Knockoff/on spinner tool

[terryp]

Sarto
It looks as if I'm back to my copper hammer as I would not want to fit a spacer
Bit of a shame as its a really nice idea

Terry

[mac5777]

Hi Terry, Sorry I could not help out. Tell me one thing, is the spinner's beveled sharp edge the only contact that the spinner makes on your wheel? That information will give me the total picture. After thinking about your wheels--If the spacer is not used is there enough threads left on the hub to torque the wheel without bottoming out the spinner. Likewise, if the spacer is too thick is there enough threads gripping the spinner. Or how many turns you can get on the spinner to fully tighten them.

On a some what related subject-- another inventor offered his tool to add to my knockoff tool marketing. If you have ever tried to balance you wheels at a tire shop, most are not able to spin balance with their centering attachments. Our wheels need to be balanced off of the pins to be accurate. So spin balancing them on the car is best for the fronts but the rears are a little difficult.
This adapter tool allows us to take it to any tire shop and can be center on the 5 pins and quickly balanced off the car.
Don't have a production price as yet but would like some feed back on the idea. Lotus shops would seem to be a useful tool.

Sarto

[terryp]

Tell me one thing, is the spinner's bevelled sharp edge the only contact that the spinner makes on your wheel? I beleive so
If the spacer is not used is there enough threads left on the hub to torque the wheel without bottoming out the spinner. There is never a spacer used
Likewise, if the spacer is too thick is there enough threads gripping the spinner. Or how many turns you can get on the spinner to fully tighten them. I just would never want to use a spacer, its not what the wheel was designed for

Hope this helps

Terry

[JJDraper]

I beleive all Lotus +2 alloys should have a steel insert between the spinner and the wheel to spread the load.. Check this item on UK ebay.. number 300261315307.

There are plenty of discussions on this topic in the archives..

Jeremy

[Elanintheforest]

I think that there may be some confusion creeping in here between a thrust ring and a spacer. The Alloy wheels must have a thrust ring, for all the reasons stated by Sarto above, Terry, if you don't have them....you need them!

Here's what the wheel looks like with the thrust ring fitted...front and back.





I have a slightly different question, Sarto. I looked at your website a while back. Am I right in thinking that the tool needed for an Elan, an Elite and an E Type are three different tools? I have to bite the bullet soon, but as you see from the garage................Bugger!!

I guess I won't need the Elite one in the next couple of weeks though.



Mark

[trw99]

Mean looking garage Mark!

So you walk over from the house and stand in front of the garge doors and go 'Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, which garage door do I open today?'

Tim

[terryp]

Mark
I've just been to my little wooden single garage (loved your garage picture!) and checked my wheels and yes they have the thrust ring (mine are black) but they definitely do not have a spacer
Do you think Sarto's tool will work on them , as I think I'm going bash the bodywork one of these days.

Thanks
Terry

[Elanintheforest]

Terry, I need to get one for the S4, so I'll try it on the Plus 2 with the Lotus Alloys and see. One blow of the Thor hammer onto an Elan wing (or Jag one come to that) would get a bit costly...especially if the car's just been repainted!

The decision on the door to open Tim is dependant on energy levels. The left door reveals a lot of work, the middle door just some bits and pieces to do, and the right door....nearly done!

Should see the 'projects' garage!!

Mark

[seaandmoor]

Hi, Yes there are inserts to go between the spinner and the wheel but they are recessed and fail to space the spinner away from the wheel.

I'll keep a watching brief until someone comes up with a solution.

Good to talk again Sarto. All the best,
Seaandmoor

[terryp]

Mine are not recessed , mine are like Marks above?

Terry

[mac5777]

Hi Mark, looking at your garage, I may have broken one the 10 commandments.
Thanks for the photo of a thrust ring.
Terry, I did not know what to call whatever was used on the alloys. My use of the term spacer does not mean that there was one. Terry the next time we get to travel to France and you still are renting that great place, we are interested.
Thor on his +2 alloys, my tool at full torque would touch. On my next run of tools, I adjusted the thickness of the tips and it worked on his alloys. He may have had a thrust ring and my tool just needed to be adjusted a little.
In Mark's picture, the thrust ring appears to lift the spinner off the alloys just a little. The adjustment I made was all that was needed to protect Thor's wheels. He may have had a thrust ring in place. I would like to see a thicker ring but we'll just have to see how it works out.
I'm willing to send a knockoff tool to try on the Elan +2 type alloys and if it works and you want to keep it, then you can pay. Mark, Email me at [email protected] and you will be the test for yours and Terry's wheels. Also, can I use your photos on my web site?
If we can find the source of the thrust rings, maybe all those who have lost theirs, can be replaced for safety if nothing else.
Mark, I only have two tools, one is for our three eared Elan spinners and the other one is for the two eared spinners. Since you or any one else that has a need for a Jaguar 52MM size and the smaller 42MM size for the type 14 Elite that also fits MG's Triumphs, Morgans, Austin Healeys and others, one tool with the grey plastic inserts and chrome nut extender is the only difference between the 52MM and the 42MM size.
I can ship the pieces and you can use the tool for either two eared size spinners. As of now, I hammer the grey plastic piece in and it would be real hard to remove without damaging it. I'll send the red plastic inserts, cut to fit both sizes. If you have a need for both sizes, you will want to sand down the grey plastic insert enough to more easily change it out for the Jaguar size. The plastic grey insert is there to lift the smaller 42MM spinner up enough to work properly. also the chrome nut is the extender to slide the aluminum block closer to fit the smaller spinners.
This is making me re-think how I should be packaging and selling them. It make the tool more flexible for those who have more, like Mark, spinner sizes with just one tool. And I don't have to assemble some of the parts. Still thinking, maybe I can reduce the grey plastic part down so that it can be more easily removed for the larger Jaguar spinner. It really does not have to be tight at all, but you don't want it to fall out. Like a thrust ring and make the tool useless.
What do you guys think?

Sarto

[terryp]

What these!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOTUS-ELAN-PLUS-2 ... 1|294%3A50

Terry

[alexblack13]

Hey Mark..Couple of pics of the projects would be great. I would love to see the Meschersmitt.....

AB...

[mac5777]

Hi Terry, I just purchased two of the thrust rings on EBay to play with and maybe I can make up some that are a little thicker. Terry if you want to try a 3 eared tool, I'll send one to you to try and lets see of it works. Some where in the back of my mine, I remember that the thrust rings came in different thicknesses.

Sarto

[terryp]

Sarto
I'm happy to let Mark have a go, his wheels are the same as mine, if it works for him it will work for me!

Thanks
Terry