Has Anyone Tried....

[gav]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and replies so far.

I have been using a rechargeable GPS speedo that works ok when there is a signal but seems rather inconsistent in its readings and it does lose its signal every now and again - hence the extended line of enquiry.

My current favourite so far is Foxie's solution to replace the speedo with a Smiths 'Classic 140 MPH speedometer' on the basis that I can always refit the original unit if I want to. Is Smiths part number SNT5372-09CB the one that you have ? (I would paste in the catalogue photo but haven't worked out how to yet!)

I can fit a drive converter to the angle drive take off from the gearbox (early MT75) or is it better to abandon this and use the sensor on the CV bolt heads?

Thanks again so far and still interested in further thoughts

Gavin

[Foxie]

<Snip>
My current favourite so far is Foxie's solution to replace the speedo with a Smiths 'Classic 140 MPH speedometer' on the basis that I can always refit the original unit if I want to. Is Smiths part number SNT5372-09CB the one that you have ? (I would paste in the catalogue photo but haven't worked out how to yet!)

I can fit a drive converter to the angle drive take off from the gearbox (early MT75) or is it better to abandon this and use the sensor on the CV bolt heads?

Gavin

I can't find the original receipt with the part no. SNT5372-09CB looks like it, but it does not seem to have the Lotus specific fuel and indicator warning lights. If I remember correctly, I talked to Caerbont directly when I was ordering, and they did supply the speedo with the warning lights exactly similar to the original speedo.

Locating the pick-up on the diff is so accessible and simple. (You need to set the clearance with a feeler gauge) I made up a bracket and simply glued it to the wing flange on the diff, with the pick-up horizontally in line with the CV centre line.

[gav]

Aha - Progress

Just had the gearbox refurbed (MT75) and they have replaced the speed sensor unit to provide a signal to the speedo - AND - I have just ordered the new speedo which is going to have the indicator as Foxie (thanks for the heads up) and the right type face.

Hopefully I can get the two to talk to each other

Thanks for the info to date. Ill let you know whether it eventually works.

Gavin

[Harvey]

In order to stop my speedo angle drive from leaking which I've never been able to do in the 20 years I've owned my '71 Plus 2, I purchased a Smiths electronic speedo from Caerbont to be powered by a magnetic sensor as Foxie shows above. However, the unit they sent me (SN 6207-08CB) does not provide for the low fuel warning light in the lower left hand side of the instrument like my original speedo (SN-6153/103). It does provide a centrally located directional signal flasher light.

After I read this post I e-mailed Caerbont to see whether they sent me the wrong unit rather than the SNT 5372-09CB unit mentioned above. My contact at Caerbon assured me that SNT 5372-09CB does not accommodate a low fuel warning light. I then broadened my question asking him whether any of the Smiths electronic speedos for the Elan/Plus 2 display both the directional signal light and the low fuel light. He replied that he is not aware of any. My internet search failed to show any as well.

So, unless someone reading this post has a Smiths electronic speedo which incorporates both the fuel and the directional lights and can supply the part number and vendor, I am going to have to figure out a way to display the low fuel light from a position other than the speedo or do without it.

Lee

[Foxie]

In order to stop my speedo angle drive from leaking which I've never been able to do in the 20 years I've owned my '71 Plus 2, I purchased a Smiths electronic speedo from Caerbont to be powered by a magnetic sensor as Foxie shows above. However, the unit they sent me (SN 6207-08CB) does not provide for the low fuel warning light in the lower left hand side of the instrument like my original speedo (SN-6153/103). It does provide a centrally located directional signal flasher light.

After I read this post I e-mailed Caerbont to see whether they sent me the wrong unit rather than the SNT 5372-09CB unit mentioned above. My contact at Caerbon assured me that SNT 5372-09CB does not accommodate a low fuel warning light. I then broadened my question asking him whether any of the Smiths electronic speedos for the Elan/Plus 2 display both the directional signal light and the low fuel light. He replied that he is not aware of any. My internet search failed to show any as well.

So, unless someone reading this post has a Smiths electronic speedo which incorporates both the fuel and the directional lights and can supply the part number and vendor, I am going to have to figure out a way to display the low fuel light from a position other than the speedo or do without it.

Lee

Although I have had several speedos/tachs servicedconverted by Caerbont, I now think it is possible that my present speedo conversion, which has the fuel and indicator lights, may have been done by Speedy Cables (https://speedycables.com/ )

I have emailed them, and will post when I get their reply

[Foxie]

I have received a reply from Speedy Cables.

The will convert your original speedo with warning lights for GB?210, with a 12 week lead time.

[Harvey]

It appears that Foxie and I have established that Smiths does not make an electronic speedo that provides for both a directional signal light and a low fuel warning light. Since i want to retain my OEM speedo in the event a future owner wants to return the car to its original condition I will fit the speedo I purchased from Caerbont and see if I can find another location to display the low fuel warning light or do without it.

Lee

[weddingcarclive]

stick one of these on top of dash
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IGPSPORT-Cyc ... 9d0ad53a2e

[gjz30075]

Gav, is it one of these units?
https://www.classicautoinnovations.com/classic

It drives the original speedo with a cable from the magic black box. You mentioned 'rechargable'. Do these
units require batteries?

[gav]

No - I had Caerbont make one up for me using the original graphics.
Its still not set up correctly yet but that's me not the unit.

Mine's an S4 so i don't have a fuel warning light

Interestingly, they said they had all of the records and despite preparing a drawing showing the indicator in green it arrived with an orange jewel. I then had to convince them that I had an original speedo that had a green jewel and the problem was that their records were incomplete. They eventually relented and replaced the orange jewel with the green one as the photo

[Foxie]

No - I had Caerbont make one up for me using the original graphics.
Its still not set up correctly yet but that's me not the unit.

Mine's an S4 so i don't have a fuel warning light

Interestingly, they said they had all of the records and despite preparing a drawing showing the indicator in green it arrived with an orange jewel. I then had to convince them that I had an original speedo that had a green jewel and the problem was that their records were incomplete. They eventually relented and replaced the orange jewel with the green one as the photo

I'm looking at your pic of the dash, and I see an orange warning lamp upper left, what seems to be two small clear warning lamps each side of the fixing bolt, and another orange warning lamp lower right. Are any of these original, and what are their functions ?

My first electronic speedo had no warning lamps, so I stuck and orange lamp for the fuel warning in the choke control location. When I got my original speedo converted to electronic function, with the fuel and indicator lamps, I retained the orange lamp in parallel with the red lamp on the speedo, it's much more noticable ! The lamp in the upper centre is for the gear change rev limit indication.

[gav]

Hi Foxie

Good to hear from you and a belated well done for your recent series victory- fantastic result.

I used to do more competitive work than I currently do and I wanted more warning information so foolishly added holes in the dash and then proceeded to negate the weight saving by adding lights and wires.
I have an external electric water pump that I used for a while. Problem was it was too good and over cooled. Also I had to remove part of the stat for it to flow properly so when I abandoned it and reverted to a stat I left it in the circuit and the amber light top left tells me its running. I cant run it when the engine is running so re-purposed a previous non standard warning light. It was never original.
The two white lights and actually high intensity LEDs - one flashes amber which is oil pressure warning and the other blue which is max revs triggered by the ECU. The amber light on the bottom right is hazards. Done years ago when my electrical knowledge was worse (not much better now but I am learning) - I couldn't work out another way of making the indicator flash with the hazards. Again non standard.
So to return to original, I'm going to have to work on the dash a bit - but I am planning to keep the car so hopefully that is some time off.
Do remember that I am a 2 seater rather than a plus 2

All the best
Gavin

[Foxie]

Hi Foxie

Good to hear from you and a belated well done for your recent series victory- fantastic result.

<snip>
The two white lights and actually high intensity LEDs - one flashes amber which is oil pressure warning and the other blue which is max revs triggered by the ECU.

Thanks for the compliments !

What ECU are you using ?

I recently fitted a DTA system, and had interesting experience setting it up !

A long story, will do later !

[gav]

I'm using an Emerald which I gather is a little simple but it works well for me

[Harvey]

Since my CV shafts are a little different than Foxie's I have a further reach from the differential to the six socket head bolts the magnetic sensor uses to power my speedo. To attach the magnetic sensor I made a template out of some thin tin and then had a machinist make a bracket out of lightweight aluminum. I drilled two holes in one of the diff flanges to mount the bracket and one hole in front of the bolts to fasten the sensor. The bracket could probably be reduced in size but it works as it should. For the first time in 20 years the opening where the speedo angle drive used to be inserted is bone dry after fitting an "O" ringed plug. A couple pictures are attached.

Lee