Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello again chaps & chapesses
just looking at refiting my umbrella style handbrake, two issues:
Cant understand why the cable end knob thing wont fit easily into the handbrake shaft end???? I know it originally did because i took it out and have owned the car since dot. I'd swear that the end ball shaped knob has swollen!!!
It has flats on either side which i presume should enable it to easily slot in. I have removed the roll pin to enable the inner shaft to expose the correct aperture in the inner.
Secondly, the mounting bracket on the hand brake has a 3/8 hole in it, which seems excessive for mounting to the body...Is this correct? Should there be some sort of mounting device that engages with this size hole?, possibly a resillient mounting?
Thank folks
Bob

Hi Bob
Yes it should just drop in and turn round - maybe a photo so we can see the problem?

On rdent website you can see a parts list for plus2 handbrake and this does show a grommet at bulkhead.
I don't have one and cobbled a packing plate on the inside which blanked the bulkhead hole.
Load paths are confusing here as even though one pulls the cable the outer sheath takes it to the body at the adjuster and via handle outer to bulkhead from inside when the ratchet is engaged.

Mark

Just looked at your post again.
I expect the 3/8 hole is nice fit on handbrake mechanism outer?
Do you want any 'resilience' in a handbrake linkage renowned for being at the lower end of effectiveness?

The rectangular bracket on the hand brake on my Plus2, has a hole that is much larger than necessary. In fact so large a 1/4" nut would slip right through. Having just spaced the mechanism down to gain easier access to the handle, I took a 1/4" fender washer, and by cutting the sides flat was able to slip it into the bracket. A longer 1/4" bolt to secure and all is well.

Hello Chaps
Thanks for your responses.
I managed to get the cable end "nodule" into the handbrake shaft with a little bit minor "easement". Still dont understand how it changed though!?
Ive also found a photograph of original support fitting, a spiro nut was fitted over the support aperture and a coarse threaded bolt came into it from above. The sze of the bracket hole allows 360 degrees of adjustment movement ....Lotus tollerances!!!!!
Thanks again
Bob

Bob,

I don't really understand your problem, a photo would help. My car, 1968 S4 FHC, had a cylindrical nipple at the handle end of the cable, and the bolt hole through the handle is for a 1/4" bolt.

Richard Hawkins

Hi,
I used one of these, square up edge of hole fits and holds nicely in place. M6 bolt.
Ron.

Richard
My cable end (original to car) has a spherical end with flattened opposing sides, the sides just too wide prior to fettling to drop into the handbrake inner. I have now assembled it, so no photos, sorry.
The mounting bracket on the brake outer, has a 3/8 diameter hole, which i have subsequently found to be designed to accomodate a Spiro nut clip that accomodates a 1/4 coarse threaded screw, as I said previously, this does allow 360 degrees of freedom in the horizontal plane for minor adjustment.
I do like your solution as an alternative Ron, but as I said, the little buggers in now!
regards
Bob