Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Dilkris on Friday,May 21, 2021, 01:20:24 AM
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Can someone please tell me where the 1/2" mild steel spacer is fitted? The aluminum castings obviously contain the ball joint assembly but does the spacer in question go on top of the chassis tunnel or beneath it? (If is goes beneath it - it effectively does nothing... :confused: so I guess it goes on top to lift the fulcrum point of the gear lever/first gear lever shaft hinge point - is that correct..???) Sorry I am talking to myself here it seems :)) :))
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My TCS didn't have a spacer .... :confused:
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This is interesting - TBH I don't see the purpose of it - unless it is to move the gear lever and first gear shaft upwards and away (or closer to) the water cooling pipes/handbrake cables or speedo drive... :confused: Interestingly it is a purpose machined packer made from 1/2" mild steel - at todays prices it would not be cheap.....
I'll wait and see it we have any more feedback - if not - I'll leave it out. :))
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Check the parts fiche. If it’s not there then DPO strikes again.
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Not shown in parts diagram..... but that's nothing new :))
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Don't believe it's a Europa part.
But don't throw it away just yet. I expect it'll come in handy when you build the spring compressor you've yet to realise you'll need. ;D
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But don't throw it away just yet. I expect it'll come in handy when you build the spring compressor you've yet to realise you'll need. ;D
:)) :))Been there done that !!!!
Installing this gear lever/linkage assembly is the very LAST job (of significance) on this Europa "Go Kart..." :beerchug:
After this its brake lines, refurbish wheels and alternator install - then look at it for a couple of weeks thinking "what have I missed...?" Then I'll start her up for the first time in some 20 years - (maybe longer tbh :confused:), following this - I'll start on the body :headbanger:
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Those plates are different between a TC and a TCS, but neither have I seen either with the plain spacer plate.
If the two others make a perfect case or the gear leaver ball joint. IMHO the spacer is superfluous.
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:I-agree: Seems strange though - spacer is really well made :confused:
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If it was an original Lotus fitment, it can only go on top of the two gear lever sandwich plates.
Have you bolts long enough to go through the plates into the tapped thread in the bottom plate?
I seem to remember the heads are 3/8", so the bolts would be 3/16" UNF.
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My UNF bolts that fit (from a collection) have a 5/16" head, I do not have the original bolts - this "packer" was in my "box of bits" with the gear lever and original sandwich plates. The replacement and new components, (as I opted to replace this assembly comprising rose joint and sandwich plates are tapped for 5mm). Note: You will recall that only one of the sandwich plates is tapped - the other has clearance holes.
I agree - it could only go "on top" - but this would be between the sandwich plates containing the rose joint and the chassis and the only reason I could see that you would want to do this would be to raise the fulcrum point of the gear lever/1st section of gear change shaft inside the tunnel.
I think it is a PO mystery and I will leave it out of the install.
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OK - never mind the spacer.... :)) :)) :))which way are the sandwich plates mounted?? Option 1 or 2.?
I fail to understand why one of the sandwich plates are drilled and tapped. :confused:
Option 2 would obviously make the install easier.......
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They are both on top of the chassis.....the easier option ;)
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Of all the TCs I have worked on, none have had any block above the chassis. All had both halves below the chassis.
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They are both on top of the chassis.....the easier option ;)
Easier....? If the gear lever without rose joint, is attached to the first actuating shaft and then passed as a complete assembly through the chassis, (which would seem to make sense), having both sandwich plates above the chassis would mean you could do this, BUT, you would then have to assemble the rose joint and retaining circlip once the gear lever had passed through the lower sandwich, thereafter fitting the second sandwich plate....:headbanger:
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Of all the TCs I have worked on, none have had any block above the chassis. All had both halves below the chassis.
Didn't think of this option - guess this is Option 3 then.... :)) :))
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I am mistaken......I am blaming it on "no coffee yet".....sorry Chris.
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Of all the TCs I have worked on, none have had any block above the chassis. All had both halves below the chassis.
Didn't think of this option - guess this is Option 3 then.... :)) :))
I have just found the attached photo posted on the forum in 2013 by Lotusjps - this would seem to confirm Option 3.
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On my original TCS the Bearing plate assembly (AKA sandwich plate) was installed under the chassis hole and the screws held it in place. When I removed it the whole shifter assembly fell down into the chassis. I decided to replace the Bearing plate with a new one from RD Ent and tried to mount it the same way as the original plate. I couldn't get the plate to tighten so the two pieces were flush with each other, there was a small gap between the two plates. I called Ray at RD and he told me his plates mount on either side of the chassis with the threaded plate inside the chassis. I tried this and it worked perfectly. Maybe The RD plates are different from the originals but it seems to work fine on my car.
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:I-agree: That makes the most sense - think that's the way I'll go. Option 2 as per my earlier picture. :beerchug:
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Of all the TCs I have worked on, none have had any block above the chassis. All had both halves below the chassis.
Didn't think of this option - guess this is Option 3 then.... :)) :))
I have just found the attached photo posted on the forum in 2013 by Lotusjps - this would seem to confirm Option 3.
Expensive broken gear lever.
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I've just removed the centre console on my TCS and the two halves are both in the chassis with the bolts as per the picture of the damaged lever. These hold the assembly together (so it doesn't fall apart while you install it?) and the bolts come up through the holes in the chassis with the washers/nuts fitted inside the cabin. I can't say if this is original as I've only had the car a couple of years and it has clearly been apart before as none of the nuts match!
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I've just removed the centre console on my TCS and the two halves are both in the chassis with the bolts as per the picture of the damaged lever. These hold the assembly together (so it doesn't fall apart while you install it?) and the bolts come up through the holes in the chassis with the washers/nuts fitted inside the cabin. I can't say if this is original as I've only had the car a couple of years and it has clearly been apart before as none of the nuts match!
Original. All 7 of mine were like that.
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:I-agree: That makes the most sense - think that's the way I'll go. Option 2 as per my earlier picture. :beerchug:
OK - I now agree with 4129R - it's going to be "Option 3"...... both sandwich plates inside the tunnel. :)) :))
Having just assembled everything I can confirm that Option 2, (sandwich plates either side of the tunnel - see original photo's) is not ideal as the manner upon which the sandwich plates are machined, prevents them firmly clamping either side of the chassis, consequently when everything is done up tight, the sandwich plates can move around and are only effectively located by the clearance between the bolt hole diameter and the sandwich plate bolts.
So far, I am finding this whole assembly a PITA to work on - it is extremely awkward. :headbanger:
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The S2 had one plate either side of the chassis. I cut a slot into the lower one to allow it to be removed and refitted without withdrawing the gear lever.