Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have just recieved a High Torque Powerlite Starter to fit to my Lotus Elan Sprint which has a Lotus Chassis.
It is impossible to fit. If i remove the 2 Cap head screws to re-orientate the Adapter plate to put starter in position it's NOT possible to fit both the 9/16" AF screws to attach starter to Bellhousing.
Any ideas from someone
Alan

Alan
Send it back and get a Powerlite or Brise Axial unit..

lotus-electrical-f38/high-torque-starter-motors-t30025.html?hilit=starter%20motor

John

thanks John,
but it is a POWERLITE RAC500L and my car is an Elan Sprint (baby) and not a +2.
I have sold my +2 and it's gone to Guadeloupe (caribean/ west indies) so i can not check if there is more room for the starter on a +2 compared to a baby.
Alan

See if they can swap it for a RAC800

http://www.powerlite-units.com/products ... s/?page=12

and I'm sure they both ( Elan and Plus2 ..PC) have the same room round the starter area

John

I have compared it with my Gustafson starter that came off my Sprint & yours seems to be a mirror image of mine:




I think you've been shipped the wrong starter!

for what it's worth (I don't recall off hand the exact brand of high torque starter I've fit a couple years ago) the fit was rather tight and I could only manage to attach it with allen screws (plus had to slightly bend the frame wall to make for a few mm clearance - it was pushed out by hammering at the contact point). Only one position would eventually fit (with the above precautions), and I remember having tried a number of rotations to avoid the tricks that had to be played...

I had a similar issue with a high torque starter I bought from Burton Power. It was supposed to fit the Elan but wouldn't go into my Spyder chassis as the photos show. I sent it back for a refund and bought one from Susan Miller which fitted perfectly.

Mike

Hi Alan,
Mine went in with the blue plug very close to the sump pan. To check to see which holes are the best, I would remove the front plate, fit the plate loosely in position and then place the starter motor in position and rotate it to find the best location and hole position. Mark it and then remove the starter and plate and fit in position.

I had to drill new holes for mine but you look as though you have plenty to chose from.

Good luck

Dave

well, just to update. I ordered the wrong starter rac500L and i should have ordered RAC 472.
Silly me not reading all the info correctly
Alan

Hi Alan,
In support of Powerlite, I also bought an RAC 472 two years ago, which went in easily and has worked fine ever since.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC ( Off the road again, up on stands. Leaking Diff. coming out !! )

Hello Alan I also have a powerlite on my sprint. One of the bolts, the top one I think is a captive one. They are a good product. Just got a WOSP for my Europa hope it's as good
good luck
Stuart

thanks for the info:
i am exchanging the wrong one i ordered for the correct model RAC 472
Alan

Alan

Why not the RAC800?

John

thanks John,
i have just looked at the rac800 you suggest but the attaching flange has 3 screw holes for bellhousing.
I can see your thinking because the starter has a support bearing on the nose + it is rated 1.6kw.
The RAC472 is the model noted on the website of my supplier for Lotus Elans rated 1.4kw.
When i contacted my supplier to say i had a problem with the rac500L he vary politely pointed out that i had chosen the wrong model.
I think i prefer to follow the advice from my supplier as posting the wrong starter back to them for exchange is already not cheap. France to England.
Maybe on your +2 Elan is there more room between engine and chassis than on my Elan Sprint.
Alan

Alan
I don't think there is any difference between the two,but putting a starter with a solenoid lump on the side of it into a small space is not easy ( is anything on an Elan ) hence..



I now have more free space...



John