Hissy Fits - ah, we're back to normal
So, we have an engine that fires. Time to set off and see if it moves. Ah, that’s better, my faith in Lotus is restored; the clutch has stuck and I can’t get any gears with the engine running. Phew, this is more like it.
Well, we can deal with this in several ways starting with taking the engine/transmission through several heat/cool cycles to see if the thermal expansion dislodges the clutch plate. No ? Well then it’s putting the car in gear with a piece of wood to hold the clutch pedal depressed & rock the car back & to.
Both are pretty feeble though, and usually it’s a case of putting the car on axle stands so the rear wheels rotate, running the car in gear & then doing the heel’n’toe trick to let the rear brakes force the clutch free.
A known problem but a half hearted effort by HTU as it frees off at stage 2, rocking in gear. The Elan would never give up so easily.
Service Kit
Ok, we’re up and moving. Time to change all the fluids & filters. Air filter, check. Engine oil filter & new oil, check. Gearbox oil, drain & refill, check.
All done, time for tea & scones.....
New Oil Seal Installed
The next morning I saunter down & open the workshop door, all set for the brake fluid change when I realise that HTU has laid her own little oil slick all over the floor with best EP80. A quick look and I can see that there’s been a steady drip from the output shaft oil seals.
Maybe HTU is remembering what being a Lotus is all about after all ?
Technically I suppose you should remove the gearbox to unscrew the alloy holder and replace the seal . But this is a 352 'box and I managed by just removing the driveshaft, prising the old seal out (it didn’t come out easily, clearly an OEM Lotus part) and then carefully pressing in a new oil seal.
So far, fingers crossed, it’s holding and we have no more drips.
The oil seal is easily available from most bearing suppliers. The old one was marked as 54x36x11 (OD, ID, Width) and there is an easily available 54x36x10 seal for around £6. It fits & seals perfectly which makes me wonder, “why 11mm ?”