Lotus Elite / Eclat / Excel

Sounds like good Idea Richard. I'd be up for that. Ideas wise, tying in a factory visit would be amazing if feesable!

Regards
Shaun

Great, thanks chaps. Looks like I'll need to buy a small torque wrench and a digital measuring tool. Pete, your method of measuring the turning torque is more or less what I had in mind but I must admit I hadn't considered the need to add the length of the molegrips! Obvious now you've mentioned it ...

Pete /Bash I found the preload procedure online on a Ford Sierra Cosworth forum. Can I just check that this is same as the procedure in the Lotus service notes: 1. Centralise steering rack and assemble yoke and spring into pinion 2. Coat thread of yoke with Loctite 542 , tighten plug to 3.4 - 4 nm u...

bash wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 23, 2020 09:14

Empirically adjusted !!! I will have to remember that one.
Bash

I had to look that up

Just checked the readout results from when the tracking was done after the new rack was installed. Left and right wheels both well within specified range for caster and cross caster bang in the middle of specified range. Toe is bang on too.

Shaun

You will have to remove the rack to do this properly. You need to be able to measure the turning torque on the pinion and that's going to be difficult with the rack in situ. You also need to measure the turning torque throughout to full travel of the rack bar ideally, or at least at it's stiffest p...

I made a similar tool - not sure where it is now. If I can find it you can borrow it Shaun - it's 28mm A/F. The threaded cup is supposed to be sealed in place with thread sealant at reassembly. The rack adjustment is covered quite well in the Service Notes - do you have a copy Shaun? Pete That woul...

That will be these bits then. The big welded nut and bolt is the 'special tool' that I made https://r49rjw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4m7-q2KqwbOTzrc3F9MGtFSSAjugwF-Xb43SyywuClD3URNxA_k3ozW6w2EQWMiURRUPx4I3JfmQHXp27ZolY68tzw006Ds8x1VjDqXrHxopLARAcTrLXxq8vjQfE8_idTAmcEjhiISLPQG7ujps2V5sWxNNJRxz6F33RfLAejyls...

Steering rack preload. Anyone know how to go a out checking this? I know the principle ( big nut which adjusts spring loaded tension on the rack) but how do you adjust it and what tools do you need?

Shaun

Holbourn steering pump in great condition mechanically and cosmetically. No leaks and it is working to spec.

£50.00 plus postage (around £10) or can be collected from Hants.

Regards
Shaun

Looks like you had good weather for it . Hopefully next year we'll all be there again, me and Carol certainly missed it this year.
Shaun

Pete Boole wrote: I'd be surprised if you need new gears - it's the other bits on the shafts that often cause the problem - synchro/dog rings. Defo worth putting some very good synthetic oil in there as a starting point though - may just help the synchro rings engage more fully in the first place. ...

Isn't there a serious risk of giving water yet another route into the car? For the rare occasions (hopefully) I'll be struggling to access, I think I'll stay with the Lotus position. Tony A well fitted grommet should remove the risk i would have thought? Incidentally the other option ( as i found o...

DavidOliver wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:26

As posted some time ago, the clutch (and brake) master cylinders can be better accessed if you drill a large hole in the fibreglass bulkhead
inmediately above the cylinders. This does not affect body strength.

Dave the cog.

Any chance of a picture of that mod Dave?
Shaun

Do the Protecs have rubber or poly bushes?

Shaun