Discussion
heres a good un.
had my SE nearly ten days, and have been keeping a spreadsheet of all the work I am doing/adjustments/reciepts etc, and I've just been out sorting a few things out. after reading up about the boost system, I had realised that when on 75% throttle, and over 75 deg C coolant, I should be getting 0.84 bar boost, and then short bits of 1 bar. so the service notes say anyway.
My heater is warm/hot when used but my temperature gauge is only reading up to about 65 to 70 deg C, and the boost gauge is exactly 0.65 bar when pushed. So, I thought, scratching my head and reading the service notes again, I think i need full boost! Low and behold, just as I had thought, someones put in a 71 deg C thermostat! probably happened a couple of owners ago, when it had some over heating problems, then a head gasket/skim/light overhaul/rebuild/new radiator. So, the fans have been seized up nicely for years, as they wouldnt have been coming on at all, as the a/c is empty it seems, and I'm off tomorrow to find an 82 deg thermostat. So, unsiezed one fan, rewired broken earth tag, new stat tomorrow, and hopefully it will perform properly for the first time in a good few years. I thought it was ok performance wise, but not quite right. More tomorrow after a test flight.....
had my SE nearly ten days, and have been keeping a spreadsheet of all the work I am doing/adjustments/reciepts etc, and I've just been out sorting a few things out. after reading up about the boost system, I had realised that when on 75% throttle, and over 75 deg C coolant, I should be getting 0.84 bar boost, and then short bits of 1 bar. so the service notes say anyway.
My heater is warm/hot when used but my temperature gauge is only reading up to about 65 to 70 deg C, and the boost gauge is exactly 0.65 bar when pushed. So, I thought, scratching my head and reading the service notes again, I think i need full boost! Low and behold, just as I had thought, someones put in a 71 deg C thermostat! probably happened a couple of owners ago, when it had some over heating problems, then a head gasket/skim/light overhaul/rebuild/new radiator. So, the fans have been seized up nicely for years, as they wouldnt have been coming on at all, as the a/c is empty it seems, and I'm off tomorrow to find an 82 deg thermostat. So, unsiezed one fan, rewired broken earth tag, new stat tomorrow, and hopefully it will perform properly for the first time in a good few years. I thought it was ok performance wise, but not quite right. More tomorrow after a test flight.....
82deg C thermostats are cheap and easy to get at JAE or Dave Bean, not sure about a cross ref with other cars though???
Travis
Vulcan Grey 89SE
www.lotuscolorado.com/vulcangrey/
Travis
Vulcan Grey 89SE
www.lotuscolorado.com/vulcangrey/
An old Dave Bean flyer indicates the 9XX thermostat is a "6900 Series" unit. Great, except I don't know what that means in terms of other applications. The flange OD is 2.134" (54.2mm). The body protrudes 0.68" (17.3mm) above the flange and 1.34" (34mm below the flange).
I like to dig out interchange info just because it's been a part of Lotus survival lore for so many years. But the t-stat is cheap and there's not enough cost savings in finding an over the counter part number to justify the effort. Just call your favorite supplier and order one.
On the other hand, cars very seldom pick convenient times to have things go wrong. Having an interchange list of common parts stowed in the car can be very handy during roadside emergencies.
Later,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
I like to dig out interchange info just because it's been a part of Lotus survival lore for so many years. But the t-stat is cheap and there's not enough cost savings in finding an over the counter part number to justify the effort. Just call your favorite supplier and order one.
On the other hand, cars very seldom pick convenient times to have things go wrong. Having an interchange list of common parts stowed in the car can be very handy during roadside emergencies.
Later,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
You've seen my list, haven't you Tim?
http://home.flash.net/~hess/crystal_princess.htm
I try to keep my list as the most accurate available. I will mark nothing as "confirmed" unless _I_ have held the part in my hand, compared it to the OEM part and used it on my car. I also credit sources.
Yeah, having the cross reference is vital with Loti if you want to get back on the road today and not next week, or avoid the FedEx man and his bill.
Dr.Hess
http://home.flash.net/~hess/crystal_princess.htm
I try to keep my list as the most accurate available. I will mark nothing as "confirmed" unless _I_ have held the part in my hand, compared it to the OEM part and used it on my car. I also credit sources.
Yeah, having the cross reference is vital with Loti if you want to get back on the road today and not next week, or avoid the FedEx man and his bill.
Dr.Hess
Dr.Hess said:
You've seen my list, haven't you Tim?
Dr. Hess,
Yes, I've seen your interchange list and browsed your website... several times. There's lots of good stuff in there.
I appreciate that kind of info. I'm an engineer, and like many of the breed I'm a little focused about archiving data. For me, part of the Lotus hobby has been keeping track of fragments of info. Anything from annecdotes to parts cross-references. I started on recipe cards back in the 60's, moved it all to a Commodore 64 shortly after the Ice Age, then MS-Cardfile, and now MS-Excel. It helps survival, but it's also just part of the fun.
Regards,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North
Hey Tim,
I do the same thing. When I find a parts cross reference, it goes on a stickie note, to my briefcase, to my desk at home where my Access MDB is that holds that table. I used to archive Factoids (one liners, not parts substitutions) electronically, but now I just write them on a sheet of paper. More "How To's" I print out and stick in my Esprit file (lots of stuff from you in there, thanks.)
Dr.Hess
I do the same thing. When I find a parts cross reference, it goes on a stickie note, to my briefcase, to my desk at home where my Access MDB is that holds that table. I used to archive Factoids (one liners, not parts substitutions) electronically, but now I just write them on a sheet of paper. More "How To's" I print out and stick in my Esprit file (lots of stuff from you in there, thanks.)
Dr.Hess
well guys. all is now back as it should be. new 82 deg stat fitted, system bled completely, all the fans cutting in and out perfectly. its not lumpy/hunting when idling now, coz its got full coolant temp. have full boost/overboost now too, but as the test drive was rather wet, its was rather dangerous to be spinning up the wheels in the lower gears when coming on boost. gauge shows 0.65 bar half throttle, 0.8-0.9 ish on lots of throttle, and in the lower gears at full throttle, it pops round to just about 1 bar. ( i have read thats just about spot on) and its rather scary doing it in the rain, with rubbish rear tyres.
mission accomplished i feel. rebuilt brakes are bedding in nicely, just need some nice english weather here now, and i'll take it for a few mores spins (hopefully not a spin, but some spins out in the dry!)
mission accomplished i feel. rebuilt brakes are bedding in nicely, just need some nice english weather here now, and i'll take it for a few mores spins (hopefully not a spin, but some spins out in the dry!)
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