July 1, 2023 Forum membership reaches 1,465 !!
This Community became 11 years old in April 2023.
Recent Posts
Thanks to all for the input on the door pins. I suspect it'll end up as a hacksaw job, given the way everything else not made of fibreglass seems to have fared...
Worked on with the stripdown this afternoon, another session of mixed progress.N/s door is now stripped of its door card, internal door locking mechanism, striker and electric winder motor. Drilled out the various rivets, and dug out the mastic round the frame, which is now loose as far as the quarterlight glass, which is not feeling like it wants to move. Am I missing something here? Do I need to winkle out the rubber seal round the glass? Don't want to break anything, so have left it overnight to read up on.
The electric window winder wouldn't work when I tested it, but you could hear the motor trying both ways. Will separate the motor and mechanism tomorrow and hopefully it's just the mechanism gunged or rusted up, and will free off.
Removed the remains of the seat runner fixings, carpet and underlay/sound deadening, and looked at the seat belt. The buckle mount was not even fixed in, sill mount for the belt will not unfasten so far - I fear the problems that EuropaTC (Brian) had with the strengthening plate may be a problem for me too. Will have a look from the wheelarch, where I will also have to retrieve the door catch that fell into the void!
Finally removed the centre console, which as you can see has had a tough life. plan is to strip it back, fibreglass it up to put the strength back in it, and re-cover it. However, if I delete the ashtray then I can put a screen or phone mount in the space freed up, as a nod to the 21st century.
Sorry if this sounds a bit whingy - I can't afford a Lotus and a therapist.Back to it tomorrow.
I want biodegradable but not after a few years...I also noticed a minor detail that affected my motors' speed. At the end of the swing arm that raises/lowers the window is a small plastic wheel. The bearing of mine was absolutely caked with dried grease. It took a while to flush out the 50 year old grease. But, re-greased, it now it rolls easily and provides just that little bit less friction in the window mechanism.
That's another very good shout, and pre-empted a question that was already forming in my mind. I was testing the winding mechanism using a 6A battery charger I had, and the current being drawn was in excess of 6A, reinforced by the charger cutting out after half a dozen cycles (oops). So I was wondering just how much current was being drawn, albeit for "only" 10-20 seconds - probably a bit much more than the wiring enjoys. Was already going to add relays to the headlights, looks like another good candidate.
Ok, I know you're a fair way away from putting the motors back into the doors but when you do, consider fitting relays with a heavy gauge feed to operate the motors. I did that, two small relays (up/down) and it made a phenomenal difference to the speed they operate. Heck, they're like a normal car now ! The bonus is that you're also taking the motor current away from the switches so in theory they should last forever now.
Brian
