Factory Shift Cables are Horrible...Need Help. - LotusTalk

b.flippo · 09-18-2008, 08:06 AM

Does anyone know of an aftermarket company that makes a shift cable that won't melt after one session? Even with a heat sleeve on my shift cables my turbo melts the side-to-side shift cable after 10 laps. I'm tired of retiring after one session and spending $300 on a shift cable every time I do any sort of track-day event.

LARRY · 09-18-2008, 08:15 AM

Call Sector 111.

They'll know.

Welcome to Sector 111, home of Lotus Elise Aftermarket Performance Parts and Exhaust Accessories.

or ForcedFed.

Elise turbo

Serebo1 · 09-18-2008, 10:30 AM

I think the factory cables are fine when used within the parameters for which they were designed. You probably should be speaking to the company that designed your turbo kit, which sounds like it should have either come with A) better shielding, B) different cables.

TimMullen · 09-18-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serebo1

I think the factory cables are fine when used within the parameters for which they were designed. You probably should be speaking to the company that designed your turbo kit, which sounds like it should have either come with A) better shielding, B) different cables.

+1

Bane · 09-18-2008, 11:00 AM

Yep... that doesn't sound like a factory shift cable problem at all in my opinion...

Who is your turbo kit by?

DPM · 09-18-2008, 11:35 AM

Check the studs and nuts from the header output flange to the turbo intake. My guess is that they have worked loose and you are getting pure exhaust forced onto the cables right where they apex. Been there, done it! Expect to pay about $900 for the pair. Also insulate the new ones with heat shield and it should be OK after that. The cables are stainless stranded wires that are encased in a nylon sheath. Once it gets hot enough the shifter cable wires actually melt through the sheath and create too much slack.

If the nuts are loose or missing, replace them with jetnuts. If you never used jetnuts before make note that they can only tightened down once. If you back them off they are useless and have to be replaced.

b.flippo · 09-18-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPM

Check the studs and nuts from the header output flange to the turbo intake. My guess is that they have worked loose and you are getting pure exhaust forced onto the cables right where they apex. Been there, done it! Expect to pay about $900 for the pair. Also insulate the new ones with heat shield and it should be OK after that. The cables are stainless stranded wires that are encased in a nylon sheath. Once it gets hot enough the shifter cable wires actually melt through the sheath and create too much slack.

If the nuts are loose or missing, replace them with jetnuts. If you never used jetnuts before make note that they can only tightened down once. If you back them off they are useless and have to be replaced.

I think the factory cables are fine when used within the parameters for which they were designed. You probably should be speaking to the company that designed your turbo kit, which sounds like it should have either come with A) better shielding, B) different cables.

Been there done that on the exhaust flange coming loose. I found and fixed that right after I bought the car. Unrelated to the melting problem, though (noticed the leak while driving on the street).

The kit is Forced Fed, and was installed at forced fed back in late 2005. When I called them after the first melt down they did say that it was an issue on track cars and to wrap it in some sort of heat protectant. The one that is melting is the side-to-side control cable that is closest to the exhaust and the turbo (which from what I hear is the usual suspect).

I'm know I'm not the only person with this problem. Forced-Fed said that even some of the normally aspirated cars have been known to melt the cables in track situations.

If I can't find an alternative cable, my next step is to wrap the cables in fiberglass or asbestos (if I can even still find it).

DPM · 09-18-2008, 01:26 PM

I wrapped mine and no issues since.

b.flippo · 09-18-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPM

I wrapped mine and no issues since.

What did you end up using?

DPM · 09-18-2008, 02:44 PM

Thermo-Tec makes a product "Thermo-Sleeve" available at Summit Racing. Velcro seam, so it goes on without having to take anything apart.

b.flippo · 09-19-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPM

Thermo-Tec makes a product "Thermo-Sleeve" available at Summit Racing. Velcro seam, so it goes on without having to take anything apart.

Sounds too good to be true. I'll give it a shot, thanks!

09-18-2008, 08:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
b.flippo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Edmond, Oklahoma Posts: 37	Factory Shift Cables are Horrible...Need Help. Does anyone know of an aftermarket company that makes a shift cable that won't melt after one session? Even with a heat sleeve on my shift cables my turbo melts the side-to-side shift cable after 10 laps. I'm tired of retiring after one session and spending $300 on a shift cable every time I do any sort of track-day event.

09-18-2008, 08:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 17,163	Call Sector 111. They'll know. Welcome to Sector 111, home of Lotus Elise Aftermarket Performance Parts and Exhaust Accessories. or ForcedFed. Elise turbo __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise. Stage II Exhaust. 2007 ProBax seats. "We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T)

09-18-2008, 10:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Serebo1 fm78.tv - check it. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,824 Images: 4	I think the factory cables are fine when used within the parameters for which they were designed. You probably should be speaking to the company that designed your turbo kit, which sounds like it should have either come with A) better shielding, B) different cables. __________________ Matte Black, Sport, Touring, ***** intake (TBA), RAC Mono wheels, Painted Shift knob, smoked turn signals, Alpine SPS 6.5" rear speakers, MB Quarts, JVC Nav, Starshield, LBH exhaust, Dpic perf. gauge, Custom true HID projectors, GUT wing and splitter, Mesh side pods, Sector111 harness bar and 4-point harness, Lotus Sport Ohlins double-adjustable suspension, swaybar, '06 LED tailights, Toda flywheel, Lotusport interior.

09-18-2008, 11:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bane . Join Date: May 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 2,960 Images: 4	Yep... that doesn't sound like a factory shift cable problem at all in my opinion... Who is your turbo kit by? __________________ $599 PPE header (INFO) 2007 BMW 335i - Mostly stock un-Official LotusTalk Stealth Bulb provider *6* sets in stock!

09-18-2008, 11:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
DPM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 702	Check the studs and nuts from the header output flange to the turbo intake. My guess is that they have worked loose and you are getting pure exhaust forced onto the cables right where they apex. Been there, done it! Expect to pay about $900 for the pair. Also insulate the new ones with heat shield and it should be OK after that. The cables are stainless stranded wires that are encased in a nylon sheath. Once it gets hot enough the shifter cable wires actually melt through the sheath and create too much slack. If the nuts are loose or missing, replace them with jetnuts. If you never used jetnuts before make note that they can only tightened down once. If you back them off they are useless and have to be replaced. __________________ 2006 Diasio D962R Arancio Borealis SOLD: 05 Elise, Benetec Carbon Fiber full body & rear wing, FF 275 turbo kit , Ikeya sequential shifter, Ohlins coilovers, Porterfield R-4, Sector 111 RTD brace & HNT pad, Yokohama A048, Caterham seats, Simpson 5 point belts, Moroso oil pan, Sector 111 Boomerang, AutoMeter CF Oil Pres-Boost-Vac gauges. No AC, heat, airbags. 1619 pounds "wet"

09-18-2008, 01:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
DPM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 702	I wrapped mine and no issues since. __________________ 2006 Diasio D962R Arancio Borealis SOLD: 05 Elise, Benetec Carbon Fiber full body & rear wing, FF 275 turbo kit , Ikeya sequential shifter, Ohlins coilovers, Porterfield R-4, Sector 111 RTD brace & HNT pad, Yokohama A048, Caterham seats, Simpson 5 point belts, Moroso oil pan, Sector 111 Boomerang, AutoMeter CF Oil Pres-Boost-Vac gauges. No AC, heat, airbags. 1619 pounds "wet"

09-18-2008, 02:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
DPM Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 702	Thermo-Tec makes a product "Thermo-Sleeve" available at Summit Racing. Velcro seam, so it goes on without having to take anything apart. __________________ 2006 Diasio D962R Arancio Borealis SOLD: 05 Elise, Benetec Carbon Fiber full body & rear wing, FF 275 turbo kit , Ikeya sequential shifter, Ohlins coilovers, Porterfield R-4, Sector 111 RTD brace & HNT pad, Yokohama A048, Caterham seats, Simpson 5 point belts, Moroso oil pan, Sector 111 Boomerang, AutoMeter CF Oil Pres-Boost-Vac gauges. No AC, heat, airbags. 1619 pounds "wet"

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