New Owner Questions..... Comments..... Ideas......

**rijowysock** · November 22, 2012, 04:38 PM

picked up the atom yesterday and 300 miles on it so far, some things i have noticed so far that maybe others have as well (i'll mention the bad because the good is too numerous)

A: the seat belts are awkward, the "release" part of the belts does not budge at all (maybe needs to break in?) they are Sabelt, my lotus had Schroth and never a problem releasing tension on the belts.. secondly the plastic tension pieces get caught in the holes and bind up... basically have never had harnesses more time consuming to get on.

B: the seat "tilts" back, i had the seat 2nd hole from front and the seat would literally "tilt" back in the middle under accel 2", i went back one notch on seat position and still tilts *(needs a pole from the back pushing into the top middle section (maybe a telescoping pole w/ rubber end... just to "firm" up the seating position.. i find a hard 2->3 shift is hard to manage throttle input because the whole seat is moving 1-2"

C: ebrake tension is WAYYYY too stiff, almost impossible to engage the parking brake even to the first click, anyone have experience w/ the wilwood setup and know how to adjust them slightly? i think the 1st click should be easy and maybe 2nd/3rd take some effort to really "hold" the car.. i find myself having to leave car in gear and GET OUT of the car and pull the e brake.

D: car IMMENSELY needs a dead pedal, we checked out the UK bars, but the pedal height i assume is different here because they are below the pedal and useless to use... as u would have to depress the clutch to use... I'm going to check into the sector111 ones... basically need something to push against to push you into seat... right now i put feet under the clutch and push on the "firewall"... but it's not as easy as it should.

everything else about the car is great, power feels great, steering is great, the rod ends allow you to feel the road great!... my shocks bottom out on big bumps but i guess thats normal? actually seeing little "dings" in the control arms from where they hit other parts when compressed...

steering wheel is great, pedals are great, tires are great... the car is great all around.. just some little quirks that would make it amazing!...... and over the top... the seating being the most important because the inputs on car are so finicky that they need to be constant and not different depending on throttle... i might experiment with some stuff to stiffen the seat.

**bolus** · November 22, 2012, 05:42 PM

Great looking car. Like all of these hand built cars they will require some fine adjustment to get them where you like. I cant comment on your questions since I have different parts. but I did take my Scroth harness a part at one point to adjust it a little and I was never terribly happy with my ebrake and just removed it. I'd ask TMI about the harness since that might just be a part to replace under warranty

I have a dead pedal and its well worth it. It was great that was offered as an option on the Atom 2. Sector111 makes one for the atom 3
DEADpedal for Ariel Atom

**rijowysock** · November 22, 2012, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by bolus

Great looking car. Like all of these hand built cars they will require some fine adjustment to get them where you like. I cant comment on your questions since I have different parts. but I did take my Scroth harness a part at one point to adjust it a little and I was never terribly happy with my ebrake and just removed it. I'd ask TMI about the harness since that might just be a part to replace under warranty

I have a dead pedal and its well worth it. It was great that was offered as an option on the Atom 2. Sector111 makes one for the atom 3
DEADpedal for Ariel Atom

no warranty, but my lotus schroth belts were easier to use, might buy them or takata... the belts now are fine just get caught up on the seats and the "Release" flaps aren't easy to use... schroth have a pull piece.

the e-brake i find necessary but just needs to be adjusted a little looser, i assume since it's made to hold the car, then it won't "loosen" with time..

**Like It's Stolen** · November 22, 2012, 06:54 PM

Have you tried the passenger belt? Would be a quick fix if you swap them over.

Regarding the suspension, I've it had that problem and we have some pretty rough roads round here.

My ebrake is also just fine so sounds like you need to adjust it a bit.

**MadMaxAtom** · November 22, 2012, 07:59 PM

Atoms with the "tub" seating should have "pull up" harness adjusters,or they will be a pain to use. The "tub" is an interesting seat for a vehicle. I once gave a 300lb person a class winning ride at an autocross..and between the both of us,that fiberglass was rocking! Amazing it didn't break..

That is the best looking white tub/panel accented Atom I have seen to date.Great combination right down to the wheels and helmet.

I'd check your ride height if you are hitting hard parts and running out of travel. For rough street roads,more travel vs. heavier springs would be the way I'd go.

**McFred** · November 23, 2012, 06:36 AM

Even the valve cover is white--very nice!

Originally Posted by MadMaxAtom

I'd check your ride height if you are hitting hard parts and running out of travel.

If it's just the dampers hitting the bump stops then I'd say it needs more preload, and if the damper is adjustable maybe experiment with more compression damping. On my seat, I added a fiberglass rib on the back side about even with the shoulders to stiffen up the whole thing. Before, the whole seat would flex down the middle where shifter cutout is. I think I posted pictures of it somewhere... Also, you might try some wide washers at the bolt points so you can tighten the bolts pretty tight without crushing the fiberglass. Are the pedals adjustable in the A3? There might be a seat/pedal adjustment combination that you feel more comfortable with.

**rijowysock** · November 23, 2012, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by McFred

Even the valve cover is white--very nice!

If it's just the dampers hitting the bump stops then I'd say it needs more preload, and if the damper is adjustable maybe experiment with more compression damping. On my seat, I added a fiberglass rib on the back side about even with the shoulders to stiffen up the whole thing. Before, the whole seat would flex down the middle where shifter cutout is. I think I posted pictures of it somewhere... Also, you might try some wide washers at the bolt points so you can tighten the bolts pretty tight without crushing the fiberglass. Are the pedals adjustable in the A3? There might be a seat/pedal adjustment combination that you feel more comfortable with.

pics of said "rib"?

no adjustable pedals, they are fine... wheel is good, just need to prevent seat flex... and the seat belts u can pull up but the belts are so stiff and the slider plastic and not all metal so doesn't slip and slide easily.

**McFred** · November 23, 2012, 06:48 AM

Maybe I never did post pictures... Anyway, here's what we did on our A2 seat:

Also, I'm pretty tall so I had the seat all the way back and it would rub on the frame in a few places as it flexed. Note the small cutouts made near the air intake frame tubes to increase clearance. Now, even at the track with two people and copious lateral G there's no rubbing anymore.