Towing Eye Strut

[algirdas]

Okay, so I am an idiot. Where is the towing eye strut (P/N B100A0635F) on my car? I need to locate it since my car will have to loaded onto a flatbed to go and get repainted. Parts guide says each car has one.

Doug, Sy, Geoff, Dapinky, Clemmo, Dico, Stevo, Groucho, Chico, Harpo-let the recriminations begin! "Man your age and he still can't find his towing eye?" Blah, blah, blah.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Enright]

Is this what you mean Al?
Dunno if the Feds are a bit different with them having the revised bumper/crash structure, but if you say they all have one then that's where you'll find it.
I'm sure I read somewhere very recently though that it shouldn't be used!

[Sy V]

Using the tow hitch has been known to bend the prongeron.
If you can, drive the car on to the flatbed, or get some brute friends to help push the car on (remembering to keep all hands off the rear spoiler, which can also be damaged), while the winch just takes the weight.

[muley]

Algirdas,

I'm with Sy on this - if the towing eye on a US car is fixed in the much same way as a UK one I would definitely avoid using it.

Cheers

Jim

[Monty]

Using the tow hitch has been known to bend the prongeron.
If you can, drive the car on to the flatbed, or get some brute friends to help push the car on (remembering to keep all hands off the rear spoiler, which can also be damaged), while the winch just takes the weight.

Don`t understand this, i`ve been recovered a couple of times and been pulled out of a gravel trap with no damage. I can`t see it bending the prongeron as it`s a forward pulling motion when beinging recovered/towed. How else are u going to get out of a Gravel trap

[Enright]

How else are u going to get out of a Gravel trap

Why would you want to get IN the gravel trap in the first place ya muppet!

(Not that I've ever done a silly thing like that on a bike the day after getting it re-sprayed, oh no!)

I think that the technical answer is because it doesn't bolt in a straight line to the chassis.
The prongeron's outline is basically T shaped, with the upper ends of the T being fixed.
So if you pull on the bottom of the middle bit too hard, it ends up Y shaped instead!

You know, for a supposedly rigid car, does anyone else get the impression that Elans were made out of chocolate?!?

[Dave M]

The US car does not have the towing eye in the front. As enright mentioned, the US car has a different crash structure in the front and is quite different from the UK car.

Another item on my "to do" list...make a towing eye similar to what race cars have for just such an occassion. One is needed in the back, too as there is no good place to attach straps.

[Monty]

Was thinking of making some type of bracket to use as a rear toeing eye but the bumper is an issue and don`t want to be cutting in to that. think i`ll leave that as a summer project

[algirdas]

Dear Neil:

Yep, that's the one. And Ilsa does not have one. Bummer.

I probably can drive it up onto the flatbed, but if they do not have over the tire/wheel tie downs, how do I secure it to the flatbed?

I guess I could get the car there via a front wheel dolly. Without the front bumper cap, that should be easy to do.

Or I could just drive it with someone following me close behind with flashers flashing and hope that Colorado's finest do not try to balance their police budgets off of my sorry ass (arse).

Dave-Keep me in mind as you do this. Perhaps we can pique Brian's interest in this as well?

Sincerely,

Algirdas

PS Neil-I have tumbled to the same conclusion as you. It never ceases to amaze me how a car can be so tough and fragile at the same time.

[Dico]

if they do not have over the tire/wheel tie downs, how do I secure it to the flatbed?

I'm quite sure they will have them.

Bloody hope so

[Paul.P]

Towed my white one 25mls from Peterborough, when some tart filled it with diesel, had no detrimental effect !

[clemo]

i think sooty would not agree with the use of towing eye (if i remember correctly) the euro car recovery pulled the towing eye out taking with it his front bumper.. AND ohh my god ! strapping the car down AAAHHHH. this rubbed through the paintwork of sootys elan aswell , that with the seized engine killed the car off... ( is this groundhog day)

i may also mention that when doing my engine rebuild i cleaned up the front end .. the 4 locating screws were rusted so badly that they snapped in the centers of the shaft .
and even if they were brand new they are 5-8 mm heads on a tiny shaft.
the last thing i would ever do is pull the car with it..

best of luck and all that..
i would usually say "well its your car so as you see fit" but on this occasion i would say in the nicest way possibe "you have been warned !"

[Paul.P]

I know what you mean Clemo, it ain't the most substantial of things !

[Dave Eds]

Towed my white one 25mls from Peterborough, when some tart filled it with diesel, had no detrimental effect !

How TF can anyone fill Peterborough with diesel

[Paul.P]

Towed my white one 25mls from Peterborough, when some tart filled it with diesel, had no detrimental effect !

How TF can anyone fill Peterborough with diesel

Had a few Dave ?

[Dave Eds]

Towed my white one 25mls from Peterborough, when some tart filled it with diesel, had no detrimental effect !

How TF can anyone fill Peterborough with diesel

Had a few Dave ?

More like need a few Paul

[Paul.P]

Go & polish your 2 elans Dave, can't get better therapy than that mate !