Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Chris,
Mine is missing so and I would like to make one. If you find the time would you please post the dimensions? Length, width, and size of hole.
Thanks,
Mr.Gale

Based on Chris' dimensions here's a drawing of the Gator (Grommet per parts book):

Bit of a heads up, i've been final assembling my gear selector etc today and noticed the SJSportscar rubber gaiter is approximately 5mm smaller in diameter when compared to the Original Lotus part.

The SJSportscar gaiter still works fine but isn't as tight in the plate as the original so if your making a new plate its worth adjusting for the smaller diameter.

Another update, On closer inspection it seems the metal plate goes over the felt event though the holes where not visible on the top (see pictures)

from the top you would say there where no holes.


But from the underside its quite obvious there are holes through it (i can poke a small screwdriver through the holes quite easy)


So that would raise the gaiter/plate up 1/2"

I wasn't expecting that...... Typical, only noticed that as i was finishing it off.

My Sprint doesn't have that plate either. The gear lever gaiter on mine fits snugly in the hole in the plastic tray and that's how I thought it was meant to be fitted. If the rubber gaiter is fitted into a plate below the tray, how does the hole in the tray work with respect to the gaiter?

Mike

Mike, mine ends up looking like this:



I think that's what you are asking?

Hmmm. I think I'll leave mine as it is. I think it looks neater when it fits the plastic tray snugly. Thanks for the photo Phil.

Mike

Mike, I originally test assembled mine without the plate but the thing that attracted my attention to the holes was whilst running the engine i noticed exhaust fumes rising from round the gaiter (was not into that at all)

I know it won't make much difference to people like me that will only be fair weather driving there Elan but without the plate it will also give you a water leak (if you ever take it out in the rain)

Am i missing some thing here?

When i fit the gaiter over my gear selector it doesn't seem to fit very well (the selector hole in the gaiter seems to center over the middle of the anti sizzle bushing) so because the selector arm is 1/2" - 3/4" further back the front edge of the Gaiter is kicked up in neutral (doesn't sit flat) this means when i put it in second or fourth it puts quite allot of stress on the front of the rubber. It's like my gear box needs to be 3/4" further forward to use that selector?

The engine and gear box mounts seem fine? Seems odd like i've assembled some thing wrong...........

Same problem here. I don't like the fit over the anti sizzle bush. I think the later, aftermarket gaiters are smaller overall because my gaitor is too small in diameter for my original plate.

Hi

I am stripping my engine and gearbox and note that the aftermarket gator is smaller than the original hole in the plate and that the fit will not be great when I put it back together . Did you over come the problem? I seem to recall there are two sizes of gator?

Cheers
George

After allot of messing i ended up getting hold of an original gaiter which fits. I'm not sure how you could get round the size of the Selector bushing v's gaiter issue short of modifying the gear selector anti sizzle, i bought a new Gaiter from every source i could think of and they where all too small to go over the Anti sizzle bush correctly. I was lucky to find a NOS original and paid the premium to get a selector gaiter that actually fits.

Thanks for the reply, saves me buying one from all the usual suspects, as that would have been my first route .
Wouldn't it be good if suppliers put that little bit of extra attention into re manufacturing parts.
I would think you probably got the last new old stock item available, but if there another going about somewhere I would be intrested.

Cheers
George