xflow7

Am I still allowed in here?

According to the Fluke Motorsport site, a crossflow with Escort carb and no fluids is 109kg.

Hey Joe, Hope you enjoyed going to Hell. 😬 I was just blatting out that way a week or so ago. Sorry to hear you're still struggling with this. Was planning on dropping you an email today to see how the troubleshooting was coming along. The vapor lock idea is interesting. If I'm not mistaken, the gasonline companies adjust vapor pressure of their fuels from season to season; high vapor pressure in the winter to improve cold-start, low vapor pressure in the summer to reduce evaporative emissions. As we are just coming out of the cold season here, perhaps the fuel being sold is still higher vapor pressure than is really ideal for the temps outside. Combine with your observation of the coolant hose on the fuel line, and you may be on to something. From what I understand the claim about no vapor lock on modern cars is made based on the much higher fuel line pressures in FI cars vs. carb'ed cars with mech. fuel pumps. But if the vapor pressure gets high enough (due to seasonal mixtures plus considerably elevated fuel temperature), I suppose it could still be an issue. Later, Dave

Don't have any knowledge of prices, but just FYI, there was some talk around these parts a while back about a Triumph Dolomite diff perhaps being a drop in replacement for the Ital unit. As far as I know, this was never really confirmed, but it might be an option depending on how rare Ital hardware has become. Dave

There's a spring-loaded contact that protrudes on the back of the steering wheel hub which needs to be in contact with a metallic ring just behind that surrounds the upper steering column. If, in removing and replacing the column, the steering wheel has been moved back much it could fail to make contact around the full perimeter of the ring leading to no horn, or horn only when the wheel is turned to the right place.

Yeah, I've seen the ali heads listed on there. Very tempting to add one to the upgraditis treatment regime. 😬 And with our dollar in the toilet, probably doubly attractive to you folks over there. Dave Bean has all kinds of xflow and Lotus goodies available, and seem to be a pretty helpful bunch from the few times I've been in touch with them.

Did trust you, and have done so, but still purple. 😬

There seems to be a somewhat higher spec iron crank available now that is supposedly stronger than the OE 711M crank (though not as good as forged), but at far less than the cost of a forged crank. I don't know much about it (like how many more revs it would be safe to), but found out about it here. Dave

Think you have to leave the blatchat domain for it to update. Having said that, I don't think it updates continuously. I've gone and come back in only a few minutes (you know how it is; force of habit really 😬) and they're still purple. But if gone for any significant length of time they'll reflect new posts.

Brent, what bracketry has to change to fit the English axle? Oh, or do you mean fit the brackets on the axle housing 🤔 Dave

I think prevailing wisdom is a helmet, at least on a blat of any significant length, or if on the motorway. Having said that, I've ridden in an aeroscreened car and without helmet, and the wind in the hair, etc is fantastic. 😬 Good eye protection is mandatory, though.

If memory serves there are bullet connectors or similar on the wires which can be disconnected and then pulled back through the opening in the scuttle.

The starter on my xflow (stock, not Brise) jammed on the first or second time I turned it over. A quick thinking friend (who'd seen it happen before) gave it a whack with a wrench (mind the hot lead ❗) which unstuck it. Never happened again. I think it's not unusual for the solenoids on pre-engaged starters to be a little sticky at the ends of their travel when new. In general, I think they loosen up after having been cycled a number of times. However, I suppose if it's a continuing problem it may mean some kind of service is required. It could also be a jam of the pinion in the ring gear I suppose, but it's hard to imagine it wouldn't un-jam itself as it turned, unless there is a draft angle that is reversed on the ring gear or something. Not sure any of this is of much help to you. Apologies if not. Dave Edited by - xflow7 on 2 Apr 2005 15:21:04

Do all the shift levers have the rubber "spring"? I can't recall there being one on mine, but perhaps I'm mistaken. For clarification we're talking about the lever as supplied for fittment to the Type 9 right? Dave

Also called a swirl-tank (at least here). If memory serves they are also used for coolant sometimes.