Just fitted new gear linkage kit..
Discussion
Just a quick one, fitted a nylatron bush kit to my S1 elise. Bought it off ebay for £15. Why lotus dont supply this from new is just daft. The gear change has lost all of its slop and feels incredible. I also fitted a short shifter a few months ago and the 2 combined now feel streets ahead. For a total cost of £45 for bushes and short shifter, I'd say its the best money with the biggest improvement I have ever done to the car.
Its not far off the feel of the Honda S2000 box now which can only be a good thing!
Its not far off the feel of the Honda S2000 box now which can only be a good thing!
Totally with you on wonderring why Lotus didn't do this in the first place. It could only have saved them about £5 per car by using that rubber crap but ruins the gearchange. For anybody wonderring whether its worth doing this mod, stop dithering and just do it. It transforms the car.
Grinnders said:
hi piooly.. I have a gear linkage kit ready to go.... but not a short shifter... did you buy an eliseparts one or the one frequently floating on ebay ?
The gear linkage kit on eliseparts includes a load of metal rose joints etc that I dont need. My elise is a late 2001 S1 and already has these as standard. I got mine off ebay hence the low cost but I only needed the bushes.
I also got the short shifter off ebay for about £30... all new parts and cheaper than eliseparts in this case....
piooly said:
Grinnders said:
hi piooly.. I have a gear linkage kit ready to go.... but not a short shifter... did you buy an eliseparts one or the one frequently floating on ebay ?
The gear linkage kit on eliseparts includes a load of metal rose joints etc that I dont need. My elise is a late 2001 S1 and already has these as standard. I got mine off ebay hence the low cost but I only needed the bushes.
I also got the short shifter off ebay for about £30... all new parts and cheaper than eliseparts in this case....
I'm reading this thread with interest - my Elise s2 has always had fairly 'sloppy' gearchange - I'm used to it now, but its also evident by mates struggling to find gears if I let them have a drive.
Is this the answer to my problems ?
Also mechanically I'm a total numpty, so is it easy to fit?
Is this the answer to my problems ?
Also mechanically I'm a total numpty, so is it easy to fit?
SeanyD said:
Is this the answer to my problems ?
Also mechanically I'm a total numpty, so is it easy to fit?
Yes.Also mechanically I'm a total numpty, so is it easy to fit?
And yes.
It makes a huge huge difference - so it's well worth it. As for the fitting, it comes with instructions that are clear.
(to confirm, we're talking about the Elise Parts Gear Linkage Kit - about #50 when I bougt it a couple years ago. Such a difference).
Not dumb questions at all Sean - I had the same when I did mine!
I got the gear linkage kit first and, depending on how that went, was going to look at the short shifter. However, the gear linkage made such a difference I never actually did the short shift kit.
So my advice is to just do the linkage, see how you get on with it.
I must stress that it can take a bit of adjusting. You put it all on, then see if you can get 2nd and 5th gears (the two furthest away). Then put on undertray etc. Drive around for a couple of days and see how it is. If it's a bit notchy or you struggle to get it in gear a couple of times adjust it by one turn (you'll see what I mean) and it makes a massive difference - from slightly notchy to perfect. It's a pain as you have to get the car in the air again and take off the undertray (dam that's laborious) but well worth it
I got the gear linkage kit first and, depending on how that went, was going to look at the short shifter. However, the gear linkage made such a difference I never actually did the short shift kit.
So my advice is to just do the linkage, see how you get on with it.
I must stress that it can take a bit of adjusting. You put it all on, then see if you can get 2nd and 5th gears (the two furthest away). Then put on undertray etc. Drive around for a couple of days and see how it is. If it's a bit notchy or you struggle to get it in gear a couple of times adjust it by one turn (you'll see what I mean) and it makes a massive difference - from slightly notchy to perfect. It's a pain as you have to get the car in the air again and take off the undertray (dam that's laborious) but well worth it
TonyHetherington said:
Not dumb questions at all Sean - I had the same when I did mine!
I got the gear linkage kit first and, depending on how that went, was going to look at the short shifter. However, the gear linkage made such a difference I never actually did the short shift kit.
So my advice is to just do the linkage, see how you get on with it.
I must stress that it can take a bit of adjusting. You put it all on, then see if you can get 2nd and 5th gears (the two furthest away). Then put on undertray etc. Drive around for a couple of days and see how it is. If it's a bit notchy or you struggle to get it in gear a couple of times adjust it by one turn (you'll see what I mean) and it makes a massive difference - from slightly notchy to perfect. It's a pain as you have to get the car in the air again and take off the undertray (dam that's laborious) but well worth it
I did it the other way round, short shift first, difference felt brillant !!! although its take more elbow grease to change gear as its a shorter pivot point, women may find it a bit stiff.I got the gear linkage kit first and, depending on how that went, was going to look at the short shifter. However, the gear linkage made such a difference I never actually did the short shift kit.
So my advice is to just do the linkage, see how you get on with it.
I must stress that it can take a bit of adjusting. You put it all on, then see if you can get 2nd and 5th gears (the two furthest away). Then put on undertray etc. Drive around for a couple of days and see how it is. If it's a bit notchy or you struggle to get it in gear a couple of times adjust it by one turn (you'll see what I mean) and it makes a massive difference - from slightly notchy to perfect. It's a pain as you have to get the car in the air again and take off the undertray (dam that's laborious) but well worth it
Then fitted the gear link kit. I'd say both kits had an equal amount of improvement. Very worth while.... and I'd steer away from the £50 gear link kit if your car is youngish. Mine is 2001 with 40K on the clock and the gear link feels very tight and new, but the bushes were shows signs of slop.... and at £15, cant be bad..
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