Late "hard to find" steering column parts

[pharriso]

When I acquired my car I had to replace the column mounted ignition lock & the wire shroud on the column was missing. With the steering lock engaged it was also possible to rotate the whole outer steering column & there was a significant amount of up / down movement due to a missing steering column clip.

None of these parts were even listed by my 3 normal parts providers (Matty/Miller/RDent) as they were "off the shelf" Triumph parts. "Off the shelf" in all three instances meant the parts left the shelves along time ago & not available from vendors like Rimmer brothers.

After considerable research I did manage to find all 3 parts from Vendors as New Old Stock (NOS) parts. So for others that might face the same challenge, here are the parts & the source that I found:

1: Upper Steering Column clip - Triumph 609639 - This part is common to all Elans.

SteeringColumnClip_Triumph609639.JPG (31.08 KiB) Viewed 2913 times

This part goes around the steering column on top, under the upper steering column clamp. Without this part & the wiring channel/shroud the whole steering column can rotate.

Part available from RevingtonTR in the UK for ?1.48 - http://www.revingtontr.com/shop/product_display.asp?mscssid=XER88BP3P2U09JWWMWHWJEGM5FV64VB0&ProductID=609639

Used clips sell for ?20 on eBay!!

2.: Steering Column wiring Shroud: Triumph 611639L - goes over the wiring from the shrouds underneath the column & through the upper steering clamp.

This is different from the earlier shroud (611639E) (S1, S2, S3 & early S4?) in that it is missing the clamp to go around the column.

Available from Spitbits in California for $10.50 - http://www.spitbits.com/store/32-COLUMN-WIRE-COVER-MK41500-1req-P6622.aspx

3: Steering Column lock Anti Tamper Screws: Triumph 152597

This was actually the hardest part to find & I happened to stumble upon it when I found the steering column clip at RevingtonTR. These are the 5/16 UNC x 1" anti tamper screws - the head breaks off when they are installed.

Until I found this part I was using socket head cap screws; Mini 51k4001/4002 & Land Rover QRH100030 all look correct, but are in fact UNF

Available from RevingtonTR for ?3.89 ea. - http://www.revingtontr.com/shop/product_display.asp?mscssid=XER88BP3P2U09JWWMWHWJEGM5FV64VB0&ProductID=152597

All parts were relatively inexpensive.

My steering column is now as it should have been Thanks to Nick (Elanner) & Gary (Pissant) for helping identify the missing parts.

[pharriso]

I have an admission to make.... in hindsight I got it wrong!!

After considerable research & cross referencing the Twin Cam Europa I have come to the conclusion that these are the correct parts that stop the outer steering column rotating on cars with a steering column mounted ignition lock:

Photo Courtesy Bloodknock

Of particular importance is the anti-rotation bracket:

The bracket is very substantial, it is mild steel & 1/8" thick. & is different for RHD & LHD cars.

As you can see in the first photo & this photo of Kenny Mance's federal Sprint, cars with the steering column mounted ignition lock do not use either the steering Column clip, or wiring channel/shroud.

The steering column mounted ignition switch is not shown in the Elan parts book at all & neither is the anti-rotation bracket; but similar parts are documented in the Europa Twin Cam parts book:

I was recently able to buy a RHD Europa anti-rotation bracket from Jerry (JabingB) & then model the ignition switch / bracket assembly:

[pharriso]

As I have written elsewhere, I have "guestimated" dimensions of the Elan Bracket from photo's & then fabricated a bracket in Aluminium:

The bracket is functional, but not identical to the original... I have not been able to buy, or even put my hand on an Elan LHD or RHD anti-rotation bracket. If anyone has either a LHD or RHD Elan bracket not assembled onto the steering column I'd love to borrow it to measure. Or alternatively if you could trace the outline, or scan the 2 outside faces I'd appreciate it...

I'd like to document the LHD & RHD brackets for other Owners & possibly manufacture a sturdier MS bracket or 2...

[Spyder fan]

Phil,
This is great research and I have archived your findings for future reference. I do hope that others will contribute with patterns for the anti rotation plate. It’s really difficult to find original parts for the more obscure or perhaps robust components. Robust would mean that replacement isn’t often necessary and that causes us problems nearly 60 years down the road.

Keep up the good work, it’s appreciated

[elancoupe]

Thanks to a PO, my S3 has an ignition lock column. I fitted one of the above mentioned column clips, but it didn’t really cure column rotation. This thread proves why, and makes me a candidate for a RHD bracket, should such a thing be produced or unearthed.

Great research, Phil

[gjz30075]

Phil, would a Europa bracket work for you? Might be able to get one.

[pharriso]

Phil, would a Europa bracket work for you? Might be able to get one.

Thanks Greg, but I bought a RHD Europa TCS off here a couple of months ago from Jerry:

All scanned & documented...

Really really need a LHD or RHD Elan bracket to confirm my dimensions. I even have a manufacturer lined up to make some...

[gjz30075]

Phil, I found this one in my stash. I think it's from a LHD +2. Will be glad to loan it to you.

[pharriso]

PM sent Greg with my address... really appreciate it!

[pharriso]

Quick Update: Greg's bracket was/is the desired Left Hand Drive Steering column anti-rotation bracket. I have since found that Elan Plus2s with Steering Column mounted ignition switches used a bracket welded directly to the column.

I have measured & reverse engineered the Elan bracket & manufactured a copy to validate the "design":

Re-engineered bracket (assembled) & Greg's original...

I'm now going to finish detailing the design & have an English Lotus parts specialist interested in producing a small batch of both LHD & RHD brackets. More info to follow...