Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Can anyone explain whether the anti-sizzle gear lever bush is the same for a 1967 Elan +2 as for an Elan? I keep reading about anti-sizzle bushes for Elan but cannot work out if that would be the same for my +2. Do the cars have the same gear lever? The sizzle is driving me insane. As soon as you get up to say 30mph the gear stick starts vibrating and buzzing. If you put your hand on it gently it stops. At some speeds it's not so obvious but it never goes away. It really spoils the drive and we don't want to take the entire gearbox apart if a simple bush will fix it. Thanks

As your 67 +2 will have a 4 speed box, it will have the same gear lever and same bush as an Elan.

'The sizzle is driving me insane'

Don't you like the melody Sorry could help myself.

Welcome to the forum by the way.

Leslie

What with all the other lovely noises the car makes this is just one "melody" too much! I know it has 4 speed box but I was worried gear stick etc might be different. It will be great if it is identical and I can get a bush for it.

wonder if the nylon ball is too tight

is it hard to get in reverse?

if the early +2 indeed has an Elan shifter, find a later one they are different

Is the shift knob rattling?

Thanks for replies. It goes into all the gears fine. If I loosen the gear knob it rattles so it's not the knob itself. Once you tighten up the gear knob you still have the gear stick sizzle.

Melodyk wrote:What with all the other lovely noises the car makes this is just one "melody" too much! I know it has 4 speed box but I was worried gear stick etc might be different. It will be great if it is identical and I can get a bush for it.

It's not just a case of getting a bush.

You may have a non-standard gear shift lever.

The standard one is in two main parts, a short stubby lever that goes into the gearbox and a longer one that has the knob/handle on top for your hand. The two parts are flexibly joined together by the rubber bush. They do appear to differ between the Elan and the Elan+2




See parts 62 to 72 on this diagram

http://www.lotuselan.net/wiki/FA_-_Gear ... asing_%2B2
Elan +2



Two-Seater Elan:

If you already have the correct gear stick for the +2, shown above, but are encountering sizzle, it is possible that the bush (number 66) has gone hard or the washers (number 67) are bridging the gap between the inner and outer sleeves of the bush, thereby effectively making it 'hard' If so use washers with a smaller outside diameter.


PS: Gus above was referring to the nylon hemisherical cover (number 58) not the gear knob for your hand (number 72).

They are different,what someone recently did was fit a weight on the lever to alter its harmonics...just try taping a nut/bolt whatever you have handy to the lever and see what happens...

John

john.p.clegg wrote:just try taping a nut/bolt whatever you have handy to the lever and see what happens...

Yep....that sounds like a Lotus solution to me

Somebody on here (rcourtney??) fitted on internal gaiter ( off an MGB?) to prevent noxious niffs from entering the cabin. This might provide a damper for the lever.

We definitely have the +2 gear lever as in the diagram above. But we need to do a bit of dismantling to see if the bush is hardened or if it might be the washers. If it is the bush, is that available from any of the usual UK Lotus parts people?

Melodyk wrote:We definitely have the +2 gear lever as in the diagram above. But we need to do a bit of dismantling to see if the bush is hardened or if it might be the washers. If it is the bush, is that available from any of the usual UK Lotus parts people?

Yes, Sue Miller and / or Paul Matty stock it