Flywheel Allignment

[AHM]

I'm preparing to put the rebuilt engine in the S3.

The original flywheel doesn't appear to have any allignment markings (TDC?). I haven't had it balanced so it is as removed.

There is a slght witness mark from the hole int the crank flange other than that I've nothing to go on.

have i missed anything?

Simon

[CBUEB1771]

The original flywheel doesn't appear to have any allignment markings (TDC?).

There is a single dowel pin in the crankshaft and a companion hole in the flywheel to establish orientation. Some modified engines will have two dowels and they are not 180 degrees apart so that the flywheel can only go on one way. From what you describe as a "witness mark from the hole in the crankshaft" is sounds as though the dowel is not fitted in your crankshaft and you may have a replacement flywheel that was never drilled to accept the dowel.

[garyeanderson]

Hi Simon

I don't know and I can't say but here are some pictures to confuse or help depending on how you think about it.

Gary


1500 Pre crossflow 2731 flywheel.

Original crankshaft from LP 16301.

Marine 1600 2737 flywheel is (I believe) the same as the one used in the Twin Cam engine.

711 crankshaft with 6 bolt holes and one for a dowel pin that I think is unused in production.

LP8824 Flywheel mounted and I do not see a dowel pin showing, I pulled the preasure plate, I didn?t want to pull the flywheel off.

711 flywheel is big and heavy a lot of meat.

711 back side show the witness mark of the hole in the crankshaft for the dowel that is not used.

This Twin cam flywheel is quite a bit lighter than the 1600 Kent flywheel.

[CBUEB1771]

As always Gary has a photographic record showing many variants. The crankshaft to flywheel locator dowel pin seems to have been used in the Twincam from the beginning. It is shown in the Elan S1 and S2 service parts list as part number B-6387-A, a stepped-diameter dowel pin used with the four-bolt crankshaft. A different dowel pin is listed in the Elan +2 service parts list as part number A026 E 6104, this time with the six-bolt crankshaft. The later dowel pin has constant diameter along its length. The engine in my +2 certainly left the factory with the later type dowel pin installed.

[garyeanderson]

Hi Russ

Just because I don?t work or have any money I went and found a 9/16 box wrench (ring spanner) and loosened the bolts on the flywheel, they weren?t tight but they were more than finger tight. This is from LP8824, Unit number 45/7334, invoiced 24 July 1967 and no dowel. Later units probably had them but I didn?t look it up in the parts book as I don?t have much late model stuff here nor am I looking for any. I just give the info I can find and wait for others to correct it. Like we all know Lotus changed stuff all the time which is why I always harp on what unit number, what year, what series, Drop head Coupe, Coupe, Roadster, etc. Those that think I am writing a book or something are dreaming and those paranoid folks just wont get the correct info that they need to do what is needed. I am such a bore but it sucks to go through the effort to answer a question only to hear after I have spent time going to get info and post photos only to get that info much later and be ?wrong again?. So anyway I am heading to Tiny?s for lunch tomorrow, my semi annual trip for the fish fry, hope you can make it and we can have a laugh or two.

[CBUEB1771]

This is from LP8824, Unit number 45/7334, invoiced 24 July 1967 and no dowel.

Hey Gary,
As I was writing my second post with the dowel part numbers I had the feeling that once again I was again placing way too much faith in the service parts lists. I can imagine a batch of flywheels coming in without the drilling for the dowel. The decision on the shop floor was probably that it is a lot faster and cheaper to not put the dowel in the crank than to drill the flywheels. Unfortunately no lunch at Tiny's for me this week, a three hour Webex is queued up for me at midday. Have fun.
Russ

[AHM]

Thanks,

I'll work with he witness mark then.

The three, six bolt cranks that I have have the hole for the dowell, but their flywheels do not..

Simon

[RogerFrench]

This is from LP8824, Unit number 45/7334, invoiced 24 July 1967 and no dowel

45/7345 doesn't have one, either.

[StressCraxx]

Mine did not have a dowel pin either.

45/7279

[garyeanderson]

This is from LP8824, Unit number 45/7334, invoiced 24 July 1967 and no dowel

45/7345 doesn't have one, either.

Engine Number LP 8664

Mine did not have a dowel pin either.

45/7279

Engine Number LP 8149

Unit number 45/7334, Engine Number LP 8824

All three Type 45 Elans invoiced 24 July 1967, thats interesting...

[AHM]

I just checked my (1970) manual.

For the dowel pin there is a note "Upto engine no 7799" which is the mk2 changeover , isn't it?

[garyeanderson]

I just checked my (1970) manual.

For the dowel pin there is a note "Upto engine no 7799" which is the mk2 changeover , isn't it?

Simon

4 bolt Rope seal crank to 6 bolt lip seal change point I believe.

Gary