Special window lift cable fasteners

[alexblack13]

Spent this morning in my workshop making these special window lift cable fasteners...

Another set off to the USA this morning, and a set off to a Local Guy, with another 3 sets ready to go when the donations are in. One chap wants 2 sets... Not belts and braces but a set each for his two cars...Thanks Bob..

Alex..

[bcmc33]

Spent this morning in my workshop making these special window lift cable fasteners...

Another set off to the USA this morning, and a set off to a Local Guy, with another 3 sets ready to go when the donations are in. One chap wants 2 sets... Not belts and braces but a set each for his two cars...Thanks Bob..

Alex..

Alex,

I've no real idea what this thread is about, but I fully intend to take the doors apart this winter to get the frames re-chromed, and re-wire the motors to the relays I fitted 4 years ago. So I guess I will need to look at the winding arrangement at the same time - for which I'm sure you will say I need a set of your magic fasteners.
So get back into the workshop to make another set to bring to the NEC - COD, OK?

[mgourwcg]

Spent this morning in my workshop making these special window lift cable fasteners...

Another set off to the USA this morning, and a set off to a Local Guy, with another 3 sets ready to go when the donations are in. One chap wants 2 sets... Not belts and braces but a set each for his two cars...Thanks Bob..

Alex..

Alex,

I've no real idea what this thread is about, but I fully intend to take the doors apart this winter to get the frames re-chromed, and re-wire the motors to the relays I fitted 4 years ago. So I guess I will need to look at the winding arrangement at the same time - for which I'm sure you will say I need a set of your magic fasteners.
So get back into the workshop to make another set to bring to the NEC - COD, OK?

They are better than magic every Elan should have them as standard equipment.

Michael
Sprint 1972

[alexblack13]

No Brian... No COD Bud.. Just a wee donation to my lads fundraising page for British Heart Foundation. he is seeking sponsorship to run the London Marathon 2012... I will send them to you if you PM me your address..If you want! Or hand them at the NEC...

The link is in this thread a few times but just in case ....

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundrai ... CraigBlack

Many, many thanks to everyone who has helped. The response is just amazing..

Al' ..........

[alexblack13]

Ah Yes... This stainless tapping of the through holes 18mm long is becoming a real challenge. Tried annealing for 1 hr at 200 F then quench after 2 Min's cooling. Better but.... So I am now investing in the correct stainless taps (tin coated etc) and I am hoping they will last. I only got 1 set made with the std Dormer M4 taps before 'Crack'... Getting expensive!! Broke the complete set.Wouldn't have bothered if they were Chinese but they were from my set of good ones!!

Plenty of lub' too tried everything from Moly to copperslip (better) to paraffin to Rocol purpose specific..

NOOOOOOpe!.... I'm on it though. 2 hrs yesterday morning to make 1 set (4)... It is a bugger to tap I can tell you. I think that I am work hardening the holes when drilling. Coolant is standard white suds but I have also tried paraffin (slow speed!) and WD40..

Might be reverting back to steel any minute now.. Anybody need some m6x20 button hd setscrews? I might have a few spare...

Mutter mutter....

Mike. Any suggestions? Anyone? ... Mutter mutter..

Day off today though... No taps!!

Al' ........

[bcmc33]

Ah Yes... This stainless tapping of the through holes 18mm long is becoming a real challenge. Tried annealing for 1 hr at 200 F then quench after 2 Min's cooling. Better but.... So I am now investing in the correct stainless taps (tin coated etc) and I am hoping they will last. I only got 1 set made with the std Dormer M4 taps before 'Crack'... Getting expensive!! Broke the complete set.Wouldn't have bothered if they were Chinese but they were from my set of good ones!!

Plenty of lub' too tried everything from Moly to copperslip (better) to paraffin to Rocol purpose specific..

NOOOOOOpe!.... I'm on it though. 2 hrs yesterday morning to make 1 set (4)... It is a bugger to tap I can tell you. I think that I am work hardening the holes when drilling. Coolant is standard white suds but I have also tried paraffin (slow speed!) and WD40..

Might be reverting back to steel any minute now.. Anybody need some m6x20 button hd setscrews? I might have a few spare...

Mutter mutter....

Mike. Any suggestions? Anyone? ... Mutter mutter..

Day off today though... No taps!!

Al' ........

What SS are you using,Alex? I've always found austenitic SS to be quite tough to machine, perhaps ferritic SS would be better.

Why not use brass?

[alexblack13]

Hi Brian,

Trying to keep a bit of strength in the fasteners which are made in A2, so should be machinable ok. Tapping the holes is the only issue really. I'm using 3.5 mm drill too which is .2 mm bigger than should be, and its still a bugger to tap. Not a question of if you break the tap but when... I'm going to try the new taps when they get here 1st. If no good or still issues anywhere else I will revert back to steel (for strength) or perhaps look at some brass as you suggest.

I will get Mrs B onto it and find out what fasteners I can get in 1/4 unf brass to start with.. Just in case..

Its getting the stuff in stainless that's the issue.. A2 is the common available, and they are easiest to get (cost!!) I have to buy them in 100 minimum to get passable price..

[alexblack13]

Sorted the tapping issue. Now do it on the lathe with the correct taps. Sorted..

Another 5 sets ready to go off so standby guys.. Also.. Anyone who has ordered and donated and has yet to receive. Give it a few days or so and PM me if no show... Just in case the post goes wonky..

A set leaves tomorrow for Australia too. The count is now even USA / Australia... 3 all.. LOL...

Anyone else? Get them whilst the offer lasts. They do work and they let one breath easy when re doing the window lift mech' No more exploding side windows.. AND all to a great cause too..

Al'.......

[mgourwcg]

Alex

I would not be happy with brass due to the section thickness between the root of the threads I suspect very thin and will just break when one puts a wee bit of torque on them. Another suggestion on supply of the fasteners could you not get them with a metric thread nobody will know !!!

Stainless steel slow speed plenty of lub not 3 in 1 too thin will run away when things get a bit hot. If the material gets hot it will harden and become impossible to drill/tap.

Are you tapping on the lathe?

Hope the expense does not break the budget

Michael Gourlay

Lotus Elan (beautiful window winding mechanism almost silent !!)

[mgourwcg]

Alex

Silly me of course you are using the lathe 'cos you said so


Michael

[alexblack13]

Hi Michael, All...




Sorted Michael... And the threads are metric bud.. Using M6 ....You got a set of M6 stainless did you not?

The half nuts are better too.. More Clearance..

The latest 'orders' are going off today guys.

Any more... Come on chaps, these work brilliantly and will save you in broken glass whilst supporting a great charity...


Alex...

[alexblack13]

Hi Guys,
Still plenty of time to make more window glass to lift cable special fasteners. (Now in Stainless)... Please help Craig hit his target raised when running the London 2012 Marathon. He is about 25% way there now and with the special events planned for early next year he should sail past the target post!!

Here's a couple of pics to get you guys donating. What you see is what you get.

4 Off.. Center drilled and tapped (M4) and fitted with a 10mm long deep hex grub screw & cross drilled to take the stainless wire rope(s). The fasteners do not require tightening against the glass to grip the ropes. This is done by the grub screws. The fasteners are then gently nipped up with a rubber o ring one side (cables) and a fibre washer the other side. No more exploding side windows. Confidently fit your window cables etc. You can slide the windows into position with the cables tensioned (I used a rubber bungee) and just lightly tighten the grub screws. No need to slacken the fasteners off. Not happy with position? Slacken the grubs and re position, then re tighten the grubs.. Just enough One does not need to use much torque. Just a nip up is sufficient..

Thanks to all who have supported with donations so far.. We have raised just over ?500.00... FANTASTIC!!!!

Get your order in and solve this (Joke of a) problem!!!!

Craig ran the great North run today in Edinburgh and finished just over 300th place (Out of 5K runner / starters) Time was 44mins 3 sec's.. His PB for this run...

Al'........

[alexblack13]

The scores on the doors..

Export business only....

USA......... 4 sets

Australia.... 3 sets.

Canada (late starters!) 1 set.

Total including gift aid is now over ?600.00 which is just fantastic...

[alexblack13]

All recent 'orders' now dispatched.. Including a set off to Canada..(Thanks Don!)

Brian.. I have a set for you ready. Will I send? .. Or wait and scrounge a beer on the strength of a hand over at the NEC??



Alex.....

[bcmc33]

All recent 'orders' now dispatched.. Including a set off to Canada..(Thanks Don!)

Brian.. I have a set for you ready. Will I send? .. Or wait and scrounge a beer on the strength of a hand over at the NEC??



Alex.....

The NEC is my favourite