Freelander 1 VCU testing

I might be taking on my daughters FL1 sport which has had the VCU removed, and I am not convinced the person who did it knows why.

So, is it possible to test the VCU on the bench? And if so, how do I do it and what am I looking for?

Instinct says treat it like the one wheel up test, except clamp one end of the VCU in a vice and hang a lever of the other end. How long a lever, how much weight, and how long to drop down through how many degrees?

Rank Amatuer said:

Instinct says treat it like the one wheel up test, except clamp one end of the VCU in a vice and hang a lever of the other end.

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That's exactly how to do it.

Rank Amatuer said:

How long a lever, how much weight, and how long to drop down through how many degrees?

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Same weight, same lever length, same degrees of rotation. The only change will be the time, which would be reduced to about 1/6th of the OWUT time, IIRC.

Nodge68 said:

That's exactly how to do it.

Same weight, same lever length, same degrees of rotation. The only change will be the time, which would be reduced to about 1/6th of the OWUT time, IIRC.

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You are the man with all the answers. Thank you.

Without data, would it not be better to bolt it back on and test using a 1WUT?

If its been standing for a while, I'd run the tests a good few times before expecting the result to be true. I tested the parts car I bought which had been standing for quite a while - the 1WUT started at about 3 mins and after 6 or so tests came down to 2 minutes.

Yes, but, if the VCU is seized solid I'll wreck the transmission. . . won't I?

I think if the forces exerted by a 5kg weight wreck the transmission, then I think the transmission was toast anyway.

If you put the props/VCU back on, do the 1WUT and it shows the VCU to be overly tight - I think you'd have to be a bit of a numpty to then drive the car without taking the props back off!

I don't understand where you're coming from with "I think if the forces exerted by a 5kg weight wreck the transmission, then I think the transmission was toast anyway."

If I check the VCU on the bench and it's seized I wouldn't fit it, saving me the bother of fitting it, doing the 1WUT and taking it off again.

What I was aiming at was that if you don't know what times to expect doing it on a bench, then maybe the most reliable solution is to (temporarily) fit the props to the car and test it using a test where there is known data for good and bad results.

If yer VCU int bin turned fer months then turn it one full revolution. That's enough to get the fluid mixed round ready to do the OWUT.

If yer want to see how it reacts then don't turn it. Bench test it with OWUT test by only turning it as part of the timed test. Each time yer'll see the measured time reduce until it gives a stable repetitive result.

Bench test times over ere. Can't find me other list as on me phone.

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/yet-another-vcu-thread.310582/page-5#post-3933036

Reviving an old thread here. I've just removed my prop as the vcu was tightening up somewhat and a bearing has gone. A good friend of mine scrapped his FL1 a year or so ago but kept a load of bits, which he is kindly either donating to me or selling cheaply. Anyway, he has a prop and claims that the VCU and bearings are good. However, I'd like to give it a bench test before fitting it to the car and doing OWUTs as it's obviously an unknown entity and has been unused for some time. I'd like to potentially save the effort of fitting it, and then testing it and finding out it's had it. Obviously @Hippo's results here will prove helpful.

So my question is, how did peeps who've done a bench test rig it up? Some sort of clamp on the splines or a fabricated bracket that is bolted to the threaded hole for the UJ bolt?

Difficult to tell from the video because its so dark and poor quality, but it looks like Bells put 1 of the props in a vice.

They say they test it with a 780mm lever and 7.4kg weight.

The lever looks suspiciously like the other prop - but can't be cos there's no coupling to the diff on it.

If you rig it up like this then their video may give you an indication of how long a reasonable VCU takes.



As it has been standing for a while, I'd do a lot of tests to get any reasonable answer - assuming it turns!

In fact, is it @Alibro , that suggests putting a couple of levers/big screwdrivers in the UJs and move it by hand? Might be worth doing that before testing it.

GrumpyGel said:

Difficult to tell from the video because its so dark and poor quality, but it looks like Bells put 1 of the props in a vice.

They say they test it with a 780mm lever and 7.4kg weight.

The lever looks suspiciously like the other prop - but can't be cos there's no coupling to the diff on it.

If you rig it up like this then their video may give you an indication of how long a reasonable VCU takes.



As it has been standing for a while, I'd do a lot of tests to get any reasonable answer - assuming it turns!

In fact, is it @Alibro , that suggests putting a couple of levers/big screwdrivers in the UJs and move it by hand? Might be worth doing that before testing it.

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Like you say, you can't really see it in the video, but if they are using a section of the prop, presumably they have dismantled the uj and fabricated some means of welding it at 90 degrees.

kernowsvenski said:

Like you say, you can't really see it in the video, but if they are using a section of the prop, presumably they have dismantled the uj and fabricated some means of welding it at 90 degrees.

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They're definitely using a rear prop, and yes it has been modified to work the way it does.

GrumpyGel said:

Difficult to tell from the video because its so dark and poor quality, but it looks like Bells put 1 of the props in a vice.

They say they test it with a 780mm lever and 7.4kg weight.

The lever looks suspiciously like the other prop - but can't be cos there's no coupling to the diff on it.

If you rig it up like this then their video may give you an indication of how long a reasonable VCU takes.



As it has been standing for a while, I'd do a lot of tests to get any reasonable answer - assuming it turns!

In fact, is it @Alibro , that suggests putting a couple of levers/big screwdrivers in the UJs and move it by hand? Might be worth doing that before testing it.

Click to expand...

Yes I would try to turn it by hand using suitable large screwdrivers or similar. It shouldn't be easy but should be possible.
You still have the other one to compare it too.