CC signature wheel rebuild?
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Out of my 70 s4. As the PO must have used the steering wheel to help exiting from the convertible ?lan.
The signature Colin Chapman steering wheel is broken. Because it is wrapped in leather, it is still all there. It is cracked/broken above/between the 3 & 9 o?clock metal arms/spokes.
My hope is to cut away the old material, and get into the guts. I suspect, I will find a broken metal ring covered in foam? Maybe someone has pictures or description please.
My repair would include reinforcements around 3 & 9 o?clock, not sure what material yet. Though I suspect some decent metal put though my roller to match the curve of the center. Most likely reaching from somewhere below to above the spokes.
Baltic birch or some high phenol plywood, cut out with temmil/circle jig. Router or carve out recess for reinforcements. Epoxy together with some angel hair mat. Possibly screwed/bolted most likely not rivited. Wood cleaned up, and possibly adding finger grips but i doubt it (probably small if any).
And stitched/glued covered with leather.
Any thoughts/comments appreciated please
The signature Colin Chapman steering wheel is broken. Because it is wrapped in leather, it is still all there. It is cracked/broken above/between the 3 & 9 o?clock metal arms/spokes.
My hope is to cut away the old material, and get into the guts. I suspect, I will find a broken metal ring covered in foam? Maybe someone has pictures or description please.
My repair would include reinforcements around 3 & 9 o?clock, not sure what material yet. Though I suspect some decent metal put though my roller to match the curve of the center. Most likely reaching from somewhere below to above the spokes.
Baltic birch or some high phenol plywood, cut out with temmil/circle jig. Router or carve out recess for reinforcements. Epoxy together with some angel hair mat. Possibly screwed/bolted most likely not rivited. Wood cleaned up, and possibly adding finger grips but i doubt it (probably small if any).
And stitched/glued covered with leather.
Any thoughts/comments appreciated please
Born, and brought home from the hospital (no seat belt (wtf)) in a baby!
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
Find out where the limits are, and start from there
Love your Mother
Earth
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h20hamelan - Coveted Fifth Gear
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Where are you?
Recently someone posted on this site about replacement steering wheels, the company making them is jacobengineering.co.uk in Gloucestershire UK. The price quoted for a leather Elan S4 steering wheel is ?415. These wheels look excellent on the web site.
Richard Hawkins
Recently someone posted on this site about replacement steering wheels, the company making them is jacobengineering.co.uk in Gloucestershire UK. The price quoted for a leather Elan S4 steering wheel is ?415. These wheels look excellent on the web site.
Richard Hawkins
- RichardHawkins
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They are spot on as he has the original designs (he owns the Springall name) and he borrowed my S4 wheel to check that his new wheels are absolutely perfect. He's making the wood rim as well now, and they are stunning!
Mark
Mark
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Elanintheforest - Coveted Fifth Gear
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When I re-stitched my wheel some years ago I posted some photos here, they'll give you an idea of what to expect.
lotus-suspension-f42/redoing-steering-wheel-t23420.html#p149681
Cheers,
Ralph.
lotus-suspension-f42/redoing-steering-wheel-t23420.html#p149681
Cheers,
Ralph.
- reb53
- Fourth Gear
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OP be careful where and how you repair. If it is the outer ring then just welding up would probably be fine, if it?s where the rim meets the spars then I believe they are designed to break on impact for safety. Bypassing this could cause serious injury in an accident.
Mark at Jacobs is a really nice guy see what he can sort for you.
Mark at Jacobs is a really nice guy see what he can sort for you.
Steve
Silence is Golden; Duct Tape is Silver
Silence is Golden; Duct Tape is Silver
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elanfan1 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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For future reference, does anyone know of someone here in the US that restores steering wheels? Using the same steering components as the Elan, my Elva Coupe has a near identical wheel as my S2. The wheel is delaminating and now is as good a time to start the first component of the restoration.
Rob Walker
26-4889
50-0315N
1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe
Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
26-4889
50-0315N
1964 Sabra GT
1964 Elva Mk4T Coupe (awaiting restoration)
1965 Ford Falcon Ranchero, 302,AOD,9",rack and pinion,disc,etc,etc,etc
1954 Nash Healey LeMans Coupe
Owning a Lotus will get you off the couch
- prezoom
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A tip, when buying the leather to stitch onto the steering wheel ensure that the maximum stretch is longitudinal and the minimum stretch is across the wheel. Leather does stretch easier and longer one way.
When stitching you may find that the longitudinal stretch can be trimmed better when you come to the end ie come to where you started.
Hope this helps
When stitching you may find that the longitudinal stretch can be trimmed better when you come to the end ie come to where you started.
Hope this helps
- mgourwcg
- First Gear
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I?m no expert on Sprints. But having followed this forum for a while, I wouldn?t be at all surprised to hear the answer that comes back, to be something along the lines of........ It depends what Lotus had lying around at the time!
Do you have reason to think your steering wheel is original?
If you do. Then it probably is?
Do you have reason to think your steering wheel is original?
If you do. Then it probably is?
Where, then, lies the answer? In choice. Which shall it be: bankruptcy of purse or bankruptcy of life?
Plus 2S
BLL 315H in white.
Plus 2S
BLL 315H in white.
- EPC 394J
- Third Gear
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Alan, yes you should have a signed wheel I believe 1972 would have been the pvc wheel with the largerflat boss. I good condition as pvc damage is effectively irreparable will be very hard yo find and very expensive.
Many have been recovered in leather and in the circumstances tends to be an acceptable replacement.
Many have been recovered in leather and in the circumstances tends to be an acceptable replacement.
Steve
Silence is Golden; Duct Tape is Silver
Silence is Golden; Duct Tape is Silver
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elanfan1 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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My Sprint (71) has a plastic covered CC signed wheel, complete with what I assume is a soldering iron or cigarette burn in the plastic.
From the previous comments, am I right in assuming the only option is to recover in leather?
Apart from the originality issue, to be honest the plastic is pretty nasty, I would imagine a leather wheel is much nicer to hold.
From the previous comments, am I right in assuming the only option is to recover in leather?
Apart from the originality issue, to be honest the plastic is pretty nasty, I would imagine a leather wheel is much nicer to hold.
68 Elan S3 HSCC Roadsports spec
71 Elan Sprint (still being restored)
32 Standard 12
Various modern stuff
71 Elan Sprint (still being restored)
32 Standard 12
Various modern stuff
- Andy8421
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Andy8421 wrote:My Sprint (71) has a plastic covered CC signed wheel, complete with what I assume is a soldering iron or cigarette burn in the plastic.
From the previous comments, am I right in assuming the only option is to recover in leather?
Apart from the originality issue, to be honest the plastic is pretty nasty, I would imagine a leather wheel is much nicer to hold.
Andy, leather is much nicer as you mention, and I found the plastic one a bit dangerous as it is quite slippery if you have any moisture on your hands.
Plastic was used on the non-S/E S4 and all Sprints (as far as I know), so it was just a cost-saving I guess. Covering in leather is the only way to go....and a much better option.
Mark
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Elanintheforest - Coveted Fifth Gear
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