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| Statement FromMclaren about Heikki's crach | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 8 2008, 01:29 PM (249 Views) | |
| u4coffee | May 8 2008, 01:29 PM Post #1 |
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Just Married
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During the recent Spanish Grand Prix a new front wheel on Heikki car failed on lap 22. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and its Official Supplier of wheels have now conducted a thorough technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the failure. It has been established that, owing to a process fault during manufacture, the outer clamp surface of the wheel was given a clear lacquer coating. As a consequence of this fault, the clamp load that attached the wheel was not to specification. In running, the consequent loss of load caused the wheel to fret and distort, leading to its eventual failure. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and the wheel supplier have now established new procedures designed to prevent a re-occurrence of this issue. www.mclaren.com |
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| Norbert | May 8 2008, 01:37 PM Post #2 |
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"It has been established that, owing to a process fault during manufacture, the outer clamp surface of the wheel was given a clear lacquer coating." Is this Ronspeak for 'Some tit the painted wheel incorrectly'....? |
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| u4coffee | May 8 2008, 01:42 PM Post #3 |
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Just Married
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I think so.. "Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and the wheel supplier have now established new procedures designed to prevent a re-occurrence of this issue." Means they've fired the tit who did it
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| Norbert | May 8 2008, 01:51 PM Post #4 |
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Apparently his name was Alonso...... |
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| Alien_SAP_Fiend | May 8 2008, 02:29 PM Post #5 |
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Chief Engineer
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Ahh, Ronspeak(tm) |
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| Morpun94 | May 8 2008, 03:28 PM Post #6 |
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morpun94
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i might be being a compleate idiot here, but would painting the wheel in the wrong stuff cause it to fail? I cant imagine i would design a wheel so part of its structural integrety relied on its laquer, paint, whatever? |
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| Norbert | May 8 2008, 04:25 PM Post #7 |
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I would assume that the wheel rim and hub are different assemblies, and that the 'clamp area' is where they are joined. Clamp implies that is is merely an interference fit rather then a weld/adhesive/rivet/stud job, and therefore it is possible that the wrong finish on the surface might affect the strength of the joint. The corner that Heikki crashed at was one of the higher g-force generating ones on the circuit after all.... |
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| everythingoes | May 9 2008, 05:58 AM Post #8 |
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My guess was that Ron wanted shiny wheels ......
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| Norbert | May 10 2008, 07:33 PM Post #9 |
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Well, whatever happened, the car was clearly knackered by the clearly laquered wheel.... |
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