Hub and Spinner Direction: Mystery and Controversy

[1owner69Elan]

The topic of the direction of the knock off hubs on the Elan has been discussed on the Forum at length.

The Lotus orientation of left-handed threads on the left and right-handed threads on the right, I thought was a settled issue. This orientation is how my car (with standard - non-26r hubs) certainly came from the factory.

But, a fellow (maybe a Forum member?) today has posted on Facebook a copy of a what appears to be an official Lotus document: "Handling and Maintenance Notes for the Racing Version of the Lotus Elan S.2"

In this April 1965 "Lotus Components Racing Division" document, it states: "The left hand threaded hubs should be on the right Hand side of the car." Opposite to what I thought was common and settled wisdom!!!

So, now what to believe? Is the 26r different? If so, I have my 26r hubs (now as standard) wrong way round. Or is this seemingly official factory document wrong?

Also, note the comments on keeping the threads dry but lubricating the knock-off/wheel interface.

Here is the cover sheet for the document and the particular page referring to the Wheels and Hubs:

Again, thanks to the original poster on Facebook whom I acknowledge in reposting the above images.

[billwill]

I think it probable that the requirement of the spinner differ between race track application and normal road driving.

Much more braking on the track ??

[1owner69Elan]

But, also more hp and torque with racing 26r?s with lots of acceleration.

[Davidb]

Interesting! I just dug out my copies of the S1 and S2 "Handling and Maintenance Notes for Racing Version of Lotus Elan" and they both show the l/h threaded hubs on the r/h side! Well, I ain't changing mine! I have no problem and always remember reading that they should "tighten towards the front" and that is what I have always done. I have never had a wheel come loose-on road or track soft or very rough surface. Of course, I haven't tried it the other way...

[nmauduit]

But, a fellow (maybe a Forum member?) today has posted on Facebook a copy of a what appears to be an official Lotus document: "Handling and Maintenance Notes for the Racing Version of the Lotus Elan S.2"

In this April 1965 "Lotus Components Racing Division" document, it states:

The FIA https://historicdb.fia.com/car/lotus-elan has put online an 18 page document a while back containing that section

https://historicdb.fia.com/sites/defaul ... -_1964.pdf

[billwill]

But, also more hp and torque with racing 26r?s with lots of acceleration.

That's possibly the more likely cause of them loosening if mounted in the road driving manner., rather than the braking forces.

[rgh0]

But, also more hp and torque with racing 26r?s with lots of acceleration.

That's possibly the more likely cause of them loosening if mounted in the road driving manner., rather than the braking forces.

The direction of tightening relates to how the weight of the car rests on the taper and thus the reverse installation with the male cone on the Lotus centre lock nuts compared with the female cone on the Rudge style centre lock nuts. I have attached a couple of pages from the book "Colin Chapman Lotus Engineering - Theories, designs & Applications" by Hugh Haskell.

Note the book says on page 68 (the second attachment) "To start with, even among Chapmans design team this phenomenon was not understood..." Perhaps the confusion in the early documentation comes from this ?

regards
Rohan

[1owner69Elan]

Thanks very much Rohan (as always).

I was aware of Chapman?s explanation but had not yet seen the page you attached. Very helpful.

Also, the bit about Chapman?s design engineers also being unclear on the concept perhaps explains the discrepancy of the early 26R documentation.

It serves to reinforce respect for Chapman?s engineering prowess.

It also means I don?t need to switch my 26R hubs around. Whew!!

[Davidb]

Thanks Rohan-I am happy about that!

[alan.barker]

During a visit to New Zealand i was at the Southwards Open day were there were several visitors Elans in the grounds. I noticed the a +2S there had the Spinners fitted on the wrong sides so i had a chat with the owner. He told me he had rebuilt the +2S and i said you have fitted the Spinners/Hubs on the wrong sides. He just gave me a blank look as if i was talking a load of **ap I suggested he looked at the other Elans at the Show to back up what i said but he didn't want to know Strange because the Hubs are colour coded with Red or Green paint
Alan

[1owner69Elan]

TTR confirms that the thread orientation is right hand thread: right side / left hand thread: left side.

No difference between 26R and regular Elan hubs/spinners.

TT says never had a wheel loosen in 16 years of racing a 26R. But, scrupulous about cleanliness (no paint, no dirt) on mating surfaces and threads.

(Also, no safety wiring).

[rgh0]

yes seat them correctly and hammer them up tight with a heavy lead hammer as originally supplied by Lotus and your good to go. Check after each race until your convinced they do not loosen and then keep checking them before and after each race because a good racer leaves nothing to chance

cheers
Rohan

[Elanconvert]

i was going to raise this topic sometime, as I have wondered why my elite wheel spinners are opposite direction to my s4 elan........not sure about the explanation kindly posted by rohan from the book [can't read some of it ....]
fred

[Davidb]

yes seat them correctly and hammer them up tight with a heavy lead hammer as originally supplied by Lotus and your good to go. Check after each race until your convinced they do not loosen and then keep checking them before and after each race because a good racer leaves nothing to chance

cheers
Rohan

When I raced a 26R I used a lead hammer and pretty soon the knock offs looked rather 'worn'. Now I use a hide hammer that I hold on the knock off and then I pound that with a 'dead blow' hammer. I throw the two hammers behind the drivers seat for future use.

Of course, this is for the aluminium knock offs.

[rgh0]

i was going to raise this topic sometime, as I have wondered why my elite wheel spinners are opposite direction to my s4 elan........not sure about the explanation kindly posted by rohan from the book [can't read some of it ....]
fred

You need to download the pictures and then expand them in a picture viewer to easily read them.

However the essence is that the elite has conventional Rudge style wire wheel knock on where the spinner has a female cone connecting with a matching male cone on the wheel. The Elan is the reverse with a male cone on the spinner and a matching female cone on the wheel.

The result is this that the weight of the Elite rests on the top of the wheel male cone where as with the Elan the weight of the car rests on the bottom of the wheel female cone. This difference drives the difference on handing on each side of the car.

cheers
Rohan