The Lotus Grand Tourers

Want to check my timing after doing my valve clearances. Have a strobe light which connects to the battery. What is the best way to connect it. Not a problem on cars with batteries in the front. The negative connection is not a problem as any good earth will do. The red positive cable that runs the length of the car could be used I guess? Where does this appear in the engine compartment ? is it at the starter motor? Otherwise I suppose it's easier just to get a long wire and attach it to the positive side of the battery and run it to the front of the car. What is everyone else doing to check their timing

Yes under the airbox, on starter motor solenoid, is my feed of choice.

Virtually impossible to see the timing markings without bonnet off

Robert

Thanks for the answers - will give it a go over the week end. Got to be a way of making the bonnet quicker to take off. Every job you do needs the bonnet off and its such a pain to inch those allen screws out. Anyone got a quicker way
Guy at the lotus club - Litchfield has a Elan with a quick release bonnet - tucks the whole thing under his arm while he tells you about the engine

Hi Tanz

I have a flexible drive screwdriver with square end just put on appropriate allen head and 2 secounds and its off hope this helps

Gary

Mine's been off & on a good few times and I've found that a bit of copper slip on the threads has made it easy to undo the nuts with fingers once they have been slackened off half a turn.

Standard bolts and a tube spanner. On and off in a flash

Thanks again for the replies,

The previous owner helped me out with one of the allen screws. There is a screw driver perminently wedged into the end of the allen screw. I had a picture somewhere but can't find it

Edited

Just found the old thread complete with pic
http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... rew+driver

Maybe I should wedge another one in the other side

Checked the timing yesterday. Had to buy a new timing light as my old one wuz bost.

Connected it as earlier posts ie to the red cable on the starter - worked a treat

Timing was a mile out after doing the valve clearances - close to TDC at hot idle. If I am reading the manual correctly (and it is a bit confusing with this spec and that spec) it should be set at 10 degrees BTDC at hot idle I have set it at 10 and the performance is much improved especially from a standing start - no flat spot when I put my foot down

Is 10 degrees correct

Hi phil

yes 10 degrees BTDC is correct at hot idle