The Lotus Grand Tourers

Alan_M wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 21, 2023 21:55

HypnoToad wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 21, 2023 16:43

However I don't have a Burroughs gauge, and they are no longer avaliable as far as I know, so I'm looking for an alternate way of setting the tension.

They may not be available new, but often come up for sale on EBay etc. You’re most likely to find the generic BT-33-73f gauge. This is the same as the Lotus one, except for the dial scale shows figures, rather than the single mark shown on the Lotus one. The calibration can easily be checked.

I have one of these, but I am not all that sure I can use it!

Zaphod wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 07, 2024 11:58

Alan_M wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 21, 2023 21:55

HypnoToad wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 21, 2023 16:43

However I don't have a Burroughs gauge, and they are no longer avaliable as far as I know, so I'm looking for an alternate way of setting the tension.

They may not be available new, but often come up for sale on EBay etc. You’re most likely to find the generic BT-33-73f gauge. This is the same as the Lotus one, except for the dial scale shows figures, rather than the single mark shown on the Lotus one. The calibration can easily be checked.

I have one of these, but I am not all that sure I can use it!

Why?

I have a horrid noise that I though was a failing tensioner, but having changed it it’s still there, the short of noise that might be an over tight belt.. the guage reads just over 90 when cold

Have you removed the ancillary v belts to listen without them?

Ive never faffed around with gauges using the twist method instead, but, if its too tight it sounds high pitched, if its too slack it sounds slappy. Not very scientific I know but.....


Bash

I use an Krikit gauge - much cheaper and widely available.

The ever reliable and thorough Tim Engel did a comparison, posted on this post on Pistonheads, you need about ~52 on the Krikit scale.

Hawaiis0 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 18, 2024 10:20

Have you removed the ancillary v belts to listen without them?

Yes, and the horrid noise is still there!

rbgosling wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 22, 2024 12:11

I use an Krikit gauge - much cheaper and widely available.

The ever reliable and thorough Tim Engel did a comparison, posted on this post on Pistonheads, you need about ~52 on the Krikit scale.

I printed off Tims advice regarding Cam belt tension many years ago and still refference it today. But if you can accurately gauge 52 on the Kri-kit scale you are a better man than me. Good news is that you don't have to be spot on accurate - do your best to get 52 but slightly off is OK in my experience.

This is a new question, but the subject is still valid, so I've put it on here.
I have just changed the cambelt and idler pulley on my 1984 Excel (square tooth).
It all seems ok based on a twist test and the sound now it's running. I reset the auto tensioner to the same position as the old belt, but that was in a pretty poorly state.

I'd now like to check the tension properly and provide a proper reading on the Draper/Laser/Neilsen gauge for people to use in future, hopefully with a bit of science and reassurance to give people confidence.
Hence I'd like to borrow a burroughs gauge, or alternatively visit someone and check their properly tensioned belt with the Draper tool ? Maybe someone could bring their car and tool to Weedon on 25th May if the meet is on ? (I'm in Milton Keynes by the way).
I suspect the 15 over 13 reading shown in Mike C73's blog is about right, but I was then confused by his reference to making the scales coincide at 17, hence my desire to double check. I currently have mine set a bit tighter than that, so I'd like to do the check before running the engine too much more.

Also, I forgot to check the size of the auto-tensioner locknut when I had it apart, and now it's all covered with v-belts etc so I can't get a vernier on it.
I don't really want to strip all the v-belts off again and I think I would be able to get to it with a suitable ring spanner if I had one the right size - if someone could let me know the size it would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks,
Malcolm

I have a burroughs gauge (west oxfordshire) you can borrow any time. I hope to go to Castle coombe without the lotus of course. It's a bit further for you but is a nice day out.