Plus Two Hood Release

["Steve Semeraro"]

About a year ago, I had my engine rebuilt. The guy who did it adjusted my hood/bonnet release cable so that it worked great. Pull the release; let the bonnet drop; push in the release and turn to lock. It was a dream. In replacing the dash, I had to remove the cable, and I am having trouble getting it to work correctly. The left hand locking mechanism (looking forward), which is the one closest to the pull on the LHD US car works fine, but the one on the right side does not open well enough. I had a similar problem when I first bought the car. Being mechanically challenged, I'm having trouble visualizing the necessary adjustment. Can anybody help me out?

Many thanks.

Steve Semeraro
1972 Lotus Elan Plus 2S 130

[Foxie]

Steve,

One possibility is that the inner cable is sticking in the outer. Try some WD40 and operate the cable pull with someone to pull back at the opposite end. Repeat until free !

Sean Murray
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Semeraro
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 8:26 PM
Subject: [LotusElan.net] Plus Two Hood Release


About a year ago, I had my engine rebuilt. The guy who did it adjusted my hood/bonnet release cable so that it worked great. Pull the release; let the bonnet drop; push in the release and turn to lock. It was a dream. In replacing the dash, I had to remove the cable, and I am having trouble getting it to work correctly. The left hand locking mechanism (looking forward), which is the one closest to the pull on the LHD US car works fine, but the one on the right side does not open well enough. I had a similar problem when I first bought the car. Being mechanically challenged, I'm having trouble visualizing the necessary adjustment. Can anybody help me out?

Many thanks.

Steve Semeraro
1972 Lotus Elan Plus 2S 130

[lotuselan2]

Steve
If Sean's WD-40 does not work, there is an adjustment on each side. The is
a jam not to lock the adjustment and a long thread on the adjuster. If it
is locking but not unlocking, then you will need to adjust it some. The
adjustment effectively lengthens the outer cable so the inner one has to
start moving the lever. With your pull handle in the normal position, keep
adjusting until the lever just starts to move, than back off a half turn.
Lock it with the jam not.
Ken
'69 +2 with BDR

p.s. Funny(?) story here, I was doing some repairs to the hood/bonnet and
the cable came undone and it was impossible to get the hood open!! I went
through some funny contortions trying to reach up from under the car to try
and push those levers. Wife finally opened it by popping the latch with a
clip board between hood and cowl. I'm sure there are a few ugly stories
like that out there? I bet someone has a simple answer on how it can be
opened.

[BenL]

I can't remember where I saw it, but someone has instructions online
for how to make a pair of wooden emergency bonnet releases. They were
tapered with a slot so they'll fit around the cable.
---Ben Levy

[jopalm]

Perhaps this link?

http://www.lotuselan.net/publish/hood_tool.shtml

[BenL]

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 23:10:28 -0700, John Palmer <***@***.***> wrote:


Yup, that's the one.
---Ben Levy