Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Dear Helpful Lotus Elan Community:

Today I had an alignment shop set my front toe-in. As predicted, my shade-tree job had resulted in toe-out of about 1/8". My setting is now 1/8' toed in. My Elan tracks straighter and all vestiges of bump steer are now gone.

Unfortunately, when I retrieved my car, the gear lever was cranked clockwise a bit (looking down at it from above) and now feels a little "loose." Here's a photo in third gear. And, yes, that is an 8-track tape deck.

My guess is the alignment guy had some trouble finding reverse and forced it a little.

What is the best (i.e., easiest) way to re-center my gear lever and tighten it up? I would very much prefer not to remove the center console or turn this into a one-day job (we can all dream, right?).

Many thanks,

-John

Afraid you need to remove the console, which is super simple-put the gearbox in 2nd or 4th and lift the console over the lever. Yours does look like it might have a couple of extra, non-stock screws.

Once the console is off and the shift boot is lifted you should see the rubber bushed shift lever mounting that your car has with a nut on top. See if you can simply reposition the lever and tighten the nut. It is also possible that the rubber bush is shot, in which case you can buy a new one from pretty much any of the usual suppliers.

Should be a 10 minute job unless you need to renew the bush.

My Plus2 has a anti-sizzle shift lever,which has a roll pin through the shifter and the spindle from the gearbox to keep the shift lever from rotating. Even with a loose securing nut, the shift lever will remain straight. Check to see if your shift lever is so equipped.

You should be able to pull the rubber boot out of the console (if the extra screws are not through it in which case they need to be removed).

Once pulled up you can access the lever securing nut and loosen and reorient the lever and re tighten - a 2 minute job.

Roll pins were never standard but may have been added by a DPO due to this issue of the lever rotating if it came loose

cheers
Rohan

Thanks, All,

I'll try Rohan's approach first and hope I can reach the securing nut, loosen, reorient, and re-tighten. I'll let you know how it goes. I have to stay home tomorrow, so may try it tomorrow afternoon.

Cheers,

John

Rohan, with all respect but a "tension pin" is shown in the +2 parts list. The +2 anti sizzle setup being different to that of an Elan. I just use a split pin on my +2.
Cheers
John

Yes called a tension pin in the manual (65)

The 4 speed Elan is different to the 4 speed Plus 2 as you say and I was referring to the Elan as that was what the question was about. The Elan does not have that pin and the anti vibration bush mounts direct to the gearbox change shaft with the lever offset on the side of the bush not to the offset lever. and bush as shown for the Plus 2.

The 5 speed plus 2 change lever detail is different again from the 4 speed Plus 2 and does not have a roll pin.

cheers
Rohan

We are wandering away from the original question. However is clear to see that in the +2 with four speed gearbox the driver can apply more turning moment around the centerline of the selector shaft as it enters the gearbox. Therefore was more likely necessary to add the tension pin to the +2 gear lever than to the Elan gear lever.