Sullivan "Tiger Drive"

and the Dynamite Mach.26

Fitting the Sullivan “Tiger Drive”

Proved to be more than just a simple few bolts here and there job

When the kit turned up after being flown across the Atlantic by the rather fantastic Tower Hobbies my initial reaction was happiness, no more yanking a dodgy pull start on my Mach. 26 converted T-Maxx 2.5, this kit was going to make things a lot easier. My enthusiasm was soon washed away when I discovered two problems that had the potential to really ruin my day.

After unwrapping all the bits I test fitted the supplied gear plate, to my horror the holes did not line up with the existing pull start holes. The gear plate has diagonally slotted holes that would fit any an engine back plate with holes from 39 to 45mm (measured diagonally) see Fig. 1 as the holes on the Mach.26 back plate measured 48mm between centers I clearly had a problem! No doubt this was caused by me only being able to obtain the S689 kit instead of the S691 which is designed for engines with a larger back plate and would probably fit perfectly. But what the heck I’m a fully trained fitter turner so the cure was to simply drill and tap some new holes in the back plate of the Mach.26 at 41mm between centers ensuring they cleared the machined surface of the crankcase see Fig.2 so now the gear plate fits the back plate perfectly, no problem anymore!

Fig. 1

Fig.2

Fig.3

Fitting the Sullivan “Tiger Drive”

Proved to be more than just a simple few bolts here and there job

Right now to the second problem, this is the one that I cannot fix myself (due to lack of a workshop, not a lack of ability) so I will be passing this on to a friend who works in a machine shop but basically the problem lies with the diameter of the (supposed 6mm) shaft supplied by Sullivan see Fig. 3 it actually measured 5.93mm and that’s just a tad to small to grab the attention of the one way bearing in the back plate so there is no way its ever going to turn the crank

Watch this space for updates on this shaft

11-06-05, Since having these problems I have been in contact with Sullivan. I must say they provide a top class support service the guy I contacted, Kevin Peryea, was brilliant he certainly new his stuff. to cut a long story short I will be ordering a S687 kit as it is not the best idea to attempt to fit a new shaft to the gear wheel. He also informs me that the problem of under sized shafts has now been fixed with all new shafts being dimensionally correct (nearer to 6mm)

Take the link to read the mailing between Kevin and myself Tiger mail

Note the S691 is not the correct kit for the Mach.26 and that it should be the S687 which comes with a special adapter plate

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