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My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 9:33 am
by Ian T
Hello everyone, I'm Ian and live in Orpington, in Kent (UK).

I recently acquired a lovely Plus 2 and joined the forum to engage the wisdom of the folks here in getting the best from the car. It is fair to say that this is the first carburettor fed car I have owned in upwards of 20 years, but not my first Lotus, having owned the much underrated M100 Elan from 1990.

I'm an electronic Engineer by trade, but have taught myself to MIG and arc (stick) weld, paint to a broadly acceptable standard and can generally have a go at pretty much anything that doesn't require physically huge equipment. My preference generally is to get my own hands dirty and that is, for me, part of the fun of owning a car that doesn't need to be available for use every day of the year.

As for the +2, I didn't choose it, but would have done. Owned by my best friend until sadly he died earlier this year, he made it known that he wanted me to look after his car, which he had owned since 1970, initially as a daily driver. The car is a credit to him, finished in French Blue and very clean throughout with a lot of love in its life.

I'll start a thread later looking for some advice on a running fault that he didn't manage to solve and when it went up to Barry Ely late last year, he couldn't either. In my naivety I can't help but think it is something simple, but I'm sure you'll all put me straight.

A couple of questions though... mine is a 1968 model and I'm interested to know:
1) Is it normal for the transmission to whine under load?
2) Is it normal for there to be some on-off power torque steer for these models?

For no 2) I can look at bushes etc, but the car is in remarkably good order elsewhere, so I'd like to understand what is normal.

I realise everyone loves photos, so here is one. :)

img-20160703-wa0004.jpeg and


Look forward to getting to know some of you better.

Ian.

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 12:36 pm
by rgh0
Hi Ian welcome to the forum, its a really nice looking car.

You should not have any transmission whine - is it from the diff or gearbox?
The Plus 2 with its heavier weight and longer suspension arms is more susceptible to power on - off steer from the rear than the Elan. Check the rear toe in and rear bushes

cheers
Rohan

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 1:55 pm
by richardcox_lotus
Welcome Ian, North Kent Lotus are meeting this Wednesday - bring it along to The White Rock Inn at Underriver and we'll give it our considered opinion !!

Enjoy this forum, it's a great community

Regards
Richard.

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 2:41 pm
by Ian T
Thank you both. :)

Rohan - hard to say really. I believe the whine is coming from the box, it's the sort of noise associated with a straight cut gear set perhaps. The gearchange is a little stiff as well, but otherwise seems fine. I'll give it some more attention if it is supposed to be silent, I've only driven the car a couple of times so am still getting some idea of what 'normal' sounds and feels like.

Richard - I reckon I might be able to make it on Wednesday, what time are you planning to meet? It would be good to get to know a group of locals.

Cheers,

Ian.

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 5:38 pm
by richardcox_lotus
Hi Ian -7:30 onwards really. I probably won't be there before 8:00. If there's a P?tanque match on then parking can be a bit tight

If it's pouring with rain I'll be bringing the modern.

Regards
Richard

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 9:09 pm
by KevJ+2
Hi Ian, yes the car is a credit to your late friend and how nice it is that you can keep it going in his memory.
I lived in Welling for twenty years and played football for North Kent as a schoolboy...ah, memories!
Hope you enjoy the car and I'm sure with the great help from the folks on here, you'll soon be sorted. Maybe when I get my car back on the road, I'll have a drive down to Kent.
Kev.

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 9:49 am
by Ian T
Thanks both.

Richard: I've got a pass (grudglingly) from SWMBO and will come down tomorrow evening. Hopefully it won't be raining.

Kev: I'm hoping that there will be a few local meets to go to and I'd like to use the car a bit once it is 'right' again. I'm sure you'd be welcomed with open arms (so to speak!) if you wanted to drive down here in your Lotus, the more the merrier and all that?

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:03 pm
by Ian T
Well, I thought I would make a short video to describe the transmission whine. Hard to be sure where it is coming from but it sounds like the front, so I'd say the gearbox. It is more apparent in 4th gear, can be heard in 3rd but not apparent in 1st or 2nd. I should add that it doesn't appear to be related directly to road speed, i.e. it has a different pitch in 3rd than 4th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2tb65Q ... e=youtu.be

You'll see from the video that the misfire is gone. I am currently disbelieving the temperature and fuel gauges and wondering if the voltage stabiliser inside the dash is misbehaving. I may convert it to solid state via one or more 7810 regulators. I think their readings depend on the state of the other, which isn't helpful.

Ian.

Re: My 'Hello' post

PostPosted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 7:09 am
by Daugaard
Hi Ian.

It sounds just like my 68 Plus 2. :lol:
I think it?s from the diff as the pitch changes on how fast you are driving and that the whine is only apparent in 3rd and 4th just as mine. The load is higher when driving faster and the engine (will not call it noise) sound is higher than the diff in lower gears.
Don?t know if the noise in our diff?s is alarming but at som point a repair should be the right thing to do.

Regards Jens