Do I need to cut my Esprit to install a braide hose?

[Jacques]

As the title says, I have today trie for six hours to install ä braided clutch hose. Un fortunately I had to cut the ol one to save time, as I was on a rented place, so I cannot reuse it...

The problem is, that it says Lotus on the package, and when I try to install it, it is not possible to push it through hte holes in the glassfiber under the master cylinder, and forthermore it is not possible to push it through the holes in the chassis, both front and rear.

I think it stupid to make a braided hose with fittings so big, that one cannot install it.

I find it hard to believe, that the user have to drill much bigger holes in the glassfiber, an the chassis. The hose itself is thin, so it would leave big holes around the hose where it passes the various pieces, an lea to water, rust etc.

Furthermore the braided hose is made so, that it is needed to use further fittings to adapt it to the master and slave cylinder.

Very strange.

The hose I bought from South West Lotus Center and have a Lotus plastic wrap.

 

I am out of ideas.;(

 

Have anyone experienced this?

Advice is most welcome, as I was really pissed to pay a company  lots of moeny to drag the car home as it have no clutch, an I have to do it again to get to a workshop ;(

 

kind regards,

Jacques.

[cbclotus]

Hi Jacques..Small world mine. Has a slight weep from the braided hose replaced by the last owner bummer.So mine will need to be replaced.DId you get my pm.Mike.

[Simon350S]

The simple way is to just undo the fitting.

There's a small nut that the hose passes through with an olive then inserted between the braid and the internal pipe, this then clamps on to the fitting itself.

If you undo this nut from the fitting you can pull the hose through the chassis holes then re-attach the fitting end. Don't try to remove the nut from the pipe or the olive.

It's simple and you only need to do one end. Pop the grommets out of the chassis before you try to fit the pipe then slip them over the pipe separately and then refit back into the chassis holes.

That all sounds really complicated but it is very easy.

20 mins and you'll be done

[Jacques]

HI mike,

Yes, I did get your pm. But I suppose your is right han drive?

 I have friend who wants a 1990 SE but ir have to be left hand drive.

Any nice parts I should buy?

Sorry to hear about the weeping hose, as they normally last many years. It that normal for Esprits?

 

Hi Simon, Thanks, I will try to see what you mean. I don't know these English words for each part of the fittings, but I will just look it up. Hope to solve it this way.

 

Both: man, you guys are fast!

Kind regards,

Jacques.

[Sparky]

In my experience, the hose end fittings are still slightly too large - especially for the chassis at the front.  I normally file the hex corners down a fair bit until it can be pushed through easily.  This should leave enough for a spanner to get a hold of.

[Jacques]

Sparky, why don't they jsut make it like the original?

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

Here'sa few pics of my new braided hose.

What should I do?

 

 

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

[Sparky]

Who knows mate?  I have filed down every one I've fitted - and that's quite a few.

 

The last picture is the one you need to go at.  Just file the edges until it'll squeeze through the holes.  It's still a tight fit, but it can be done.  However, I've seen several where people have obviously given up and cable tied underneath.  Don't do that!

[Jacques]

Simon, I don't seem to have the nut that I can undo, to pull it back and anyway, the nut in the ends that is screwed onto the master or the slave, is also way too big.

 

I will write an official complaint to SWLC and ask them to pay my bill for transportation of my car.

 

I am seriously pissed!

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

[Jacques]

Just as a "funny" note, I can add that I just measured the two hoses, and the braided one id apprx. 15cm shorter than the original red pipe.

 

What i fail to understand is this: how on earth can someone sell such sc..p? It does not fit. There is no advices or similar given anywhere from the seller, that their product does not fit in neither length nor size, or that I have to make large hoels in my car, and finally, I even have to install extra fittings to each end, just to downsize from the useless oversize, to the actual size needed to fit them to the master and slave cylinder?

I think it's pathetic.

If no other good soloutions surfaces, I will take Sparky's advice and file it Down to squeeze through the holes.

If the product would fit, it would not take too long to make this job, and the car would be better. Not, as it is, well, it's the opposite.

In all fairness, I will add, that I wrote to the seller this evening, and asking for an explanation/soloution. I will add this here.

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

[Simon350S]

Sorry, that's a hose with crimped fittings not the usual bolt together..

Shame.

[Jacques]

and 93 gbp plus p&p to denmark 73 gbp. ;(

 

But thanks for the advice. I now know what you mean, ad the fuel hoses I have installed on my Esprit are made like you described, and are easy to take apart or modify.

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

[Simon350S]

Here's the ones I used to get for the guys here.

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11744&hl=clutch+hose

Not sure if they are still available though, not seen my mate for a long time.

[Jacques]

Hi Simon,

 

That looks like propper stuff to me!

I'll try to make conact to buy one, and then I'll make a video of how I set fire to that Price of crap I happen to have bought.

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

[Bibs]

£73 shipping is pretty nuts, I'm sure that's a mistake!!

[Jacques]

Probably not, as there were some other parts too. But still steep

 

Cheers,

Jacques.

[Jacques]

Question: What is the easiest way to take out the rubbers from the holes in the chassis? A bit stiff and inaccessible, I'd say.

 

Kind regards,

Jacques.

[Simon350S]

First tie a piece of string or wire through them incase you accidentally pop them inwards. If you don't you risk loosing them inside the chassis...

Think I used a small screwdriver to just collapse them in a bit and flick them out.

It's been a long time though. Was easy enough.

[Jacques]

Phew, Anothr day spent under happy circumstances I've finally managed to install the clutch hose after taking Sparky's advice on filing it Down to suit the holes in the chassis, reinstalled rubbers, filled and bled the system with fresh DOT 4, and tied everything back up as it should and was, like hoses, cables, wire for alarm, big flat cover below the chassis etc.

Good I did, because my boss just called me, and said I have to move my car from the workshop, as they are coming Monday to lay a new roof on the house. Great news!

 

 

Yeah yeah, I know, muuuuuch too slow, but it's a do and learn experience, and NeXT time, I'll be able to do it much more quick. Well, I also polished the car and did some other small jobs like cleaning the Whole workshop, and drinking God know how many Liters of Juice as it's really hot today. Now, to enjoy  a hopefully tight, spot on clutch that does not need too much after-bleeding. I'll do that later this evening.

 

Actually it's an easy job, if ONLY THE FITINGS WOULD SUIT THE CAR, NOT BEING 2.5 MM TOO LARGE!!!

In relation to other threads around here, I've just managed to save 746.998.472 Uganda $ on Labour with American exotic car Labour rates, which can now be spent for titanium bolts to reach my stage 7 plan

 

Cheers n' beers,

Jacques.

 

now, if only I could get my 1982 movable telephonebox to spell correctly with it's 4 by 4 dot matrix display...

 

or in quick: job done.

[Simon350S]

Nicely done mate!

[Jacques]

Hi Simon,

Thanks, I've now bled the system once more, and I think it's pot on, with a feeling in the clutch pedal, that it's a bit hard, smooth, an aroun mid travel, it passes over a point where it isengages finally, an becomes a bit looser or something like that.

Uhm, wasn't very clear. Well, it's like on my Corrado, and gearshift and clutch itself is smooth and easy and noisefree

Easy job. Next: oil seals on the gearbox.

Oh what fun

 

Cheers, and now for Le Mans, over and out,

Jacques.