Broken Seat Back Adjuster

[Fourdoorcat]

One of the problems with my newly acquired Elan was the inability to adjust the angle of the driver's seat. The knob for this adjustment was able to rotate but no adjustment was to be had. Someplace on this forum, there had been previous discussion about this. In short: there is a washer-like part that has a double D hole and a cutout radial section that was bent to create a tab that engages the adjuster knob. The intention was that the knob would rotate the metal part causing the shaft to turn via the double D cutout. This appears to be "designed by monkeys" in that the unintentional result of violating the radial integrity of the washer was to create a radial stress crack elsewhere, causing the part to split. The double D hole no longer engaged with the adjustment shaft, so the plastic adjuster rotated freely about the shaft.

I made several attempts to source the part and, had I tried longer, might have done so. My concern was that, once repaired, it was likely to split again in the same manner. So I decided to try something else.

I found a slightly larger washer with a hole smaller than the double D cutout. I don't have a metal lathe, so I chucked up the part in my drill press and held a file against the perimeter until it was able to fit into the recess in the adjuster knob.

DSCN3105crop.jpg

Using a metal-to-metal adhesive, I bonded the washer to the broken part.

DSCN3104crop.jpg

Once the adhesive was cured, I clamped the part in the bench vise and replicated the double D hole in the washer with an appropriate Dremel bit until it fit over the adjuster shaft.

DSCN3106crop.jpg

It all went back together OK and, so far, all is well. I will attempt to remember that it is a good idea to not adjust the seat back while applying force against it. But I am confident that this will yield a much more robust solution than merely replacing the part.

Ken

[C3LOS]

Thanks for the post....I had exactly the same symptoms, and when I removed the plastic adjuster, there they were....2 pieces of the washer.
After your suggestion, I used a similar solution and it now works well. Thanks for the help

[DeanG]

I had a similar problem many years ago. I don't recall what replaced what, howerver Lotus updated the part to increase reliability

[Tuga2112]

I gotta thank you guys for reviving this old thread.

I have the same problem in the passenger seat and never considered fixing it assuming the issue was a complex one to resolve.

just added another task to my todo list.

[C3LOS]

Only takes a few mins to do...good luck