Greetings all,
In the process of trying to install the half shafts onto my Lotus Mk. 51. And I am running into some difficulties and questions.
First, Is there a proper procedure for installing those shafts?!? I can mate the outboard yoke (attached to the u-joint) with the splines on the stub axle. I can even slip the washer and nut into the space between the yoke and the u-joint. More amazingly, I can start the nut and tighten it somewhat by finger. How do I tighten the nut fully?!? (The entire halfshaft is assembled. The u-joint has been pressed into the both the yoke and the half shaft.) Is there a special tool required to tighten that nut?!? (It almost seems like the yoke must be assembled onto the stub axle, the nut tightened, and then the u-joint pressed into the yoke.)
Second, Is there a "standard" length for the halfshafts on a Lotus 51 with a Hewland gearbox?!? If so what is it and how is it measured?!? In the assembly process, I have had to turn the upper and lower Heim joints out of their respective suspension members until there is but one-quarter inch of thread left engaging the threads on the suspension arms. This doesn't seem right. To say nothing of removing alot of the suspension's adjustment. It seems like the halfshafts are too long... They measure 15 and 1/2 inches in total length (from the outside edge of the stub axle yoke to the outside edge of the yoke that bolts to the drive doughnut).
As always, any and all assistance is greatly appreciate.
Have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Mark Patterson
Hesperia, Ca