who has SS clutch line?
Discussion
I am half way through this job.
SS Hose now on car, but currently waiting for new slave cylinder. Seems daft not to replace it whilst I'm under there. The old one was a bit pitted and the pushrod was worn.
Pretty simple procedure, except for a couple of slightly awkward grommets.
I was suffering from crunchy reverse and impossible first and second when the car was really hot.
From cold there were no problems.
I am amazed at the red hose. Cheap plastic simply pushed onto the unions. Can't believe that these don't simply melt or drop off.
I recommend the hose kit from SJ Sportscars.
Pat
SS Hose now on car, but currently waiting for new slave cylinder. Seems daft not to replace it whilst I'm under there. The old one was a bit pitted and the pushrod was worn.
Pretty simple procedure, except for a couple of slightly awkward grommets.
I was suffering from crunchy reverse and impossible first and second when the car was really hot.
From cold there were no problems.
I am amazed at the red hose. Cheap plastic simply pushed onto the unions. Can't believe that these don't simply melt or drop off.
I recommend the hose kit from SJ Sportscars.
Pat
Sometime back my clutch started fading. I replaced the original red lines with a set of stainless steel lines and the difference was imediately noticable. No more fade and the clutch felt like new. In my book it was well worth the investment. The red lines will expand as they age, and eventually show signs of cracking.
One of the cheaper fixes you can do on a Lotus.
Al B. 89 Esprit N.A.
One of the cheaper fixes you can do on a Lotus.
Al B. 89 Esprit N.A.
Hi all,
The SS hose is definitely the way to go. But, don't overlook either adjusting or replacing the crossgate cable if you can't find a gear. Adjusting and replacement are relatively easy to do and will cure many, if not all shifting problems. These cables do stretch beyond adjustability with time, so must eventually be replaced.
I replaced my Red Hose several years ago and saw some improvement, but the quantum leap in shifting smoothness came with the replacement of my crossgate cable. It eliminated any slop or vagueness and it now shifts like a new car. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
The SS hose is definitely the way to go. But, don't overlook either adjusting or replacing the crossgate cable if you can't find a gear. Adjusting and replacement are relatively easy to do and will cure many, if not all shifting problems. These cables do stretch beyond adjustability with time, so must eventually be replaced.
I replaced my Red Hose several years ago and saw some improvement, but the quantum leap in shifting smoothness came with the replacement of my crossgate cable. It eliminated any slop or vagueness and it now shifts like a new car. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
PatHeald said: I am half way through this job.
SS Hose now on car, but currently waiting for new slave cylinder. Seems daft not to replace it whilst I'm under there. The old one was a bit pitted and the pushrod was worn.
Pretty simple procedure, except for a couple of slightly awkward grommets.
I was suffering from crunchy reverse and impossible first and second when the car was really hot.
From cold there were no problems.
I am amazed at the red hose. Cheap plastic simply pushed onto the unions. Can't believe that these don't simply melt or drop off.
I recommend the hose kit from SJ Sportscars.
Pat
Hi Pat, have ordered mine and looking forward to replacing it. Have you got any tips that you thought was not in any procedures. I am hoping to just go off the guide at the lotusespritworld site. Looks pretty straight forward. Did you buy any heat shield protectors to slip over the hose at the slave cylinder end plus a bleeder kit?
Well I was going to buy the heat shields locally but don't think I will purchase the Bleeding kit.
Cheers
Kylie
Make sure you have some grommets to replace the ones you will either tear or inadvertantly push into the box section at the front of the car.
Also take the opportunity to check the slave cylinder and the condition of the slave cylinder pushrod.
My car has only done 23K miles, but the pushrod was worn.
SJ can sell you an AP slave cylinder, complete with SS pushrod for only £37. It seems rude not to fit one whilst you have the system drained.
The instructions on Kato's site are easy to follow, but it is not really necessary to tie string to the old pipe in order to enable you to pull the SS hose through, provided you have noted the route.
The only problem I encountered was an inability to fit the fat grommet where the hose runs through the chassis at the rear. I don't think this would be a problem if you can be bothered to remove the rear undertray.
I have not bothered with a heatshield, on the basis that if that nasty plastic hose didn't melt, then a SS hose will survive. Besides, it runs along the "cold" side of the engine.
I have just received my new slave cylinder from SJ Sportscars, together with a bundle of other bits.
Having bought a SS silencer, crossgate cable c/w modification and a SS clutch hose, I have to say that the quality of their stuff is excellent.
Pat.
Also take the opportunity to check the slave cylinder and the condition of the slave cylinder pushrod.
My car has only done 23K miles, but the pushrod was worn.
SJ can sell you an AP slave cylinder, complete with SS pushrod for only £37. It seems rude not to fit one whilst you have the system drained.
The instructions on Kato's site are easy to follow, but it is not really necessary to tie string to the old pipe in order to enable you to pull the SS hose through, provided you have noted the route.
The only problem I encountered was an inability to fit the fat grommet where the hose runs through the chassis at the rear. I don't think this would be a problem if you can be bothered to remove the rear undertray.
I have not bothered with a heatshield, on the basis that if that nasty plastic hose didn't melt, then a SS hose will survive. Besides, it runs along the "cold" side of the engine.
I have just received my new slave cylinder from SJ Sportscars, together with a bundle of other bits.
Having bought a SS silencer, crossgate cable c/w modification and a SS clutch hose, I have to say that the quality of their stuff is excellent.
Pat.
You guys are making way too much work for yourselves. There is no rule that says that the SS hose has to be routed exacly down the same path as the existing red line. This means that it is not necessary to go through the front box section of the chassis (which requires enlarging the metal holes).
You can drop the line down the front compartment floor in front of the box section and then alongside the brake lines. The only place a grommet is needed is where the SS line goes through the fiberglass floor of the front luggage compartment.
There is a small channel with metal tabs that runs the length of the backbone where the red line goes through. Once you remove the red line, you can fit the new SS line in the same channel and hold it in place with the same tabs. At the rear you will need one tie wrap to hold the line in place (usually secured to the two shift cables) and then into the slave cylinder.
The whole job can be done in 15-20 minutes. What took me the longest when I did mine about 7 years ago was disconnecting the red line from the clutch master. The connector had seized on and took quite a bit of force to remove. Also, if you use a pressure bleeder like Ezi-Bleed, bleeding the clutch system is a trivial task.
One final note, both the master and slave have a tendency to leak. Mine were replaced several times while the car was under warranty. The slave is an ugly piece of steel that corrodes into a slab of rust even before you're done attaching it to the side of the gearbox. The last time mine leaked, I replaced it with a new unit from Jeff at JAE. The slave he sells is made of aluminum and looks much nicer. Price for the alloy replacement is well under $100US.
Cheers,
Karl-Franz :-)
www.espritfactfile.com
You can drop the line down the front compartment floor in front of the box section and then alongside the brake lines. The only place a grommet is needed is where the SS line goes through the fiberglass floor of the front luggage compartment.
There is a small channel with metal tabs that runs the length of the backbone where the red line goes through. Once you remove the red line, you can fit the new SS line in the same channel and hold it in place with the same tabs. At the rear you will need one tie wrap to hold the line in place (usually secured to the two shift cables) and then into the slave cylinder.
The whole job can be done in 15-20 minutes. What took me the longest when I did mine about 7 years ago was disconnecting the red line from the clutch master. The connector had seized on and took quite a bit of force to remove. Also, if you use a pressure bleeder like Ezi-Bleed, bleeding the clutch system is a trivial task.
One final note, both the master and slave have a tendency to leak. Mine were replaced several times while the car was under warranty. The slave is an ugly piece of steel that corrodes into a slab of rust even before you're done attaching it to the side of the gearbox. The last time mine leaked, I replaced it with a new unit from Jeff at JAE. The slave he sells is made of aluminum and looks much nicer. Price for the alloy replacement is well under $100US.
Cheers,
Karl-Franz :-)
www.espritfactfile.com
Full guide on Lotus Esprit World.
www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/clutchhose.html
kato
Lotus Esprit World
www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/clutchhose.html
kato
Lotus Esprit World
Here in Australia, Steve Taylor from the Elan Factory in victoria, produces a fantastic SS line with Banjo fittings on both ends- means that it has removable swivels- meaning that you can thread the line through the box section without enlarging the holes or requiring any special tools (though I had a mighty vac to bleed the system with no assistance).
No change in clutch feel, but finally stopped the gears grinding when going in to 2nd quickly- Sydney summers hit 35-40 degrees celcius in summer.. in traffic on the weekend the road gets VERY Hot... the SS clutch line was great.
No change in clutch feel, but finally stopped the gears grinding when going in to 2nd quickly- Sydney summers hit 35-40 degrees celcius in summer.. in traffic on the weekend the road gets VERY Hot... the SS clutch line was great.
If it doesent work it will be "flying spanners" 
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