Lotus Elan Central

by **ailwyn** » Wed 07.03.2007, 01:11

roger_fewtrell wrote:How much longer?

How long have you got?

by **Gee0** » Tue 27.03.2007, 17:41

Any News on the seals? :!:

by **Nige** » Thu 05.04.2007, 12:22

Not Yet

. But I do know Lotus are still working on it and are as frustrated as we are.

by **juniorjames** » Tue 01.05.2007, 07:03

i'm sure everyone is bored of writing this now, but is there any news on the seals?

by **Candles** » Tue 01.05.2007, 08:33

by **surfboardfiller** » Tue 01.05.2007, 09:03

I think the trouble is that Lotus are not working on it and their supplier might be. :evil:

Luckily I managed to get a pair over the weekend so I can at least fill the gap between the A pillar and window now. :-D

by **philip_sloper** » Sun 06.05.2007, 14:48

Surferphil

Where did you manage to get them from?

by **surfboardfiller** » Wed 09.05.2007, 18:16

philip_sloper wrote:Surferphil

Where did you manage to get them from?

Only 2nd hand ones, sorry if I got anyone excited :roll:

I want to make some silicone ones but don't have the time at the moment.

by **tigerdog** » Mon 18.06.2007, 21:11

carryondentist wrote:I was having a look under my boot carpet (thinking about strut braces) and I've randomly found a genuine Lotus R/H A pillar seal, happily sealed in it's bag in my boot for 10years + !!

Is a single seal of much use to any UK Elan owners here?

either for a new die to be made, or to complete a project for someone?

Did anything come of this? Seems like it could be the "rosetta stone" someone would need to make new moulds. If nothing else, it could be used as a pattern for mocking up the required Autocad drawings.

by **Paul.P** » Mon 18.06.2007, 22:23

Yea Tigerdog, iv'e got a new set of seals here, & did offer them for a mould, but no takers , more the pity. We keep thinking lotus are gonna come up with these, as we know there having trials, but its been well over a year now !

Website · by **theelanman** » Mon 18.06.2007, 22:33

Paul
think I'm gonna ask round and see if I cant find someone to take you up on your offer
if thats ok with you......
failing that whats the cross section???......could you do me a drawing/sketch???
cheers
Gareth

by **surfboardfiller** » Mon 18.06.2007, 22:38

When I finish my current contract in a few weeks, I'll research materials for the seals. If this goes well I'll make some. It's not difficult.

Phil

Website · by **theelanman** » Mon 18.06.2007, 22:45

Phil
can you add me to the list please......
I'll do some research and 'stuff' too....
but would deffo like to be on the list
cheers
Gareth

by **surfboardfiller** » Tue 19.06.2007, 08:32

The problem with this little project is investing money into materials and moulds with the looming thought that Lotus may be approving their own at any time. (This is probably why no one else has done it. It put me off back in January.) It is without a doubt that these seals need to be redesigned to solve the problems inherent with the existing shape. I have a few ideas.

Although B-Post caps and light panels are my priority, I am involved with materials experts and can tap into them for information.

by **Monty** » Tue 19.06.2007, 16:55

surferphil wrote:The problem with this little project is investing money into materials and moulds with the looming thought that Lotus may be approving their own at any time. (This is probably why no one else has done it. It put me off back in January.) It is without a doubt that these seals need to be redesigned to solve the problems inherent with the existing shape. I have a few ideas.

Although B-Post caps and light panels are my priority, I am involved with materials experts and can tap into them for information.

Phil,

Think it will be down to price, if u do it alot cheaper than Lotus then i`m sure people would buy them through u.

PS, don`t forget my rear end lol :wink:

by **tigerdog** » Tue 19.06.2007, 17:19

Heck, if you do a workable product, Lotus should buy them from you. :-D

by **gtm100** » Wed 20.06.2007, 05:03

Paul,
My son can do a laser scan of small items and produce drawings for someone to make a mould from. I don't know how rubber is cast. I presume Lotus copyright has run out after 10 years or he could make a change? Send me a PM if you want to take it further.
I thought the problem was to find a rubber with the right properties?

by **surfboardfiller** » Wed 20.06.2007, 08:48

gtm100 wrote:Paul,
My son can do a laser scan of small items and produce drawings for someone to make a mould from. I don't know how rubber is cast. I presume Lotus copyright has run out after 10 years or he could make a change? Send me a PM if you want to take it further.
I thought the problem was to find a rubber with the right properties?

How coincidental! That's what I'm doing at the moment! :-D

Only not on the M100

(yet

)
I seriously doubt any copyright runs out after 10 years. More like 50.

Not too much of a problem, it wount be a natural rubber though.

by **tweetdriver63** » Sun 26.08.2007, 04:55

Copyright shouldn't be an issue. I don't think Lotus can take action against somebody for creating a part they no longer supply. Copyright is about taking money out of the pocket of the copyright holder. Copyright is also the wrong term. The correct one is patent. Anyway, if the patent holder, in this case, I assume, Lotus, had these available, then they would have a leg to stand on complaining about somebody else making and selling the part. Since they don't, they don't. If the part differs from the original in any way, it's simply an aftermarket part. Obviously there's no issue with that.

by **GeoffSmith** » Sun 26.08.2007, 11:03

tweetdriver63 wrote:Anyway, if the patent holder, in this case, I assume, Lotus,

A patent will only be granted against something that is new and innovative and hasn't previously been disclosed. Seals have been around for years, so they could not patent them unless provided a radically new feature.

If 'we' managed to get Lotus specifications for the seals and got someone to manufacture to that specification, then we could be in for trouble. If we approach a manufacturer to "make something to keep the wind and rain out of that gap" or if we define a specification, then as you say, there is not an issue - this is how the aftermarket parts come into being anyway.

Usual legal cop-out - IMHO! :wink:

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