Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi

I would like to do the "club mod" to my Plus 2 to the fuel breather system. This requires a "tail" to be screwed into a threaded collet that is welded into the filler pipe. Problem is that while the tail is easy to get, I cannot find a supplier for the collet.

Take a look at the second photo on this post: lotus-carbs-f40/fuel-breather-mods-t23356-15.html#p145649

The round thing welded into the filler neck with an internal thread that takes a tail is what I am looking for (in mild steel). Who supplies it?

Thanks
JonB

Find out what thread you need and then get one made. Otherwise you will have to hunt something down, shouldn't be hard

a Fairly standard fitting for plumbers can be adapted - search something like 1/2" BSP flange nut or 1/2" BSP backnut in ebay

I have also done this - lotuselan-plus2-f51/dundonian-jps-t26714-60.html

1/4 BSP "half socket" filler neck is stainless and easy to get this part in 316 stainless too.

Innes

I turned up my own using a 3/4 to 3/8 bsp brass reducing bush as the starting point and the picture shows it prior to silver soldering in to the filler neck. Readily available from any plumbers merchant, diy store etc.

Forgot to include the picture of the starting point. Sorry error in the previous comment, the reducing bush was 3/4 to 1/2? bsp, which I machined to the curve of the filler neck, then screwed in a 1/2 to 3/8 reducer and machined it down to form the spigot that locates the adaptor into position in the neck while it is silver soldered.
Also in the picture is one of the neat valves I?ve fitted in the breathers, they allow free flow of air into the tank, and on excess pressure act as a relief valve to let air out of the tank.

Could it be soldered with plumbers lead? I don't have any brazing kit.

I have done similar things with a blowlamp and lead solder in the past. it looks as if there is enough surface area to get a reasonable strong joint (although not as good as silver solder).

You just need a good external flux to get the solder flowing and wetting the joint completely. The flux in cored solder will not be enough on its own. The plating on the down pipe also has to take the solder. You could try a test area first to see if you get good wetting. Give it a light sanding first but do not go through the plating.

Dave Chapman.

I don?t have brazing kit, but took it to my local steel fabricating place and they did it with oxy acetylene, most exhaust fitting places also have this and can do brazing for you at minimal cost especially if you use them for your tyres and exhausts anyway.

IIRC, I got the collet from Amazon and had it brazed-in by a local radiator shop for pocket-change.

Well I went to the local DIY shed and came away empty handed.