Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have a 67 Elan FHC which I have just removed the dashboard on to restore the heater. I have cleaned and lubed the motor, but the brushes look a little short (about 1/3" of an inch long). I have heard you can use 1/4 by 1/4" brushes, but would love to get some guidance on the best place to get these in the USA. After all the work of taking the dash out, I would hate to put it back in and have the incorrect brushes I used in the motor rebuild fail!

Any insight on length and where to get the proper brushes would be appreciated.

Looking at the photo , if that is yours , the brushes show hardly any wear , as you can tell by the flexi conductors in the channel ( arrowed )...

John

John:

Thanks for your insight on this, this is a photo of my motor, and I would rather leave them in than replace.

I concur with John, they appear to be long enough. My recent inspection yielded much shorter ones and I ordered some brushes (5x6mm, from China of course), being a bit smaller than than the originals but I felt they'd work. However the motor was in such sad shape that I bought a new motor from the UK that seems to work well and doesn't have holes in the case that the original does, might last longer, probably than me? The source of the new one is Holden Vintage and Classic, a Clayton Heater Fan Motor Single Shaft 1/4 in 080.514 X 1, cost 66GBP shipped. I should clarify, mine is a '69 FHC.

Jabingb:

Thanks for seconding the first opinion. Based on the feedback I have received, I left the brushes in, lubricated the motor, and have the heater back in the car with a new heater core, and installed new heater hoses. Now comes the hard part, putting the dash back in!

billmoore42 wrote: Now comes the hard part, putting the dash back in!

I'm with you, facing the same challenge!