Hi Guys,
As some of you know i'm going to be driving the new THR 250 at the British Superkart GP this year and i received some info from them today that they wanted me to pass on to the Australian Competitors.
The first prototype engine was on the dyno this week and so far has shown good promise in both performance and reliability. The first prototype is a THR barrel and head that fits on to the standard Honda CR250 bottom end and Crank; which means standard bore and standard stroke. This engine, in this configuration, will be on a private test track later this week.
Once they have the first prototype sorted out the next test will involve the new crank and piston. This will make the Honda a square bore motor. The same barrel and head from prototype 1 will be used in prototype 2 just modified to accept the new bore and stroke.
Once the second prototype is sorted they will then manufacture their own cases and once added the new THR will be complete.
All three stages will be available to purchase when the engine goes on the market so that those who wish to upgrade their Honda do not have to do a complete upgrade all at once, it can be done in stages. The first stage is the Barrel and head, the second stage is the new crank and then the third stage is the new cases.
When the guys at THR give me more information i'll post it on here for you all to see. Prices are unknown at the moment and the guys want to make sure the first price they give is the right price.
For anyone interested here is a video of Kevin Busby, one of the two guys who make up THR, in an interview with Mediasuperkart about their new engine.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gcxoypxU84&list=UUhHmwRf7IZRNcp7_JZYf6LA&index=2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gcxoypxU84&list=UUhHmwRf7IZRNcp7_JZYf6LA&index=2[/url]
Cheers,
Doug.
Comments17
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine (pictures)
How did they go at the latest tests?
Do you know if they intend to add the power valve as the casting appears to have this capability.
Regards
Allan.
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine (pictures)
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Air boxes should be available now, however changes to carb set up can not be given until more testing is done. As soon as the new THR 42mm carbs have been run and tested they will also be available.
Feel free to ask any questions.
I'd also like to add that with the release of the VM carbs recently it's great to see some new manufacturers getting behind the sport and making these products, more choice for us can only be good for the sport.
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Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
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Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
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Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Feel free to ask any questions.
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Got a cost for airbox?
A ball park cost for 42mm carbs?
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Exact prices aren't set yet, I should have a ball park figure by the end of the week for you though.
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Carbs will be £600.00+vat +shipping, the carbs come as you see in picture except they will fit fuel nozzle and air screw for you. You will need an old delorto to swap your bits over or you can buy new. THR will give you a basic setting for single or twin.
The air box will be around £1500.00, however that price is not set, they are still waiting on mould costs and those sort of things. They will be available in Carbon fibre or fibre glass.
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
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Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Sorry for the delay on the updates, lots has been happening at THR it's just that their australian correspondant has been rather lazy. If you would like to see more pictures of the THR or follow what their up to they now have a facebook page [url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/THR-Engineering/728450447251277]https://www.facebook.com/pages/THR-Engineering/728450447251277[/url]
For anyone wanting to enquire about an engine or purchase products from THR (remember you don't have to purchase the whole engine) can now contact them at thr.engineering@gmail.com
Since my last update THR have purchased a second team kart that they now use as a try before you buy option. There are some very good lease packages available to Australian drivers who are will to make the trip to England to race. I've done it myself and i can tell you that it's a great experience, their an awesome team to race for and that engine is great!
Now with two karts running they have twice the data coing in so development is full steam ahead.
There are some videos available for anyone interested including one of the THR winning the class at Donnington.
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQkQuoVjOZw&feature=youtu.be]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQkQuoVjOZw&feature=youtu.be[/url]
The piston troubles have been sorted for THR with WISCO making them a lovely fresh batch. The new pistons they've found are allowing more revs and their finding more power on the dyno and the track without losing any of the curve or the reliability. Everyone that has driven it so far is amazed by the mid range power of the engine and you can even see it in the video above, it pulls like a train. Some competitors are even running the THR pistons in other 250 single and evo motors as a cheaper alternative with great success. THR also now make head inserts for different engines so that you can run their pistons. Their pistons are priced as low as a third of the cost of some of their competitors.
Ancillary problems have plagued THR this year with broken coil wires, snapped chains, being punted off, faulty cooling systems and all of the other things that come with racing superkarts. But hopefully 2015 will be a better year, they are certainly starting a long way ahead of where they did this year.
Still waiting on a race report from Le Mans and as soon as i have more i will post it here for you all.
So who will be the first with a shiny new THR in Australia? (i know their not legal yet before some idiot gets up on his soap box to remind me)
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Watching the youtube video of Lemans there is some good footage of the DEA vs the THR looks like the DEA has some more punch and top end but not much in it on the lap times i see. Looks like they are both heading in the right direction however just how much better are they than a Quick set up Honda? Im sure there is a bit of interest over here in seeing how these engines are going and developing before they get passed to race here i dont know why there is a hold up for that seeing you can run a 6 speed gas gas here against the Yams and Hondas but anyway keep up the good reporting.
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
The major difference in the DEA and the THR at Lemans is the drivers, the DEA driver is a very good and experienced steerer, where as Julian is just finishing his first full season in superkarts. There are rumors that THR have one of the top British drivers coming on board next year for a few races so that should give a better indication of where they sit against the DEA. Going by the lap times from lemans though i would say there isn't much between the engines.
Other reports from Lemans is that they were trying some new carby settings that were found to be very wrong in two of the three THR's there, but the third driven by julian was the fastest of the singles over the weekend and even qualified 12th amongst the twins if i'm correct.
At the moment there isn't a whole lot of difference in the honda and the evos, except you buy equipment direct from the manufacturer produced specifically for superkarting. They are in the long run going to be more reliable and easier to support, i also beleive they will, given the same amount of development time as the hondas, be more powerful. just my opinion though. I saw the numbers the THR made on the dyno before the GP last year, i have an incling that they will make more power ;)
I'm not sure of the hold up either, but i'm sure in time it will be sorted, despite the remaining resistance of a few.
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
The engine is currently being registered with the CIK, so it will be eligible to compete here in Australia once that process is completed (if you would like to discuss the registration of these engines i would ask that you please start another thread).
As for the THR 250 engine, with the new THR carb and exhaust the team have found a considerable amount of extra horsepower for the coming season. There is also an experimental carb that will be trialed in the next few weeks that could see even more gains for the team.
I'm trying to convince the guys at THR to loan me a few parts so i can take them out to the track and show people what THR is all about, so watch this space and hopefully we can all see the boys handy work in person shortly.
Remember if you have any questions you can always contact them on thr.engineering@gmail.com or you can contact me directly either through here or the QLD superkart club.
Cheers,
Doug.
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
By considerable amount of extra horsepower, how much do you mean?
Regards
Allan.
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Re: THR 250cc EVO engine and products
Sorry about the lack of updates recently, it seems moving to the middle of nowhere takes a lot of time away from things like superkarting. Anyway, Nick and Kevin At THR wanted me to give you an update on where the're at with their engine at the moment.
It appears the extra power they found on the dyno in my last post simply didn't convert to power on the track so it's been back to the drawing board since then. The're making small progress with different carbies and pipes but progress is slow at the moment. The GP was not a succesful weekend for the team at THR with their latest pipe taking them in the wrong direction. It's all data though and everything they collected over the weekend is helping them move foward. The offical word from kevin Busby goes as follows-
"THR are pushing ahead with developments we have head insert and piston kit for Gas Gas as run by Roy Bennett for £185.00 which is legal. Pistons only cost £ 130.00 .
we are working on some new homologation pieces for next year, testing at Nogaro for the first time. On the dyno we get good results like the pipe work we did but on track it seems to not show as with the carbs but Don is still using the carb and it is improving but very slowly. Jason dredge has one of our engines and is being run by Rob walkinshaw they are doing their own thing with assistance from us and showed good pace at Snett on a 39mm at Donny they put their own 42mm dellorto on but struggled to get the settings right. Apart from that we keep pushing on but it’s hard with no track time and only two weeks between races."
We'll see what comes of the test at Nogaro next weekend and hope that maybe some time soon we can see a THR here in Australia.
If you have any questions, let me know.