appendix F, stock category clarifications
SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT
The Stock category suspension adjustment allowances do not allow
non-factory-authorized use of eccentric or smaller bolts. Factory
authorized crash repair methods may only be applied to the extent needed
to restore the suspension to within it specified range of adjustment. The
crash repair methods referred to would include such methods as frame,
unibody or suspension component straightening (bending) or unlimited
grinding of attachment holes. Section 13.8 does allow the use of factory
authorize methods of adjustment for non-competitive use which have a
specific, physical limit. Examples would include the alternate size bolts
authorized by VW for the Golf and the grinding of strut mounting holes to
a specific dimension authorized by GM for J-cars. Any alignment
specifications resulting from these authorized methods are allowed.


13.8 SUSPENSION (stoick category)
(paragraphs omitted)...
If authorized by the manufacturer, the use of shims, special bolts, removal
of material to enlarge mounting holes, and similar methods are allowed
and the resulting alignment settings are permitted even if outside the
normal specification or range of specifications recommended by the
manufacturer. If enlarging mounting holes is specifically authorized but
no material removal limits are specified, material removal is restricted to
the amount necessary to achieve the maximum factory alignment
specification.

Gregg

 

Driven repaetedly on a racetrack could mean Drivers Edge and similar untimed events which are pointedly billed as non-competition. It says "or" so I think you are OK on this point.

Gregg

 

Cool. All that effort paid off and we should have all the documentation necessary in the event of a protest to prove the car is legal.

Thanks everyone who helped get this done (both publicly and privately).

See everyone in Topeka

Brad

 

Gregg,

My point of contention with the TSB is the use of the word "only" in referrence to off-highway use of the vehicle. If it had said "usually" or "typically" it would still leave the possibility that the bracket failure could be caused by normal use on public highways.

Its all we've got, so I guess we all take it to Topeka with us. It describes the repair that I have, so I can't really complain about having a TSB.

Andy H.

 

Andy, I think the question is
"What is the purpose of the TechLine Bulletin?"
NOT
"What is the cause of the failure described in the TechLine Bulletin?"

I think it's fair to say that the purpose of the TechLine Bulletin is to get the car repaired so that it can be used, either on the street or on the track. As such, I believe the TechLine Bulletin is for non-competition purposes. I agree it's a fine line and you're pretty much tossing the dice in front of the protest committee.

 

[QUOTE=shaggy,Aug 22 2004, 07:07 PM] "This problem only occurs to vehicles that have been driven repeatedly on a racetrack or in autocross events."

Thus, it can be inferred that Honda issued this TSB for competition purposes only.