TCA/raft bushes reproduction

[rip]

Just a warning, it will take a fair amount of interest to be able to cover the production set-up costs, so don't expect much if we don't get significantly more than 10 owners interested.
Giniw, we could possibly do a few sets for the owners with incontinence..

if there is enough interest, they could be approached to get an idea of quantity and costs.

How many are we looking at to make this worthwhile? 100? 1000? Just a rough figure would be helpful.
How much would a set cost at the these quantities?
These are important bushes for Elans. Could the kitty be used to buy a stock of them? Depending on costs, I would be willing to contribute if several of us want to get them made for re-sale later.

[dapinky]

Julian,

I think the issue is the metal sleeve that you left in situ - there should be nothing there (except the hole!) in the tube part of the fitting.

The OE bush is bonded rubber in a metal tube, which is a press fit into the arm.

I removed the rubber bushes with fire, then used a hacksaw blade to cut through the inner tube and hit it with a hammer and chisel to peel it away from the arm, then it just dropped out.

A quick clean up with emery cloth and the new ones went in easily.... I can't recall having any problems with getting the central bush into mine (but maybe I just can't remember it!).

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Just a warning, it will take a fair amount of interest to be able to cover the production set-up costs, so don't expect much if we don't get significantly more than 10 owners interested.
Giniw, we could possibly do a few sets for the owners with incontinence..

if there is enough interest, they could be approached to get an idea of quantity and costs.

How many are we looking at to make this worthwhile? 100? 1000? Just a rough figure would be helpful.
How much would a set cost at the these quantities?
These are important bushes for Elans. Could the kitty be used to buy a stock of them? Depending on costs, I would be willing to contribute if several of us want to get them made for re-sale later.

Rip:
I honestly don't know. If I get 20ish requests, I will approach a few companies and see what they are willing to do.

Unfortunately, I would prefer to get EVERY bush reproduced and not just one or another.

This isn't critical to me as I have a few sets of every bushing needed as well as a brand new pair of SE rear wishbones and an almost new pair of S2 rear wishbones, so I am covered for the life of my car.

It is too bad Lotus didn't understand the life expectancy of the M100 and had the wisdom to maintain a reasonable quantity of normal maintenance components.

[Giniw]

Julian,

I think the issue is the metal sleeve that you left in situ - there should be nothing there (except the hole!) in the tube part of the fitting.

Thank you very much for the confirmation!!
Actually that hadn't crossed my mind at all before earlier in the afternoon ...

The OE bush is bonded rubber in a metal tube, which is a press fit into the arm.

yes indeed it must have been very similar with the bushing which goes into the raft (front cross member/raft coupling). This one I saw it without any hesitation, probably because of the obvious difference between the allow and the sleeve. And maybe because I had seen a bushing in photo, too ^^

I removed the rubber bushes with fire,

me too, except I stopped right there and left the sleeve. (I thought it was a nice seating guide for the bushing ...)

then used a hacksaw blade to cut through the inner tube and hit it with a hammer and chisel to peel it away from the arm, then it just dropped out.

A quick clean up with emery cloth and the new ones went in easily.... I can't recall having any problems with getting the central bush into mine (but maybe I just can't remember it!).

I am sure they will fit very easily without those sleeves
Thanks again!

[Giniw]

It is too bad Lotus didn't understand the life expectancy of the M100 and had the wisdom to maintain a reasonable quantity of normal maintenance components.

They bothered to reengineer a set of springs and shocks for the various Esprit, which is very nice of them, but at the same time I suspect it would be very easy and much cheaper to ask Bilstein (for instance) to make original specs shocks for the Elan without any R&D ... Almost as easy as a phone call and a meeting to sign the papers ...

[Simon_P]

.. Almost as easy as a phone call and a meeting to sign the papers ...

nowhere near as easy, they would need to order say 10,000 and pay for them. That's before you consider the agreement Colin had with FGS.

[Giniw]

Not so sure they would need to order such a large batch? And as I said they did it for the Esprit (not only made a new batch but a new/better spec spring/shocks set than original and a new bushings set too. I suspect the new development is quite expensive compared to just having a batch revalved to the original spec, starting with the ones we now have to use anyway for instance, through a sort of partnership)

I don't know anything about the agreement between Colin and FGS though.

[NewLogik]

Just a warning, it will take a fair amount of interest to be able to cover the production set-up costs, so don't expect much if we don't get significantly more than 10 owners interested.
Giniw, we could possibly do a few sets for the owners with incontinence..

if there is enough interest, they could be approached to get an idea of quantity and costs.

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogik
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

[wayne]

Don't currently need them as I have a few stashed away, but will probably need a set in the future. Sign me up for a set, depending on final cost.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

If you are interested in needing new OEM style bushes in the not too near distance, please use the quote button at the right, Add you ID, remove the quote bits at the beginning and end and then hit submit.

This list is non-binding.
It is just to get an idea if there is enough interest to look into getting bushings made again.

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogic
5. Wayne
6. Lotusrepair
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Just a warning, it will take a fair amount of interest to be able to cover the production set-up costs, so don't expect much if we don't get significantly more than 10 owners interested.

[lotusrepair]

Depending on costs I could put a spare set away on the shelf.
Chris

[dunnlor]

If you are interested in needing new OEM style bushes in the not too near distance, please use the quote button at the right, Add you ID, remove the quote bits at the beginning and end and then hit submit.

This list is non-binding.
It is just to get an idea if there is enough interest to look into getting bushings made again.

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogic
5. Wayne
6. Lotusrepair
7. Dunnlor
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Just a warning, it will take a fair amount of interest to be able to cover the production set-up costs, so don't expect much if we don't get significantly more than 10 owners interested.

[NewLogik]

If you are interested in needing new OEM style bushes in the not too near distance, please use the quote button at the right, Add you ID, remove the quote bits at the beginning and end and then hit submit.

This list is non-binding.
It is just to get an idea if there is enough interest to look into getting bushings made again.

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogic
5. Wayne
6. Lotusrepair
7. Dunnlor
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Just a warning, it will take a fair amount of interest to be able to cover the production set-up costs, so don't expect much if we don't get significantly more than 10 owners interested.

I can take more than a set if it help cover cost... I found other people that own Lotus Elan locally, I didn't had the chance to contact them yet, but maybe that will add up and we can save up a few kit on the shelf.

[donsladek]

I'm interested...

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogik
5. Wayne
6. Lotusrepair
7. Dunnlor
8. Donsladek
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Cheers

[rip]

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogik
5. Wayne
6. Lotusrepair
7. Dunnlor
8. Donsladek
9. rip
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

[John_W]

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogik (and maybe more than one set)
5. Wayne
6. Lotusrepair
7. Dunnlor
8. Donsladek
9. rip
10. John_W (and maybe more than one set)
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

[lotustonybassplayer]

1. Giniw
2. HJ2
3. BCN
4. NewLogik (and maybe more than one set)
5. Wayne
6. Lotusrepair
7. Dunnlor
8. Donsladek
9. rip
10. John_W (and maybe more than one set)
11. lotustonybassplayer
12.
13.
14.
15.

[HJ2]

No progress i'm afraid?