17 replies to this topic

[TOMVX220]

Hi I decided to give my tow eye a go earlier (just to check if it worked) and surprise surprise it doesnt!! Its as though the thread is nakered, the tow eye will simply not screw in to the hole. Any suggestions / ideas as to what I should do?? I dont like the idea of not being able to have the car towed in an emergency! Thanks Tom

[fiveoclock]

Has the threaded hole had the rubber cover on it, if not it might have dirt in it.

[TOMVX220]

Has the threaded hole had the rubber cover on it, if not it might have dirt in it.

Its never had a rubber cover on it. I bought the car last summer and its never had a cover in that time. Could it have corroded? If so, is there anything I can do?

[nige]

Only thing I can suggest is finding thread size and running a thread tap down it.

[theotherhalf]

You just need to run a M8 tap down it to clear all the rust and crap out of it. Then give it a squirt of oil and find a cap (or screw a bolt into it) to keep it clean.

Edited by theotherhalf, 08 April 2010 - 06:23 AM.

[rsg]

its probably a good thing you can't get the towing eye in, didnt you see the thread last week about the incidient with the AA van? Edit: theotherhalf - your sig is AWRSOME!!!!!

Edited by rsg, 08 April 2010 - 06:26 AM.

[TOMVX220]

its probably a good thing you can't get the towing eye in, didnt you see the thread last week about the incidient with the AA van?

Edit: theotherhalf - your sig is AWRSOME!!!!!

No, what happened?? The thing is, if no tow eye how could the car be possibly towed in the event of a breakdown / crash??

[techieboy]

AA tow

[Mangham54]

AA tow

definitely worth a read of that thread.

Personally I wouldn't recommend trying to fit the towing eye if the thread has been exposed for any length of time... As I stated on the AA thread my own experience wasn't a good one, but fortunately cost me nothing more than a broken towing eye. Zimmer was farmore unlucky... And from only having met him for a couple of minutes a few weeks back at the North East Meet he seems a genuinely nice guy with a very very tidy VX

[rsg]

Is the front toeing bar used for any structural purposes???? I.e can it be removed as I bet it weights a few kgs? For toeing one of the rear toeing hooks could be used.

[john_s]

Is the front toeing bar used for any structural purposes???? I.e can it be removed as I bet it weights a few kgs?

It's just a bracket that's there to hold the thread for the towing eye. I took it off my car when I replaced the radiator, as it was pretty rusted. Don't think I'd have liked to have used it for anything more than winching the car onto a trailer though.

If it ever needs towing, I'll figure out how to when it happens.

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

the recovery man who came to pick up my car broke my toe eyes as well so need to fix it asap don't you hate people sometimes

[rsg]

Is the front toeing bar used for any structural purposes???? I.e can it be removed as I bet it weights a few kgs?

It's just a bracket that's there to hold the thread for the towing eye. I took it off my car when I replaced the radiator, as it was pretty rusted. Don't think I'd have liked to have used it for anything more than winching the car onto a trailer though.

If it ever needs towing, I'll figure out how to when it happens.

excellent, next time the front clams off I'll whip it out. Was looking at it the other day and mines more brown than black

[techieboy]

excellent, next time the front clams off I'll whip it out. Was looking at it the other day and mines more brown than black

Pats nice powder coated stainless steel version fitted to mine.

Still wouldn't want to rely on it. Especially when you see the four tiny bolts that attach it to the crashbox.

[Phear]

I didn't replace my towing eye when I replaced my crash box after an accident 18 months ago. However I have now fitted one when I was fitting my charge cooler as I intend to track this year and you generally need a towing eye to get on a track.

[robreg5]

I had the exact same problem, i went to screw my towing eye in and it wouldnt bite into the thread. On closer inspection of the hole where the eye bolt goes into i could clearly see that there was no thread in the hole Cheers Lotus!!!! I was told that apperently things like that get missed all the time at the lotus factory and the owner is left to find the solution. Like f**k was i going to take the front clam off and replace the whole part, so i tapped the hole myself whilst in situe, was very easy and can be done in situe!! Hope that helps

[bazMV6]

So is this a tow eye thread thread?

[TOMVX220]

INDEED it is!! Ok then, ive got myself a rear towing point from the net!! Could someone please suggest how I go about fitting it properly??? Thanks!!