Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I have taken advice and fitted a new quill shaft from Caterham Cars in my speedo angle drive but I think it is too short. Has anyone had this problem and worst case does anyone know of a UK company that could fit the correct length quill? Thanks

I don't know if it helps you, but Susan Miller advertises exchange reconditioned speedometer angle drives for under ?40.
Mike

One other option is to find out if anyone knows if this part is fitted to any other classic car?

In the '80s I owned a +2 that didn't use one, the speedo cable came straight out of the gearbox like a cortina and curved around in the tunnel and up to the firewall. Seemed to work fine.....

Speedy Cables can recondition the unit, but they're not inexpensive or expedient...

Make your own quill from 1/8" welding rod, hammered then filed to a square on the gearbox end to fit in the gearbox drive gear . Turn a shear break point half-way along the length if you are worried about the angle drive gears siezing. You can do this in your lathe or in a drill held in a vice if you don't have a lathe. Use a file to make a v-cut (shirt sleeves tucked out of the way, of course) and reduce the diameter to somewhere between 1/16" and 1/32". Test it out on a bit of scrap to see how easily it will snap.

The angle-drive end of the rod seems to to need a tapered square end, which has to be filed until its a tight fit in the angle drive. I've had this in my main Elan for 20 years or more with no problems. I've just done one for another car also with no problems. There's always another solution!

Nigel F.

How do you dismantle the angle drive? I had a look at mine and couldn't see a way in.

Mike