Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: cal44 on Thursday,May 23, 2013, 03:02:12 PM
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Anyone here installed shocks in the springs. I have scratched my head so much over this I am starting to get bald.
I made a compressor of two steel plates and threaded stock. I have no problem compressing the spring but I have tried a bunch of tie wraps to stop it from expanding, they all popped when I eased up on the compressor. Then I used 250 pound flat rope....it stretches to much.
The shocks are Spax with the adjustable platform. Comments?
There has to be a way other than taking it to motorcycle shop.........this just seems silly I can't figure it out.
mike
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Mike
I am not sure what the exact problem is but I am guessing that your home made spring compressor takes up too much space for you to remove the shocks once the spring is compressed or is it that you can't remove the retaining collar at the top which just slides off once the spring is compressed (it has a slot in it). My spring compressor consists of two threaded rods, each with small hooks which hold on to the springs. When compressed sufficiently, the top collar slides off and the shock comes out.
Ron
54/2384
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Would your steel plates work with a large enough hole in the center to access and remove the shock? A hole just bigger than the inner diameter of the spring coil? Maybe I don't understand the problem?
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Ron and Mark, here is what I made. Maybe I am not getting this. I was hoping to compress the spring, tie off the spring with a bunch of tie wraps or flat pull rope (250lbs strength). The rope stretches and tie wraps pull out. I want to learn how to do this. I have done suspensions from Porsches 356 and 911, Tigers, Boss 302's and I have never come across this problem.
Another thing is, once the spring is compressed there isn't much room for a plate of steel to put between the coils. I was thinking about a one or two piece plate and using extra 5/8" bolts half way down the threaded stock. That way I have full adjustment where I want to clamp on to the spring with the plate/s. Does that make sense?
Addendum:
Spring compressor for front springs is now finished and both sides are on the the shocks. Install time is 20 minutes per shock as there are four bolts to adjust evenly. The shock is inserted into the spring first then taken down by the top plate (1/2" thick). I always over build. Threaded stock is 5/8".
Once down about two inches I hooked the keeepers on to the spring. Then quarter turns on the four bolts. I suspect I could do it faster but safety first. I did not weld on cups on the top and bottom plates since the shock is in and the spring cannot get sideways to get me. Material cost was $40 and I never need to rely on someone else mounting springs.
mike
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k571/cal442/Lotus/IMG_2957_zpsc8300acd.jpg) (http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/cal442/media/Lotus/IMG_2957_zpsc8300acd.jpg.html)
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k571/cal442/Lotus/IMG_2958_zps5036f252.jpg) (http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/cal442/media/Lotus/IMG_2958_zps5036f252.jpg.html)
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k571/cal442/Lotus/IMG_2960_zps7288db4f.jpg) (http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/cal442/media/Lotus/IMG_2960_zps7288db4f.jpg.html)
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k571/cal442/Lotus/IMG_2961_zps63740da0.jpg) (http://s1116.photobucket.com/user/cal442/media/Lotus/IMG_2961_zps63740da0.jpg.html)
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I can't get to my workshop to get a picture of mine but the attached generic photo from Google Images is a reasonable approximation. Perhaps my 'hooks' are slightly smaller but I have never had a problem with any Lotus springs using my compressors. There is always enough space between the coils to get the springs compressed enough to remove the collar. If you fitted similar hooks to the top of your home made compressor and left the bottom as it is, I bet it would work. In fact your bottom end would solve the problem with my compressors in that the hooks try to slide down the slope of the spring and have to be forced to stay central.
regards
Ron
54/2384
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Hi Mike,
My spring compressors are like the ones Ron shows, the only mod I've done is to grind away part of the hooks because they were too thick as standard to go between the coils of the springs I have. What I normally do is to leave the top & bottom coils free and place the hooks on maybe the 2nd/3rd coil from the end. Then compress until coil-bound, very slowly and usually with my foot on the spring at the time (assuming it's off the car ;) ) because I did have the compressors slip once and a spring bouncing around the workshop makes deep dints in whatever it hits !
Then I use plain rope to hold everything in place, as much a safety measure as anything. I wouldn't use tie wraps because being plastic they can go without warning and you're back dodging wild springs. Flat rope is hard to tie a knot in, and maybe that's the problem you have ? If not plain rope then I'd use the nylon straps with steel adjusters that you use for holding cars on trailers, I forget what they're called but you know what I mean ?
Don't beat yourself up about that installation though, the springs you have look as if they will be quite a tight fit on those dampers and I'd also struggle with getting them on. The only thing I can think of with your compressor is to cut the top plate so that it's a "U" and can pass over the largest fixed washer on the top of the damper, then slide it between the 2nd coil down and go from there. Tight engineering though, there doesn't look to be a lot of room to play with ?
Brian
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Mike, I have, I think, the same rear spring/dampers as you, and I don't need a compressor at all - you can assemble by hand. I got mine from RD.
Assemble the top into the collets, and with the damper fully extended you can engage the screw perch at the bottom with only a little push.
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Addendum to the original post.
Roger, I forgot to mention "front spring". Now corrected and thanks for the heads up.
mike
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Off Topic
Where did you get that Lotus clock on your garage wall from Mike ? I NEEEEED one !!!!!! :)
Brian
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Brian,
Ebay here in the States. But I haven't seen one for a couple of months. I will keep my eyes peeled for you. I will try and go through my purchase history and see. Just the two hands move, any more than that and I would be confused.
I liked the size and I think is was around $40 plus ship. Battery operated.
mike
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If you can find the dealer in your history then I'd be obliged if you'd let me know. I'm also going to try Ebay UK, you never know someone might have some imported here. (and it doesn't matter that only 2 hands work, or in fact if it works at all - it's going in the workshop and time is suspended the minute I go through the door ;) )
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Brian..............found it.
If the guy won't ship overseas have him send it to me. I'll send it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOTUS-ELAN-EXIGE-ELISE-ESPRIT-S4-EVORA-200-MPH-SPEEDOMETER-14-358-mm-CLOCK-/221232300473?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item33827901b9&vxp=mtr
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I think he does worldwide but I'll confirm it with him before I go the BIN route. 14" is a big clock, it'll look just right in a workshop. Amazing the things you can buy these days, isn't it ?
Brian
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Cheers for the clock info. I spotted that in your picture also, and I've been in the market for a shop clock. Actually, I'n not sure why though. As Brian says, time IS distorted once inside.
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Found this picture on the Yahoo Europa Group today. Now this is one brave guy :huh:
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/Hispano-Aleman-Castilla/Spring_Compressor.jpg)
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Holy Smokes..............
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Actually, this is an interesting way to do them. The original springs are so closely coiled, there isn't any good way to do it, unless you have motorcycle equipment. Check the photo. He ignored the original straps and used less wide, heavier ones. The only thing wrong with this setup is, you won't be able to slooooly release the pressure, so make sure the springs are centered on the slide-in top before doing a count down and launching.