The Lotus Grand Tourers

Today the offside window refused to raise. After removing the inspection panels behind the door trim I found that the channel the wheeled arm runs along has become so rusty that the wheel keeps popping out.

SJ Sportscars have them listed as "B075U1106F STEEL WINDOW LIFT CHANNEL (ON GLASS)" for a fiver. I'm going to order a pair (one for the passsenger side too) this week. Has anyone replaced a lift channel on their car and if so have you any top tips please ? Access looks a restricted and I'm not yet sure how the channel is fixed to the glass.

I've not replaced the lift channel - but the Workshop manual has a clear description of how it is done. It uses 'Solbit' themro-electric adhesive (which the manual says is not easily removed). So first, clean all the old stuff away, finishing with methylated spirit. Apply Solbit primer to the bottom of both sides of the glass and inside of lift channel, and allow to dry.
Now it gets tricky! It seem Solbit is an adhesive that comes in strips with a copper wire through the centre, and melts when a current is applied. You need 450mm of 10mm diameter Solbit. You strip 1/2" off each end exposing the internal copper wire and then apply 3 volts for 10 - 30 seconds, until it becomes tacky. Disconnect voltage and lay the Solbit in lift channel. Now (I've quoted this verbatim since it sounds a bit tricky to me!): "Position the channel on the lower edge of the glass with the operating arm guide to the inside, and the front end of the channel 35mm from the front edge of the glass." Now reconnect voltage to the ends of the Solbit wire and push channel fully into the glass. Continue with voltage for 5 minutes, removing or wiping away any extruded Solibit. Remove voltage and clean up end. Fit drop glass into frame and then refit frame into door.

I HAVE removed the window frames, and the main thing to remember if to carefully mark exactly how many penny washers are behind each bolt that secures the frame to the door beam, and the exactl vertical position of the window frame against the door beam. You may have to adjust these to get a good seal between the top of the window frame and the door opening.

Thanks for the door frame advice Tony. The "not easily removed" re removing the glued-in glass from the old channel is the bit that has me concerned. I think "Chemical Metal" may be a suitable alternative to the "Solbit" glue.

Kev
I took mine to a locl windscreen place and tey fitted the new channel. If I remember correctly I managed to remove the rotten one placing the glass on bath towela and very gently chisled it off.
Wayne

Good idea, thanks

This week I got the new window channels (bought from SJ Sportscars) fitted to two brand new side windows (bought in the last Lotus factory parts sale).

I gave the new channels a couple of two coats of paint and then took them to a local branch of a well-known windscreen fitting company as per Wayne's suggestion. They fitted the channels to the windows and only asked for "a couple of quid for the tea fund". The fitter told me the "Solbit" used by Lotus was obsolete and the mastic they use for fitting windows would be a least as strong and probably stronger. After letting the mastic cure it certainly seems to have a strong grip.

Next step is to try to remove the old windows and fit the new ones....

Job completed and it was much easier than I had expected. Nothing was rusted up - not even the two tiny screws which secure the frame to the top edge of the door. I did remove a huge lump of sponge from above the door beam which looked like it would be a great water trap. I'll admit it was bone dry but I think that was only because we have had so little rain of late. I can imagine it would be sopping wet most of the time in the winter.

It's great to have an opening drivers side window again - especially as my car doesn't have aircon.