steering wheel repairs / restoration

PostPost by: memnon » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:02 pm

Hello everyone -

Has anyone had any experience getting a steering wheel repaired / restored? If so who did it and would you recommend them?

I'm looking for UK repairers.

I bought a fuel tank from Andy Wiltshire partly because of the good experiences people had dealing with Andy, I'm looking for the same sort recomendations with regards to sorting my steering wheel out.

Thanks,

Jason
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PostPost by: lotusfan » Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:42 am

Jason

Len Chandler (01276 856591) is usually at Lotus parts fairs and does a lovely job - worth a phone call.
Mike
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PostPost by: ElanSeries2 » Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:49 am

I'd second that - Len refurbished my wheel, and his work was excellent. He knows the differences between all the different Lotus wheels, which is reassuring when you're entrusting him with something that's difficult to replace.

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PostPost by: trw99 » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:50 am

Don't forget that you can also get your wheel refurbished at a very reasonable price, by the factory.

Alternatively, you can try Len Chandler, as others recommend or indeed, Nick Fulcher, who used to work at Hethel in the trim department. His site is here: http://www.coachtrimmer.co.uk

Tim
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PostPost by: dusty » Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:02 am

trw99 wrote:Don't forget that you can also get your wheel refurbished at a very reasonable price, by the factory.

Tim


Who would you contact in the factory for a price on this?

Cheers
Jon
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PostPost by: trw99 » Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:00 pm

dusty wrote:
trw99 wrote:Don't forget that you can also get your wheel refurbished at a very reasonable price, by the factory.

Tim


Who would you contact in the factory for a price on this?

Cheers
Jon


Jon

See this thread for further details:

http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/viewtop ... ght=#12994

Tim
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PostPost by: dusty » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:21 pm

Thanks. That link mentions pictures in a gallery, does this still exist? The current gallery section in the forum started mid '06 and the pictures posted in the gallery of wheels upholstered by the factory where uploaded in Jan '06.

Cheers
Jon
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PostPost by: neilsjuke » Sat Feb 21, 2009 3:10 pm

Had My sprint wheel refurbished by Len nice work ?100 less than others.
Neil
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PostPost by: cbxbikenut » Sat Feb 21, 2009 3:52 pm

Neilsjuke,

You say it was ?100 less than the others, What did it cost and who are the others?

I have a Sprint wheel I would like redone also.

Thanks,

Herb
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PostPost by: neilsjuke » Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:36 pm

It was some time back and a show cash job so best if you talk to Len or as you are over the pond .
[email protected]
I did telephone round the Uk trimmers and above .
Len has a moulds to replace the rubber/ replace spokes and give a fixed price
Neil
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PostPost by: Elanintheforest » Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:08 pm

Neil...that rim looks a bit thicker than normal...and looks better for it. Does Len do different thicknesses?

Mark
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PostPost by: mac5777 » Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:44 pm

Hi Jason, what type of wheel do you have, 15 inch wood or the leather wrapped? I restored my 15 " wood original wheel. Depending on what you need to do, if it is just to refinish it, I hand sanded and sprayed multiple coats of mat finish and to sand the finger grips I used a 1" socket wrapped with sandpaper, it was the perfect fit. Later sold it on Ebay and got much more than I thought I would ever get for it. I replace it with a smaller 14", thicker Nardi wheel. I also refinished my Nardi wheel. Now I wish I had kept the original wheel for its rarity and probably would have lived with the 15" wheel.
If you have to time and want to save money, it is good therapy and a rewarding feeling to do it yourself.

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PostPost by: neilsjuke » Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:33 pm

Mark
Yes it is a bit thicker and feels better for it mind you when he stripped mine he found some bike inner tube as a filler.
The picture makes it look thicker I have put the calipers on it and it is 25mm or about an inch
Neil
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PostPost by: memnon » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:03 pm

Thanks for all the advice, I spoke to Len Chandler and he is going to do the work for me.
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PostPost by: redelan64 » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:25 am

I also had my Elan steering wheel restored about 4 years ago after a large truck driver used it to lever himself out of the car while transporting it interstate in Australia.
The rim was broken both sides at the spokes.
I sent it back to the UK to Nick Fulcher and he replaced the rim and recovered it in leather.
He did a fantastic job - it's so good I use it for shows and the Momo for daily use.

Craig
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