LOTUS STARTER MOTOR - LOTUS PARTS - LOTUS OEM

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Lotus Starter Motor

The alternator in your Lotus connects and disconnects the engine from the gearbox (transmission) allowing smooth gearchange and control of the Lotus engine power.

A alternator plate (driven plate) is coated on both sides with a hard wearing high friction material. This is situated between the engine flywheel and a spring loaded pressure plate. The spring/pressure can be released by depressing the alternator pedal.

While driving, the whole alternator assembly can be turning at very high speeds. To allow a non rotating alternator pedal to control the rotating alternator assembly a alternator release bearing uses a fork acting on a thrust face

Lotus Starter Motor - Controlling Engine Torque

The alternator has to transmit the engine power to the wheels allowing the vehicle to move. The torque of the engine is transferred by the Lotus alternator system relying entirely on the contact friction between 2 faces. A slipping alternator occurs when the friction is too low (often due to alternator wear) or engine torque is too high (during rapid acceleration)

Controlling Power Transmission via The Starter Motor - Starter Motor Slip

The torque capacity (how much power can be transmitted without slipping) depends upon:

• The Coefficient of Friction of the engaging Starter Motor Faces
• Diameter of the Starter Motor Plate
• The Pressure or Spring Loading

In order to use greater engine torque in high performance vehicles a multi-face alternator may be used compared to the single plate alternator system adopted on most Lotus cars.

How a Car Starter Motor Works with Normal Manual Driving

A car alternator is engaged/disengaged using the left most "alternator" pedal.
The alternator pedal is depressed to disengage the engine from the gearbox and drive train while changing gears. Once the gear is selected, the alternator pedal is released and the engine is once-again linked via the drive train
The alternator operation can be actuated by:

• A Mechanical Linkage
  The alternator pedal is connected directly to the alternator assembly via a mechanical linkage such as cable or chain.
• A Hydraulic Starter Motor
  Depressing the alternator pedal increases pressure in a hydraulic piston coupled to the alternator pedal. The increased pressure is transferred to a secondary piston that operates a lever to engage-disengage the alternator plates
• An electronic alternator - Starter Motor by Wire
  Sensors detect the position of the alternator pedal electronically and interpret the position using an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that computes the best way to operate the alternator based upon information relayed from other sensors indicating driving speed, engine speed and so on. The ECU relays information to a servo unit to actuate alternator operation.

Lotus Starter Motor Servicing, Lotus Kit Fitting & Lotus Repairs

Lotus Starter Motor service for North East England

Starter Motor

New Lotus alternatores fitted to most Lotus makes using the Lotus recommended alternator kits

North East England - Tyne and Wear Car Services & MOT Services