Getting boot (or door) seal to mount without kinking?

[Keith Scarfe]

Following on from this thread http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/lotus-elan-f19/fumes-the-cockpit-dhc-while-driving-t31213.html I still can smell fumes in the car but it is greatly reduced after fitting the new boot seal. The smell is still coming in however so I am still on the hunt for where it is coming in. Today I noticed this:

Obviously the dirt is indicating (one of the places) where the fumes are getting in. This is due to this:

I cant get rid of the kink in the rubber. The trim has been on and off a few times and re positioned but the kink still remains. As you can see it is on both sides. Have I fitted this correctly?

Does anyone have any techniques to get it to fit nicely? Cutting can't be the solution as it will then not seal due to the cut wont it?

[fatboyoz]

Hi Keith,
Have you tried fitting it with the lip facing outwards?
Cheers,
Colin.

[Keith Scarfe]

Thanks Colin. Yes i think you are right. It needs to be on the other way round with the lip outwards. I had it this way originally but thought ?t was wrong as it didn't fit well in the hinge area but I took it off and refitted again this evening and it definitely better lip out. I didn't press it right into the corners where the kink was before and this seems to be the solution. Will see if it is any better next time out.
Cheers for the pointer.
Keith.

[Plus 2]

Keith,

Have a read through this thread lotus-chassis-f36/who-has-the-best-replacement-part-currently-t32153.html#p215511 as there are some simple tips on how to get a seal to sit right.

I agree with Colin in your pictures you definitely have the seal the wrong way round but it also looks a slightly larger profile on the EPDM celleular rubber section.

As long as this does not result in you having to slam your boot hard and the boot sits flush thenyou should be OK.

Post back any results.

Regards

Steve

[Grizzly]

I fitted my new seal today and had a similar problem but noticed that i had pushed the seal on too far. My original seal was pushed on so it was touching the bottom of the rain channel but i could push my new one on further (if that makes sense) when i did the corners went out of shape. If anything mine seals too well and you can hear the air rushing out of the seal as i shut the boot lid.

I'm not sure if its the same seal as your using but i bought this one from SJSportcars (sorry for the dodgy picture)

BTW the lip on the seal is on the inside and its aprox 10mm too long in over all length (hard to see on the picture)