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Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 10:44 am
by vincereynard
I've just acquired a Elan 5 speed for a possible future project.

I would like to lift the cover, give it a visual and fill up with oil for preservation etc.

Is it OK to simply take off cover "A" ? Nothing nasty going to spring at me?

I'd also like to remove the gear stick. Which probably means removing cover "B"? Or will it detach without removing the cover? The surround has flats, presumably for a spanner, but I don't want too try to hard unlit I know it should be OK.

Straight EP80 oil suitable for now?

Thanks in advance.

Vince

P.S. Apologies for the owner of the image I pinched.

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 11:44 am
by rgh0
Yes the top cover "A" comes off with no problems to inspect internals
The gear lever can be removed by unscrewing the cap that holds the stick to the cover "B". There should be an alloy lock washer with tabs that have been bent down on the cover ribs that may need bending up before the cap can be unscrewed.

If you are just storing the box then any Gear Oil should be fine and rotate the box occasionally to re-coat the gears and bearings. Drain it out and use Redline MTL before use.

cheers
Rohan

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 12:58 pm
by vincereynard
rgh0 wrote: Drain it out and use Redline MTL before use.

cheers
Rohan


Thanks Rohan, It looked fine but always worth a check!

I've had a look at Redline and there appears to be a number of 70 > 90 gear oils. Is there any particular one that is favoured?

Thanks again.
Vince

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 4:22 pm
by john.p.clegg
...and don't forget to put the box in 3rd of 4th ( can't remember which ) before removing the gearlever

John :wink:

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 5:04 pm
by vincereynard
john.p.clegg wrote:...and don't forget to put the box in 3rd of 4th ( can't remember which ) before removing the gearlever

John :wink:


Now you have gone and complicated it again! I'll stick it in both just to be sure.

Vince

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 5:45 pm
by john.p.clegg
No,no,no...don't do that you'll hurt it.

It just stops the cross lever from falling away and you struggling to get it back in....

John :wink:

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 7:35 pm
by rgh0
Use the Redline MTL 75W80 GL-4 oil

regards
Rohan

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:06 am
by vincereynard
Thank you. I shall get some now so as to be ready.
Vince

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:10 am
by john.p.clegg
After all the posting on here re. the Redline MTL I purchased some a couple of years ago and it was OK,but when hot was not impressed,so went back to cheapo 20/50 engine oil and it's as good if not better than the Redline MTL.

You pays your money and you takes your choice...

John :wink:

P.S. also fitted the quick-shift kit...and binned that after a few weeks...

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:41 am
by rgh0
engine oil in your gear box - your not driving a mini I hope you realise :lol:

cheers
Rohan

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 1:01 pm
by john.p.clegg
Not a mini but a Maxi...

John :wink:

In 1969 Charles Griffin was asked why the Austin Maxi had a five speed gearbox.

?The short answer is: somebody had to take the initiative in this. Once again, as with front drive, we?ve done it. You can?t talk about this without bringing in overdrive. The real objective of an overdrive is to increase the relationship between road speed and engine speed. The normal fourth speed, depending on the power to weight ratio, lies somewhere about 15?mph per 1000rpm for the normal family saloon. Now overdrive lifts all that up to about 19?mph per 1000rpm.

?People buy an overdrive because they just don?t like fuss when cruising. We have therefore built this feature into our car with a fifth speed, replacing the need for an applied separate unit? having driven the ADO14 for many miles myself ? I use fifth speed almost continuously. I find myself not waiting to get onto a motorway to go into fifth speed. When I want to listen to the radio at 50mph, that?s the time I enjoy fifth speed. The noise level comes right down, and you?ve got something very nice and refined.?

Those doors

Re: Lotus 5 Speed

PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 7:42 pm
by gjz30075
john.p.clegg wrote:After all the posting on here re. the Redline MTL I purchased some a couple of years ago and it was OK,but when hot was not impressed,so went back to cheapo 20/50 engine oil and it's as good if not better than the Redline MTL.

.


This is what Graham Bolton told me, too. And I , too, tried Redline MTL (some number) in my four
speed box and didn 't like it. Back to 89/90W.