Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

After a couple of hours effort, I still can't free the slave cyliner from the gearbox housing. It's leaking and I need to replace the seals. Any ideas on how to get over this problem please?

Steve,
Not sure weather you mean its stuck is the gearbox with corrosion or you can not get it out past the exhaust. If its stuck soaking it with a penertrating oil may help, or you can apply some heat with a low gas flame.....I accept no responsibilty!!!
and keep a fire extinguisher handy!
If you mean you can't get it past the exhaust as far as I know, if its a genuine lotus exhaust it can be done by loosening the manifold. With an after market manifold you may have to remove it altogether.
There is an other option, you can replace the seals without removing the cylinder but its not ideal as its hard to clean/check the bore, bit of a bodge but depends how you feel about it.
Good luck Brian.

Steve,
Just re-read your post and see its a S130 if its a 5speed box disregard my reply as I dont know anything about 5speeders.
Brian.

Steve,

You did take the snap ring off, didn't you?

Frank Howard

Yep it's a 5 speed box and I did remove the circlip. It really looks like corrosion and given the position, I'm not sure penetrating oil will seep to the right spots. Is there some sort of tool you could apply to help ease the cylinder out, a clamp of some sort?

I do know of one Elan owner that discovered that his slave cylinder had be bonded to the bellhousing with Loctite!

He hacksawed, Dremel'd? and chiselled the old slave cylinder into little bits.

Ian Phillips

I had the same problem with my 4sp +2. Having removed the snap ring the cylinder still wouldn't budge (even after several soakings of penetrating oil).
I managed to strip the cylinder in place, hone it and fit new seals.
Why does nothing ever go smoothly? :huh:

If it's the same as the 4 speed item there should be two flat sections on the body- don't know if these were designed for the job but an open ended spanner will usually allow you to rotate the cyl back and forth until it frees (with a bit of plusgas)

John

Yeah, go with what ssloan says. Rebuild it in situ. If you manage to get it out, it goes without saying to lightly coat the new one with anti seize.

Greg Z.

One way to help push the cylinder out is to put a wooden block behind the clutch lever. Then after removing the circlip jump on the clutch pedal as hard as you dare.

If you have soaked the slave cylinder mount area in penetrating oil and loosened it up by turning a little then this will push itself forwards and out.

If this does not work then a few hours with assorted hammers, drifts, multigrips and gentle heating with an oxy will eventually get it out ! You may need to remove the exhaust though to get anough working room.

Rohan

Thanks for all the tips, I'll try and let you know how things turn out.

Steve

Not a very nice job, but completed the job on the car and took it for a run last night.... great fun!

Thanks for the advice.... Steve