What did you do to your Lotus today...

Post by: **Quart Meg Miles** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:27 pm

I'm waiting for Skunk Works to release one of theirs. That should clear the field.

Post by: **Sploder90** » Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:52 pm

Post by: **The Veg** » Tue Nov 03, 2020 1:27 am

TBG wrote:Sticking clutch? Have you tried just let it slip for a few seconds to burn of the discs? Has worked for me in the long and distant............

It sticks when DIS-engaged, as in after pressing the pedal toward the firewall. The pedal returns but the clutch doesn't engage. Pump the pedal a few times to free it. I suspect that the problem is in the master cylinder but will give both ends a look next time I have time to get underneath.

Post by: **vstibbard** » Wed Nov 04, 2020 1:05 am

Finished pedal box installation, worked out foot rest pattern, installed new bearings into front hubs, lapped front stub axles into new uprights and lapped bolt on rear hubs to new axles and installed them using new bearings, circlips, dust shields into rear uprights.

Having misplaced the hardened washers for the rear axle/hubs, its prompted me to prepare a list of parts for my next order. Hopefully the latest UK lock down won't mean a months delay.... or more?

I'm feeling for you all in the UK, Europe and US, keep safe.

Cheers

V

Post by: **MrBonus** » Sun Nov 08, 2020 5:55 pm

I've got a cold start question/issue. In my experience, if I drive the car frequently (big surprise!) it starts a lot easier. Drove the car yesterday and today.

Typically, when I start the car I prime the electric pump then give it 3-4 pumps when warm outside, 6 pumps when the weather is colder, a little throttle and she starts pretty readily. She usually stumbles for about 10 - 15 seconds then holds a low idle until she has a few minutes to warm up.

Well today was unseasonably warm (70ish) and my brain has become used to giving 6 pumps to start, which I did, and the car took 2-3 tries to start then refused to hold a steady idle at all, stalling twice, even after it started to come up to temps. I eventually (after a minute or two) got it to barely idle at 500 RPMs and checked under the hood and could see/smell fuel on the Webers (a problem whenever I over-pump before starting). The car felt and sounded down a cylinder.

So I go to pull away and there is a definite lag/stumble. I make it half way down my driveway (~30 feet) then do a 3-point turn because I'm not comfortable with how it's running, then as I approach the garage, the engine just seems to level out at a sold 1000 rpm idle and the throttle feels completely normal.

I take it out through the neighborhood, everything drives normal, and then go for a quick 10 minute spin and everything runs as it should, ran her up to 5500 beautiful RPMs, full throttle, no issues whatsoever.

Did I just flood the carbs? I'm going to check the plugs once it cools down too. I've had a few rough starts when cold outside and the car has sat a few weeks, but nothing like this and never after having run it within the last day or two.

Post by: **MrBonus** » Sun Nov 08, 2020 8:57 pm

Disregard my prior post, I think. Just cold started her and fired right up. User error.

Edit: drove the ever living piss out of it. Car run good.

Post by: **The Veg** » Mon Nov 09, 2020 3:47 am

Shot some video with Yelotus!

You'll see some flubs and bad shifts due to the sticking clutch issue mentioned in a previous post. But in spite of that I've had a BLAST every time I've driven this car!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNKU2sua0p4&t=174s

Post by: **MrBonus** » Mon Nov 09, 2020 12:02 pm

The Veg wrote:Shot some video with Yelotus!

You'll see some flubs and bad shifts due to the sticking clutch issue mentioned in a previous post. But in spite of that I've had a BLAST every time I've driven this car!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNKU2sua0p4&t=174s

Nice, looks like it’s running pretty well!

Post by: **jk952** » Tue Nov 10, 2020 12:12 am

Between Sept 13 and Nov 5 redid my engine due to worn guides. While at it took the crank from a Cortina GT engine I had and stroked the Elan engine, with the special pistons.

Today I took a 6 mile test drive up the highway and back, after some carb tuning, and all is well! Here in Canada we have unusual 60 F plus weather this week, convenient timing for a top down run.

While at it, and waiting for the parts, I had taken the body off to replace tired various suspension, diff, etc rubber, seals, inspect, clean and repaint the chassis, etc. Also replaced some PO fibreglass bodges with my bodges.

I guess you would call that Bodge engineering.
Jack

ps. leftover engine parts from Elan & Cortina coming soon...lol...

Post by: **John Larkin** » Tue Nov 10, 2020 6:54 am

"I guess you would call that Bodge engineering. "

I love it! Wish I'd said that, and I'm sure that I will.
John Larkin.

Post by: **AshleyPark** » Tue Nov 10, 2020 11:40 am

The Veg wrote:Shot some video with Yelotus!

You'll see some flubs and bad shifts due to the sticking clutch issue mentioned in a previous post. But in spite of that I've had a BLAST every time I've driven this car!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNKU2sua0p4&t=174s

Great stuff. Takes me back to when I lived in Atlanta back in the 1990's!

Post by: **alan.barker** » Tue Nov 10, 2020 12:10 pm

"I guess you would call that Bodge engineering. "
unlike Chapman who did BADGE engineering.
Sorry i couldn't resist that reply :lol:

Alan

Post by: **draenog** » Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:46 pm

A dry afternoon so took the +2 out for a 35 mile drive - would have been longer but I'm supposed to be WFH :roll:

. First time in over 6 weeks, what with the lockdown in Wales and crappy weather. Back to heavy rain tomorrow, but the Elan put a smile on my face for a while.