Synchro Hub - Blocker Bar Springs

[AHM]

Hi All,

(4 speed gearbox)

I have a new 3rd./4th. synchro hub which came with springs but without blocker bars. I now have the blocker bars, but notice that the new springs are thicker and stronger than the old ones. The old ones are from the Mk1 hub and the new hub is Mk2. Lotus only list 1 spring in the parts manual.

Should the MK2 hub have stronger springs?
Is there any dis/advantage in having stronger springs?

I would just put the old springs in, but since the internal design and blocker bars are different between old and new I'm concerned.

thanks,

Simon

[Elan45]

Simon,

You must have the new blocker bars I've seen on ebay. I've not had any experience with these new repro parts. But, Since they come w/ new springs, I'd be tempted to use the new springs with the new bars. There must be a reason!

Roger

[AHM]

Roger,

The springs came with the hub, blocker bars were bought separately.

The trouble with repro parts is that the people producing them don't necessarily know why they were as they were or are producing them for a particular application - Do I ony need stronger springs for racing? will this make gearchanges worse for street use?

I'll probably stick with the original springs as that is the way Ford designed it........ unless someone knows otherwise!

thanks,

Simon

[S2Jay]

Dredging up an old thread [...and should this topic be in the "Drive Train / Gearbox / Final Drive" section?].

I did not know that new replacement Blocker Bars were available either as new Ford/Lotus or as reproductions. I thought that I had been advised from local U.S. sources that these were only available as used items. I do not need the entire synchro assy, and I have new synchros.

Mine do not look too bad, having about 42K miles, but I would much prefer replacing these as a wear item while I have the thing apart, and I would think that the cost would have to be reasonable compared to re-extracting the Trans.

Any follow up, info or sources greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

Jay

[richardcox_lotus]

Hi Jay

I'm not sure where you are located but these guys are familiar with Elan boxes:

http://www.bghgeartech.co.uk

No affiliation.

Regards
Richard

[AHM]

Hi Jay,

I got mine from TTR

[S2Jay]

Thanks much for the quick follow up, guys.
Apparently poor memory or faulty advice on my end. Glad to hear that these items are available new. I will follow up with US sources first & if no luck there, I will pursue UK sources for delivery options.
Following is a pic of one set of my bars.
I found it interesting that there is noticeable wear from the springs on the back side of the center bar, shown in the 2nd pic. [Note to self: how bored do I have to be to take pics of this stuff, and then post them?]

[S2Jay]

....so apparently there are/were 2 versions of the 4 spd transmission Synchro Blocker Bars. There was a change to the later type circa 1968. It is the later type ones that are available. The earlier style, which can be seen pictured in my previous post above, and which would be the ones that I have, are of course, not available. Except as ever so slightly used items from someone?s leftover cast-off parts bin. So now I have learned yet another bit of Elan parts trivia.

Well fortunately mine are not really that bad, but I am still concerned that here is yet another seemingly insignificant replacement wear part that is not available. It appears to be a relatively simple stamping, but I suspect that the cost of the die would be prohibitive. I have no idea what the total market demand would be from Elans as well as Cortinas and whatever else used that tranny, but it would seem that at some point there will be an unfullfillable request. I hate it when that happens.

[AHM]

The different blockers match the different synchro hubs.

The later type synchros are. vailable and you can change them in sets.

If what you have is ok stick with it. The new stuff is either badly made or expensive. I sent 3 hubs back they had more play than the old one and the dog teeth were dire.