As I am typing this my 4.57 gears are on their way.
For a while I have been reading as much as I can about it.
One question about the break-in.
Richmond states that excessive heat build-up after a new install softens the teeth.
So you have to drive it & let it cool down, the break-in heat cycle, for 3 times.

Is it just the temerature that is important?
If so, is it possible to pre-heat cycle the parts in an oven at (lets say) 80C-100C?

If not, why not?
Thinking out loud: it is the force of the teeth sliding-pushing against eachother that generate the heat so they need to be used as gears for the heat cycle.

I'm only thinking about it because the distance from the place where they are going to install the gears to my home is a bit more then the recommended 10 miles. Not much, its 14 miles. But it will be the first drive after install.
I'm probably a bit to concerned but I want this to be successful.

 

you should try to stick to the 10 mile 30 minute heat cycles as best you can. you can't "cook" the gears and expect them to breakin correctly. the entire purpose of the heat cycles, is to get the gears "meshing" and set together, working correctly. the gears will soften as you first use them, which is why the heat cycle is so important to breakin. done incorrectly, you can suffer premature R&P failure.

 

This heat cycling procedure makes me wonder if we all should have heat cycled our OEM gears when we took delivery of our new S2K's. Mine only had 7 miles on it when I took delivery. Are they heat cycled at the factory? Thoughts?

 

Do you think 14 miles instead of 10 is going to be a problem?
I will let it cool down for an hour (or more if I have to) afterwards.
Or "the damage is done" after more then 10 miles?
Just asking your - or anyone else's - opinion.
Richmond states : approximately 10 miles.

 

i think your over thinking the extra 4 miles.

 

i dont think 14 will be a problem, but unfortunately, no one here can give you the definitive answer, since richmond is really the only ones who have done the proper metallurgy and testing on their gearsets

 

cryo the gears

 

would the 4.44 be as loud as the 4.57 or the 4.7 ??????

 

I think your thinking way too much into that 4 miles. You should be fine driving it moderately... if you are really that paranoid I would suggest you take a lunch break during that 10 mile stretch.

 

Yes, the point is heat cycle the gears before you drive them hard/long. The idea is to heat up the gears, let them cool down until cold and repeat. The new bearings and new gears generate alot of heat during the break in cycle. Remember your motor is up to Vtec temp in less then 2 miles.

But you should be fine with 14 as long as you are not racing from Stoplight to stoplight.