Jonathan Kay

What Doug says: toothpaste and liquid Brasso are both very useful light abrasives. Often used them on plastics but never on glass. Usual precautions. I'd probably get an opinion and quote from a specialist company. Jonathan

Sounds as if you're now OK. But possibilities in addition to the above: Recover some of the rogered thread with a die thread cutter. But that may need getting it out of the car, in which case you might be able to replace the post, and a specialist almost certainly could, as JV says. Fit a short male/ female adaptor (aka standoff) that can grab the remnant of the thread and give you a longer post.Jonathan

I'd recommnd reading about cutting titanium before you reach for the tool. ;-) Jonathan

Caterham call it a "flange union". I wonder if others call it an "external threaded flange". That turns up things like this, they say they do BSP and custom and it might be worth talking to them. Jonathan PS: I tried Waitrose, didn't have any. But they might have helped with leeks... :-)

My guess is that given this engine has stood unused along with loom and ECU etc for a few years damp/corrosion could be the issue? However I would go for it not starting in the first place but why just stop? Plenty of fuel. Its lack of spark that is the issue. Battery voltage at rest and while cranking? Inspect and clean all relevant feeds and earths including ECU earth. How do you know the ECU is now getting enough volts?Jonathan

i don't understand... are you trying to upload an image from your computer and can't? Jonathan

Andrew's magnet trick. Jonathan

A few suggestions in this thread. Jonathan

I finally got the rear boot floor panel out. I have not a clue how, it just seemed to come out all of a sudden. I hope it won't take me as long to figure out how to put it back in. :-) Videos? I guess the piece of ply was flammable, unless treated. It's surprisingly resistant. But some plastics are really nasty when they burn... smoke, toxins, drips. Jonathan

How about picking it up in that thread... it sounds very similar. Jonathan

Me too. :-) Jonathan

Was this the task that publicised the magnet trick? Jonathan

Which engine, rev limit and type of alternator? There's a very relevant recent thread. Jonathan

Is it this thread? Jonathan

Thanks. The Powervamp batteries have the glassfibre mats (AGM = Absorbed Glass Mat) but they aren't gel batteries. Wikipedia article describing the two technologies and the advantages and disadvantages. They are sealed, don't need topping up and can be mounted on their sides. Jonathan

Welcome Jonathan

Nick, I suggest you email Shaun directly: websitehelp@lotus7club.com. Jonathan

Any flammability constraints on boot floors? Jonathan

That's neat, thanks Most paint threads don't get resolved nicely! Jonathan

There's lots on new batteries in the archives. For most uses of most 7s I recommend a Powervamp. Mine's a PVR 25, but I think a PVR 22 is fine and cheaper. Why a gel type, Elie, please? Jonathan

I don't know. If no-one else does: Can you get a photo without that direct flash: bounce it off a bit of white card or a sheet. Any identifying marks? Any colour visible on the other wires that enter it? Can you get the top off?Jonathan

That is high, but not very high. Most common cause of is regulator failure. And overcharging could have caused the original problem. I think I'd probably get it to somewhere they can test and repair them. What make (although most repair places can do most makes) and where are you? Jonathan

... the oil pressure and water temp gauges behaved oddly and instead of their usual move to their correct positions, when the engine was cranked, they swung hard over to maximum. Does this point to anything? There was an explanation of this but I can't remember it. (And I always forget which way the resistance changes and have to look it up.) If it's consistent could you add the instantaneous battery voltage when this happens. Jonathan

I need to clean up the mess and assume a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water is best. Is that correct? I recommend just water, but lots of it. If there's any crud remove it with anything up to the hardness of a soft toothbrush. And look for traps, seams etc and give them a good flooding. What sort of voltage should I see across the battery with the engine running? 14.5 v? Usually quoted as 14.4V, but yes. (De minimis non curant specs.) Have you used an external charger? Jonathan

- Tried to remove rear section of boot floor to weigh it and assess replacements. OK, so I am not the brightest spark but how do you get it out . I cant see even removing the rollbar woulf make it any more possible. Just keep wiggling with confidence. Have you tried going diagonal... in two different ways at once? - Tried to remove my seat. The bolt just rotates. How do you stop that, I can barely get my finger into the top side of the bolt [?] let alone a spanner! I want to remove it to see if I can get one of my suppliers to make up fixed brackets in lieu of the runner. I understand the runners weigh in at 1.6kg per set on the spreadsheet. I can get something made up which will weigh much less than that. You can jam the head with a straight screwdriver. Once they're out you can weld the bolts in. But I'd cut a slot in the end of the bolt with a cutting disc in a Dremel, and then hold it with a screwdriver while you bring the nut down. Jonathan