Europa TCST

[TurboFource]

That’s what the sight glasses are for…to easily monitor things….if they leak like heck around town it is easy enough to go back to grease…..not sure that the 8 to 9 ounces of gear oil they hold is adding much weight…if I didn’t try it I would always wonder if I should have 

[cwtech]

They look good, Kraig !!

What weight gear oil did you use?   

Any concerns about pressure build-up blowing past seals or blowing the sight tube off?

I've seen pressure blow past seals in small gearboxes without vents.  ....There is a small pressure-relief fitting made by Alemite that vents pressure build-up but seals to prevent intake of dirt or water.   ....It installs at the highest point of the gearbox.  ....I believe I used 1/8" NPT fittings, but they may be available in other sizes.

[TurboFource]

The fitting on top is a vent CW. Not sure what weight gear oil I am going to use yet…open to suggestions.

[cwtech]

My choice would be SAE 90w or 80w90 if the fluid level is up to the axle shaft or it's center line.  ....Others may disagree.

Will the 3D printed parts deteriorate if exposed to leaking fluid? 
...Will synthetic lubes attack them?

[TurboFource]

Gear oil comes in a plastic bottle so I sure as heck hope not!!!

[jbcollier]

Olive oil burns at a low temp, so don't use that.

[Rainer]

Which material did you use to print the seal holders?

[TurboFource]

Rainer,
My son printed them, I will ask him.

[TurboFource]

PLA Rainer.

[cwtech]

Gear oil comes in a plastic bottle so I sure as heck hope not!!!

I am not a plastics expert and I don't know which plastics are used for 3D printing.

I do know that polycarbonate (Lexan) is degraded by petroleum products.

Most petroleum products are in polyethylene conainers.

[TurboFource]

I seem to find conflicting answers about PLA and oil resistance so I am going to soak one of the scrap parts
in gear oil for a few days and see what happens to it. These may be just mock up parts (I hope they work though!).

May switch to PETG...

[Rainer]

With PLA you will likely run into temperature problems.
Its a great Material and i use it for all my prototyping prints, but it starts to distort and soften around 60 degree C (around 140 F).
Happend to me several times when i left prints in the car at hot summer days.

I would use ABS, even if its sometimes a pita to print.
PETG is an alternative but make sure to print solid as PETG likes to shrink when heated.

[TurboFource]

Today's minor progress.....
- Shock mount and cross bracing installed
- Trailing arm bushings installed into chassis

[Certified Lotus]

I’ve been following your build Turbo. Nice work!

[TurboFource]

Thanks Certified!