At the Factory on Thursday - Q&A Session

[Sy V]

While we're on the sharing topic, here's the latest aftersales (discount) parts list:

[rip]

As for the seals - I can see the problems they're having. The skin is really fragile and creases very easily - we know it's only foam underneath.
They wouldn't last and would soon be like a bathroom sponge.

Both the shape and material are all wrong, I'm genuinely surprised! I'd love to go and work for lotus and help solve these type of problems, but my degree is not in Engineering even if my brain is.

[/quote]

I spoke to Kimbers about the material a few minutes before the Exploding Elan got its name He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.

[theelanman]

He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.

we just need to source a composite......

[surfboardfiller]

I spoke to Kimbers about the material a few minutes before the Exploding Elan got its name He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.

I would not expect it to work if he is refusing to change the shape. It depends on the shape more than the material. I could make it work!

[DaveT]

As for the seals - I can see the problems they're having. The skin is really fragile and creases very easily - we know it's only foam underneath.
They wouldn't last and would soon be like a bathroom sponge.

Both the shape and material are all wrong, I'm genuinely surprised! I'd love to go and work for lotus and help solve these type of problems, but my degree is not in Engineering even if my brain is.

I spoke to Kimbers about the material a few minutes before the Exploding Elan got its name He explained that Lotus had tried many materials and rubber/hollow rubber just does not seal properly, but a sponge-filled one does.[/quote]

If thats the problem why dont they just change the type of sponge they fill it with??????
It would seem that the old seals were filled with an open cell sponge rubber, which means that once the integrity of the external rubber coating is lost then water gets in to all parts of the sponge structure.
If the seals were filled with a closed cell sponge rubber then ingress would only be in the small area adjacent to the damage.
As an ex polymer chemist this would seem to be a logical solution.

D

[Monty]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

[F1 LOTUS]

Are Lotus taking part in this?
http://auto.xprize.org/

Not specifically Brian, no.
But they had a press day yesterday where they had a 1.5 litre Opel (Astra) turbo diesel with a hybrid giving out shed loads torque BHP and very low emissions.
They've also made a green Elise that runs on bio-fuel, has bamboo seats and a chassis made from recycled coke cans. You think I'm taking the piss here, don't you? Well I'm not!

Thanks Sy - Pity

[Candles]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

[GeoffSmith]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

You're going to get me in deep doggy doo.

[Enright]

G-G-G-Granville!

[Monty]

Is it me or does Sy look like Harold out of Neighbours

You're going to get me in deep doggy doo.

Fekin hell i can`t stop laughing

[GeoffSmith]

G-G-G-Granville!

[Doug]

Fekin hell i can't stop laughing

I had to do a triple take on the first Geoff-shop picture to figure it out !!!

[Gazza]

Sy, thanks for trying on the limited edition numbers.

Gazza