lightweight KO spinners

[abstamaria]

The "26R" spinners are aluminum and very, very light, specially when
compared to the standard spinners. From afar, you can tell them apart
because the center sections are open - i.e, you can see the wheel hub nut or
(at the rear) the hub cap. Unfortunately, they will not fit the standard
Elan hub.

Andres
Manila



"Yeah, they're so heavy that freight on a set I just ordered from SJ ran to
20% of the total cost. Still, I'm not sure I'd trust an alloy spinner for
its lightness (though Colin would probably approve)."

[elancoupe]

Subject: [LotusElan.net] lightweight KO spinners


The "26R" spinners are aluminum and very, very light, specially when
compared to the standard spinners. From afar, you can tell them apart
because the center sections are open - i.e, you can see the wheel hub nut or
(at the rear) the hub cap. Unfortunately, they will not fit the standard
Elan hub.

Andres
Manila




TTR was able to take the 26R 'blank" spinners and machine them to fit the stock Elan hub threads for me. I am presently using them on my stock Elan hubs. As you might expect, not cheap....

Mike B

[abstamaria]

I read my Elan's journal last night to check how much the "26R" aluminum
spinners weighed. When they arrived several years ago, I weighed them on my
wife's baking scale (which read only up to 500 grams) and took notes. The
journal says:

26R spinner: 190 grams (about 6.5 ounces)
Standard federal spinner: 315 grams
Standard 3-eared spinner: off the scale (over 500 grams)

The aluminum spinners are about a third of the weight of the standard item
but are expensive. It is a good thing that Mike was able to get TTR to
machine 26R 'blank" spinners to fit the stock Elan hub threads. I didn't
know that could be done. This saves on the cost of the 26R hubs.

My journal also compares the weights of the substitute aluminum pieces
(bathroom scale only):

Bellhousing: 18 lbs. original cast iron, 8 lbs. in aluminum
Gearbox tail housing: 12 lbs. original, 5 lbs. in aluminum

Standard KO wheel with 155 Dunlop SP: 30 lbs.
26R 6" magnesium KO wheel with Dunlop CR65: 22 lbs.

I recorded only a half-pound difference between a complete rear hub-strut
assembly (with cartridge) and the magnesium equivalent. The heavy-duty axle
and machined hub may have eaten into the weight saving.

All this weight-saving is probably beyond the point of diminishing returns,
since, as with racing bicyles, it is easy to pare weight down to a certain
level, beyond which the cost of each extra gram saved will increase
dramatically. Oh, well, just don't tell your wife how much they cost.

Regards to all.

Andres
45/8439 S4 DHC
Manila

[dharbeck]

Andres-

My personal experience with return on investment in the weight saving
arena involved improving the ergonomics of the drivers seat via a
significant reduction in the MAS (Middle Age Spread)that sits on it.
Cheapest way I know of to reduce curb weight and improve performance.

David Harbeck
'69 S4 DHC

[Martin_StuartUK]

Ah, but that's not *unsprung* weight, nor does it rotate, so it doesn't
present any rotational inertia to be accelerated!

That's my excuse, anyway - I'm buggered if I'm going on a diet just to agin
the last 1/100th of a second, and it never seemed to do Gerry Marshall any
harm!

Martin Stuart
(14 stone and counting...)


Andres-

My personal experience with return on investment in the weight saving
arena involved improving the ergonomics of the drivers seat via a
significant reduction in the MAS (Middle Age Spread)that sits on it.
Cheapest way I know of to reduce curb weight and improve performance.

David Harbeck
'69 S4 DHC

[gobw2]

Sounds like the practical way is to keep all that weight down the bottom
of the car and put meself on a diet. Cheap, and keeps the CG low. George

On Tue, 16 Apr 2002 10:12:31 +0800 "Andres B. Sta. Maria"
<***@***.***> writes:

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