Elan tire jack

[poiuyt]

Does anyone know whether it is possible to get one of the original
jacks that came with the Elan? When I bought my 69 S4 it came with a
small scissor jack, but I understand it may be hard to get it under
the jacking point if the tire is flat.

I'd like to get the one designed for the car, if at all possible.

Thanks,

Steve B
1969 ELAN S4

[garyeanderson]

Don't worry about the original jack, cut a 2 foot long 4x4 block at
a sharp angle with a skill saw. Start at one end and put a mark at
the halfway point of the block. Now cut from one end and the opposite
of your mark to the mark, flip the block over and recut the other
side. You will now have a block that is chisel shaped. If you get a
flat, drive the Elan onto the block (the wheel with the flat) and
continue to lift the car with the sizzors jack. it is probably easier
to loosen the lug nut(s) first.
Gary
--- In ***@***.***, "Steve B" <mygti@o...> wrote:

[poiuyt]

Gary,

Great idea - don't know why I didn't think of that myself, as I use a
similar set of blocks as ramps to raise the front of my GTI (it has
been seriously lowered) when I change the oil.

On the subject of lug nuts, I have the aftermarket wheels with one
center nut and have never had to remove a wheel. The previous owner
gave me the wheel wrench and a steel bar that fits into the slot as a
lever. Question: how tight does the nut have to be?

Steve B.

--- In ***@***.***, "garyeanderson"
<garyeanderson@y...> wrote:

[garyeanderson]

Hi Steve
It's been discussed before here, but you may have trouble finding
it. I would guess that you have Panasport wheels and they tighten
differently than the stock steel wheels. The steel wheels have
some "spring" in them (lack of a better term) where your alloy wheels
tighten up and stop nearly as soon as the wheel nut touches the rim.
I would guess that if you stood on the end of the extention (and it
didn't bend) to tighten, you would not be far off (around 250 lb/ft).
I'm sure others will have something to add.

Gary
--- In ***@***.***, "Steve B" <mygti@o...> wrote:

[gjz30075]

Steve,
Sounds as if you have Panasport wheels. Are they multi spoked, like
a Minilite? If so, when removing or tightening that center nut, be
careful of the spokes. They bulge out and nicking them is too easy
to do. When tightening, do as Gary suggested: literally stand on
the bar. They need to be TIGHT!

Greg Z.
'72 Sprint, with two nicked spokes. Ouch!

[roadterror]

Hi guys!

Do the centre lock nuts/ spinners have to be really that tight? Thought they
were self tightening and having the correct handed thread was more
important.


Never tightened mine that tightly but do check at least once a week. No
problems, so far....

Cheers.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Zelazek" <***@***.***>

Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 12:01 AM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Re: Elan tire jack


Steve,
Sounds as if you have Panasport wheels. Are they multi spoked, like
a Minilite? If so, when removing or tightening that center nut, be
careful of the spokes. They bulge out and nicking them is too easy
to do. When tightening, do as Gary suggested: literally stand on
the bar. They need to be TIGHT!

Greg Z.
'72 Sprint, with two nicked spokes. Ouch!

[Arno Church]

I believe self tightening is a bit of a misnomer here - Non self loosening
is more apt


were self tightening and having the correct handed thread was more
important.

[LotuSport]

--- In ***@***.***, "Brian Chan" <brian72@p...>
wrote:

Hi, Brian -

Truly, "self tightening" should translate as "resistant to
loosening." The way it works (discussed at _great_ length here
some time ago) is that the tendency of the wheel when rotating
is to resist the nuts movement to loosen on the hub.

Yes, it really does need to be that tight. 250 lb/ft is not so
much for a thread that size, and remember that is the _only_
thing holding the wheel on! You're definitely doing the right
thing by checking them regularly.

Best regards,
Bob
_________________________
***@***.***

[poiuyt]

Thanks to all who answered.

What about using loctite to help kep them from getting loose. I
don't expect I'll be taking thm off too often.

Am I an optimist?

Steve B.

--- In ***@***.***, "Bob Metz" <lotusport@h...> wrote:

[poiuyt]

That's exactly what I have.

Steve B.


--- In ***@***.***, "Greg Zelazek" <gjz30075@b...>
wrote:

[LotuSport]

--- In ***@***.***, "Steve B" <mygti@o...>
wrote:

Yes, but you won't be an optimist for long if you Loctite them on!

The hub and nut should have thoroughly clean and dry threads when the
wheel is fitted. Use all the torque you can give the nuts (or hammer
on the spinners till they don't turn any more). It's unlikely that
you'll over-torque them if you do it manually. With your wheels, and
with the knock-on spinners, use some thin ply to protect the spokes.
It seems you're doing all the right things so far. At least the
wheels haven't fallen off. 8^)

Best regards,
Bob
__________________________
***@***.***

[elansprint71]

I hesitate before posting this.....

...... but unless all your drive pegs have fallen out, the wheels will be neither self tightening, or self loosening.

Off you go boys.

Pete

[simonknee]

You'll be watching yours passing by then Pete!!
I remember the pegs on mine not being that good a fit.
The vibration of one of the rears on the ol' plus 2 combined with a badly
re-lined peg hole caused it to come loose.
That made for a rather scary incident on the Wandsworth one way system!

Whack the f'er as hard as you can then whack it some more, was my approach.

Simon

_____

From: elansprint71 [mailto:***@***.***
Sent: Mon, Mar 08, 2004 22:04
To: ***@***.***
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] Re: Elan tire jack


I hesitate before posting this.....

...... but unless all your drive pegs have fallen out, the wheels will be
neither self tightening, or self loosening.

Off you go boys.

Pete






<>










_____

[elj221c]

Pete, they certainly do tighten up when the pegs fall out. It must
have happened to the PO some time before as when I bought the car the
nearside rear tyre was bald. When I came to remove the wheel to
change it it became obvious that the pegs had fallen out and the
spinner was impossible for me to move by hammering. I had to take the
car to the tyre shop for them to remove it. I didn't see what they
did and it's probably better that I didn't!
I have JAP sandcast wheels on my car and when they are correctly
tight the knock-ons exhibit a different and distinct sound when hit
with the hammer. I have never had one fall off.....yet!
Roy
'65S2

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

The workshop manual lists the torque spec for the nuts as 200-220 ft-lb.
This is roughly equivalent of a 180 lb man standing on the bar 14 inches
out, or a 130 lb woman standing on the bar 20 inches out.

Also with Panasports make sure the drive pegs are tight. More than one of us
on the list has had the pegs walk out of the hub when using panasports, and
when this happens on the rear the movement of the wheel can can loosen the
nut. Fortunately for me this was just after I got off the freeway and I was
two blocks from home so I could put the wheel back on and go slowly home.
The new pegs are now tight and a little spot weld is there to keep them from
moving.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI USA
(734)-971-5583
Cell (734)-604-9280
Email: ***@***.*** ***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending adventure.