Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi All,
Anyone using the spinitoff device? I am terrified of clouting the car bodywork and don't relish the thought of damaging the three eared nuts once I have them refurbished & chromed. I have a design on the board at the moment for a tool then I found out about the spinitoff. It looks fine but I dont like the price (Over 100 gbp delivered).

comments anyone?

Alex B....

Hi Alex

Take a look here

http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2268

A number of us bought the Sarto tool - highly recommended.

http://homepage.mac.com/sarto1/PhotoAlbum7.html

e-mail <sarto477>

For more details and some forum feedback, look up "sarto" in the search box.

bcmc33 wrote:A number of us bought the Sarto tool - highly recommended.

I got one could not agree more Brian.

I guess they will be a bit more expensive now though ? to $

Hi Alex, I have just finished a rough web site that shows both tools that I have made. Try http://knockoffspinnertool.com/ or check in the "Business and Vendors list" for more info.

Hope that helps, Sarto

Saarto's tool. Highly Recommended. Bought mine more than a year ago.

Regards

Gerry

And as a bonus:

1. You're purchasing from a really nice guy.
2. You're purchasing from one of us!

I bought a 3 eared spinner tool from Ray Psulkowski at RD enterprises - it works really well, particularly if you have minilites because you just end up hitting the wheel ribs if you use a hammer. Is this the same as Sarto's tool? Looks extremely similar from the photos.
Been using it for a year now and would definitely recommend it to others.

Kevin

Hi Kevin, yes that is my tool, Ray handles both of my tools as does Dave Bean Engineering on the West coast USA and Elliott in Australia/new Zealand at [email protected]. I'm glad others have found the benefits of this tool. I can't believe that something like it has not been developed 40 years ago.
My new web site is http://knockoffspinnertool.com/
I'm open to finding a wholesale dealer in the UK. That may help the cost in the UK.

Thanks for all of the great comment, Sarto

I bought one Sarto's three eared tools a little over a year ago. It works exactly as advertised on my S3 SS Elan with Panasports.

Sarto is a great guy and fellow Lotus Sufferer with an Elan. I know what it costs to develop and make something for market. It is a very reasonable price for such a low volume production tool.

Hi all,
I have got one of Sarto's knockoff gadgets as well.
I'll also vouch for the fact that he is a great guy and very helpful too.

However, if there is any one of you (the nearer to me the better) who would be willing to demonstrate it's operation as I'd like to see how you use this tool.
The reason I ask is simply that, even with the correct thrust washers in place, the tool has carved up the fins of two of my alloy wheels to shreds before the three eared spinner has tightened up.

I notice Sarto has been using it on Panasports and that's obviously ok but with my standard factory fitment alloys I can't fathom out how it can be done.
Please someone help me solve this mystery as it only seems to be me that has got this problem? (email me, PM me whatever)
Sarto, if you are reading this, I will say you have tried your best from the other side of the pond and I thank you for that - I just feel that if there is someone near to me with the same tool that I check and compare notes with and then see if I can spot any differences which might be the cause of my difficulty. I'm based in Devon by the way
Hope to look forward to hearing from another user of this tool.
Best regards.

Hi All,
Thanks for that, lets one know there are options. Has no one tried the 'Spinitoff tool then?

I have now made a disc 170 mm dia from 10 mm thick steel into which I have bored and tapped 3 m10 holes @ 120 deg divisions. I have yet to make the 'posts' which will bear against the 'ears' of the spinner but have some black Nylon machine grade tough as old boots 'stuff'. I intend to machine these to 'clip' round the ears (Exc' the pun ) of the spinner and help to self locate / center the device on the nut. I will secure these to the steel plate with m10 fastners. They posts be around 30 - 40 mm long.

For driving the device I was thinking a hex to take a 24mm socket attached to a long 3/4" drive torque wrench. I have some hex this size you see. I will weld this on. My existing 'big aggie' torque wrench will also help eh?

The job is quite simple. I have a wee bit of trial and error to go but I think my only problem will be the poss' of shearing off the posts which bear against the nut ears. My initial tests on the nylon stuff (I dont know what it is but it is tough!!) shows it to be near indestructable. Its like a plastic / carbon mix. Time will tell.

Cost so far? 10 GBP for the steel disc.

I just find it hard to buy something like this when I have a workshop full of machinery out back. I could be back though!!

Thanks all and Merry Chrismas...

Alex B....

I made my own knock off tools. For the nader nuts I took a piece of 1/4 inch thick aluminum about 18 inches long and 4 inches wide and cut a hole in it to match the nut. I then bent it at an angle to clear tyhe tire and added a 1/2 square hole 12 inches form the center of the nade nut hole. A torque wrench set to 90 lbft gives me the right torque or I can stand on it.

For the 3 winged knock offs I took a 1/4 inch wall 3 inch diameter tube of aluminum and used the die grinder to cut notches to match the wings. Then I put two sets of holes in the other end for my trolley jacks handle. I added felt to the face to keep from damaging the wheel and I can just step on the trolley jack handle to torque it.

Both cost me less than $20 from the local metal supply house.

Hello seaandmoor,
Thor, with his Alloy type wheel, had the same problem with the tool touching the fins when it was in the last few turns to full torque. But not as damaging as yours. I make a new version with the tips ground down a little. I replaced his and sent you one also. The new one worked with his Alloys but there has to be a metal shim or ring on the wheel that protect the softer Alloy from direct contact with the harder spinner metal. Can you confirm that you did not get the new spinner tool?? PM me and we'll get one that works for your alloys.
I finally finished the two eared version and its on the new web site.
http://knockoffspinnertool.com/
And for the other inventors, PM me and I can give some advice with pictures on what I have already tried and may be able to help.

The best, Sarto

More info on knockoff tools
Dave Anderson used a home made tool and he shows it here. He added aluminum rap to protect the spinner.
http://reality.sgiweb.org/davea/elan.html

Here are pictures "of what to look out for" on the only tool available when I was looking for something better than a hammer.
It was metal on metal and would hit the wheel if pushed all the way on and would scar the chrome spinner when full torque was applied.
If felt is used or any other material to stop metal on metal it has to be set up to leave room for compression as my leather does. Even with leather, if the gap is too tight, under full torque, it will cut through any cushioned material. At 200 ft/lbs of torque the spinner and tool's contact point is very small and will cut through materials if pinched. My tool leaves room so the leather does not get pinched and can talk the torque with out breaking down.
Leather was my choice as it can take the torque without breaking down. It is used in the old days as bushing material.
Hope that helps

Sarto

spinitoff tool is another good tool that protect the wheel and spinners.
But may have the same clearance problems with the Lotus Alloy type wheels.