Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Nick in Beds on Thursday,October 08, 2015, 06:06:11 AM
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Hi All, I cannot see how to dismantle the pedal assembly - it looks like it is welded together!! Anyone tried to seperate it for cleaning, painting, lubrication?
Thanks, Nick.
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Yep, it's not meant to be taken apart. I suppose the welds could be ground off and taken apart. Reproductions are available (I think from r.e. enterprises and Banks) or if you're really adventurous, you could make your own!
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Hi Nick,
I've taken mine apart a long while ago when I thought there was too much slop in the bushes. I ended up making a new bottom plate (where it bolts to the floor) because it was heavily rusted underneath. I'm pretty sure when I put it back together it was a case of welding large washers on the ends, I do remember it was one of those jobs that ended up twice as long as I expected.
If yours is moving freely, not worn and structurally sound I don't think you gain a lot from stripping them down. If you need to then it's all a very low tech assembly.
Brian
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If you are adventurous like BMA mentioned, attached are (5) PDF drawings showing the pedal assembly I made for 4605R.
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Opps, BDA, not BMA
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Thanks chaps - it is in useable condition so I may leave it for now. I just have a natural tendency to take things apart, clean, paint, adjust, lubricate etc ... my wife says it is a mental deficiency but I don't think I am alone ... am I ?!
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Opps, BDA, not BMA
It's ok. I've been called worse! :)
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Nick - everyone in this group has the same affliction
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There is something very satisfying and therapeutic about taking something dirty and not working apart, cleaning it, repairing it, and putting it back together again.
When the 40ft container full of scrap Lotus bits arrived in Norfolk, a lot of people would think I was certifiable.
When I bought my derelict barn in 1999, my parents thought I was barking mad. It is now a 4 bedroom 3600 sq ft detached residence.
When I had Triang OO/HO electric trains for toys when I was about 9 or 10, I used to repair them, as I could not afford to get them repaired, or buy new ones. (Hornby was nasty 3 rail then).
It is a hobby. There are far worse. Lotus Europas are simple and are appreciating in value. Anything metal is easily repairable. Anything fibreglass is also cheaply repairable by specialists, so they just don't rust away, unlike many British sportscars. MG Midgets, MGBs Triumph Spitfires, Triumph GT6s, Triumph Stags, Triumph TR5s, TR6s, and Jaguar E Types spring to mind.
Must go, men in white coats say it's time for dinner.....
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What 4129R said except that I'd say that you don't need to be a specialist to do fiberglass. It's easy! That's part of what makes restoring a Lotus easy!
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Another alternative? Check this out.
http://www.2040-parts.com/lotus-europa-s2-stainless-pedal-assembly-i1011162/
Mike Mileski
Tucson, AZ
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Must go, men in white coats say it's time for dinner.....
LMAO, what's for dinner! Sorry don't want to hijack the thread that just made me laugh.
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I obviously didn't learn..... I had a '69 in 1974 and now I've got the same one 41 years later.... -) I've just got to the pedals (Hinges next) I managed to sand blast the rust off and compressed air blew the blast residue out, paint next and some lubrication "down the pipe" it's coming along well and I'll post the pics this weekend. Bye the way, what's actually for dinner?
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By the way, what's actually for dinner?
I didn't really know, because they make me wear this white jacket with my arms folded tightly across my chest, so I can't feed myself, and then they feed me with a spoon and the food is all mashed up.
The nice men only take the jacket off me when it is time to work on my cars again.
This weekend, shimming up the cams again. Now I have an Imperial micrometer it is much easier. With the last engine rebuild, I put 3 things on too early, the head, the water pump and the sump, and had to take them off to get the timing chain on and the cams timed properly. Water pump, then head, then time the cams, then sump.
Easy when you know how, but the learning curve has to be carefully remembered.
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Nick - everyone in this group has the same affliction
AKA - 'if it ain't broke, fix it till it is...'
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AKA - 'if it ain't broke, fix it till it is...'
:) Now that just bought one of those memory flashbacks to mind. (I clearly have not enough to do at the moment)
Anyway, when I was very young, pre-school age, apparently I used to have one of those metal pedal cars that kids had in the 1950s. I can't recall any of this but recently my mum commented on my addiction to old cars with the line "when you had that red pedal car you used to ride it up the path to the top of the garden, get out and then turn it upside down to "mend it". Not much has changed, has it ?"
Speechless...... but at least I have an excuse now; I've always been like this.
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It's nice to me amongst like minded "patients". Time to take the medication now ...
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I had mine vapour blasted which leaves no blast medium behind and leaves a perfect finish. Oiled and painted looks like new with no hard work.