Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Can anyone provide me with the correct length of the proper choke cable for an S1 with webers? As I understand it, the choke cable is only attached to one carb. I have read that many do not use the choke (nor do I) but I would like to have the cable installed in my car for the sake of period accuracy (my car did not come with a choke cable).

Certified Lotus wrote: As I understand it, the choke cable is only attached to one carb. .

I could be wrong but I thought it was attached to both choke levers with weber carbs but with Delorto's (Sprints) it is only attached to the rear carb which then has a solid wire connecting that lever to the front lever....i.e. both choke levers are operated together .....well that's how my cars are set up.

My S2 has the cold start (choke) cable attached to both Webers. It runs through a hollow-bolt-with-locknut cable clamping device (there must be a real name for this) on the rear carb and continues to the front carb where it's attached with the same.

Art

Art and Brain are right. Inner is connected to both carb levers, outer shield terminates at the rear carb.

I don't know the length but suspect they are different for LHD and RHD. So you might want to confirm which yours is, presumably LHD given the location but you never know (I have a RHD in the US...)

Yes, LHD. Anyone willing to measure for me?

I dont know but wouldn't the LHD cars have the same cable as the RHD cars? I would expect the choke knob to stay in the same position as a RHD car. Both the choke and heater cables have more or less a straight run so why would it be changed?

My choke cable which is out of the car is 28 inches from the end of the cable to the end of the knob. Yes both RHD and LHD are exactly the same.

Since I'm not sure if my cable is original or not for length I'd like to hear what others measure as well.

Just making a (foolish) assumption based on the layout of my RHD +2 dash where the choke is close to the steering column and therefore would expect it to move for LHD car otherwise the choke would be closely locate to the glove box in front of the passenger. Which wouldn't be the best spot for it, so would expect it to be relocated to the driver side and require a longer choke cable.

Probably should know better by know about making Elan/+2 assumptions......

My Elan S2 cable is on the right, near the glove box, so it sounds as though all are the same, RHD or LHD.

frearther wrote:My Elan S2 cable is on the right, near the glove box, so it sounds as though all are the same, RHD or LHD.

You will always have the choke and heater cable on there respective sides regardless of RHD or LHD. Wouldn't make sense to have them cross, I don't think, but I'm sure someone has tried.

As I remember it was a cable from one of the Fords.......Anglia or Cortina I think but I have a new one in my spares, I will dig it out to measure tomorrow.
It is possible that Lotus shortened them if they were too long??? There are several types around but the correct type is not always easy to find.

The length isn't critical - the length of the outer is fixed by the back carb and the inner by the front carb.

Stop the wire from fraying by soldering it before you cut it.

The choke works well - If it has no effect, it is because the cross drillings are blocked.

I found the cable and here are the pics/measurments, as I said it is new as supplied by Ford and is much longer then the 28" mentioned previously so would assume Lotus shortened them.

Thank Brian. Now I am really confused. I have found a very pricey source for a Cortina choke cable that is 31 inches long, but I'm not sure if the length is correct for a LHD car. Russ' measurement of 28" seems a bit short when I measure in my car, but I really don't know.
Anyone else have a measurement to provide perspective?

Well here is one for a mk2 Cortina listed on the OZ ebay but he lists the length as 800mm (approx 32") so maybe mine is for some other Ford
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cortina- ... 462e702462