Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Can someone explain the front bonnet attachment and operation? The bobbins in both bonnet and body are knackered after having been rethreaded 5/16 NC on one side and 3/8" NC on the other side. It looks like it was supposed to be 1/4" bolts on both sides threaded through both body and chassis. If this is the case, do the bolts thread in and out of the body bobbins while opening and closing? Thanks

Mine is just 1/4" bolts with nuts in the wheel wells. No threaded bobbins I believe. May not be original...

Yep mbell is right. Just 1/4" bolts with heads on the inside and nyloc nuts in the wheel-wells.
No threaded bushes. A washer (or two) is placed between the bonnet and body each side to provide some clearance.
HTH

OK thanks guys. Guess I'll do it that way and just upsize the bolts. I'm thinking the bobbins weren't threaded, they just appeared to be from opening and closing .

Baggy2 wrote:No threaded bushes. A washer (or two) is placed between the bonnet and body each side to provide some clearance.

Might be wrong on this but I don't think washers were fitted at the factory. I have thought about putting some nylon washers on mine too ensure not bonnet to body interference.

Currently I just adjust the the two bolts to position the bonnet and just a bit of tension.

Original is NO Washers anywhere. NO Nuts anywhere.
The Bobbins in the Bonnet and in the Body are threaded.
SET SCREW each side fitted from inside Bonnet Flange. That way the Head of the Set Screw locks against the Bobbin and you can fit a flat/wide Spring Wawher under Screw heads.
The Threads in ALL 4 Bobbins keep the Bonnet central and NO Washers needed.
Put some Oil/Grease on the Threads in Body.
Don't forget to adjust the Support in the middle of the Transversal Tube across front of Bonnet to support Bonnet
You may be able to fit "Helicol Inserts" which is better than Threads direct in Bobbins.
Have fun
Alan

To concur, mine are the same as Alan describes. The 1/4'' bolts are screwed tight to the bobbin on the inside of the bonnet and then the bonnet when opening and closing pivots on the bolt threads in the bobbin in the body.

Alan

cheers Alan,
to confirm i thought i was out in the cold alone and being a bit of an Anorak lol
Alan

I have modified my bonnet by using the original 1/4" bolt as a fixed pin on one side, and a spring-loaded retractable pin on the other.

The bonnet stay is secured by a P- clip.

The bonnet can be removed in less than 10 seconds.

Foxie wrote:I have modified my bonnet by using the original 1/4" bolt as a fixed pin on one side, and a spring-loaded retractable pin on the other.

The bonnet stay is secured by a P- clip.

The bonnet can be removed in less than 10 seconds.

Nice mod! I might copy that next time I paint or need to remove the bonnet.

How does it centralise the Bonnet.
Are there machined shoulds on the Pins.
Some details would be handy please
Alan

Alan,
Normally there is a 1/4inch bobbin in the bonnet and a corresponding one in the body, that’s the way they left the factory. A simple 1/4inch bolt is used to connect the two parts. There is a metal framework connected to the bonnet to provide rigidity and the 1/4inch bolts pass through this.

Here’s a useful topic. viewtopic.php?f=36&t=40278&start=

alan.barker wrote:How does it centralise the Bonnet.
Are there machined shoulds on the Pins.
Some details would be handy please
Alan

I selected large diameter 1/4" washers of appropriate thickness to centralise the bonnet, glued them in place, and blended them with filler to conform to the bonnet flange.

Cheers Foxie,
A good idea if you need to take the Bonnet off.
That's the beauty of the Bonnet on my Sprint, unclip the Spring very easy.
Alan

alan.barker wrote:Original is NO Washers anywhere. NO Nuts anywhere.
The Bobbins in the Bonnet and in the Body are threaded.
SET SCREW each side fitted from inside Bonnet Flange. That way the Head of the Set Screw locks against the Bobbin and you can fit a flat/wide Spring Wawher under Screw heads.
The Threads in ALL 4 Bobbins keep the Bonnet central and NO Washers needed.
Put some Oil/Grease on the Threads in Body.
Don't forget to adjust the Support in the middle of the Transversal Tube across front of Bonnet to support Bonnet
You may be able to fit "Helicol Inserts" which is better than Threads direct in Bobbins.
Have fun
Alan

Hi Spyder Fan,
As i said above 100%
Cheers
Alan