LETSLA Short Shifter Linkage

[Baysailor]

Originally Posted by ruggedbert

Sent my payment last weekend. Can't wait for it! Btw, I notice that there is a lot of play with the shifter when it is in any gear. Will this shifter resolve the problem?

thanks

Lots of play removed... I will see if I can get some video of mine versus a stock Lotus. Put them both in gear and wiggle the shifter around and also running each through the gears.

[Baysailor]

Originally Posted by darkSol

I don't care about shorter shifts - just better feel and less sloppiness.

This is what I like best about the kit! While the shorter throw is nice (I don't have mine even set to the shortest throw), the removal of the sloppiness is great.

[ruggedbert]

Originally Posted by Baysailor

Lots of play removed... I will see if I can get some video of mine versus a stock Lotus. Put them both in gear and wiggle the shifter around and also running each through the gears.

Awesome. Must be nice in conjunction with the Re-Enforcer!

[TroyLotus]

I have installed it on the Exige and there is not difference except for the alum intercooler pipe. All I had to do was loosen two hose clamps and it pulled right off. Then the install was the same. I am only waiting on the threaded end for the crossgate lever for the first batch and I just talked to the machine shop today. They are doing the run at like 6am tomorrow and sending me the parts tomorrow morning. I hope to get them on Sat so I can ship on Monday, but it might not be until Monday as it is being shipped from NH to VA. I have another batch of parts coming on Tuesday and will be able to ship the rest of the orders then. Thanks so much for being patient.
Troy

[EliseAtLeast]

Yeah, the intercooler U-tube needs to come off and I think the intake tube needs to come off too. Hopefully that'll be enough.

[udlose03]

will consider this closer to summer, forgot exactly how sloppy my shifter is

[lt0302]

Originally Posted by alvinjamur

I sent in my payment for the short shifter kit a few days ago.

do you have a shipping time frame for these.........I am anxious to install it.......the mod Gods are angry that I haven't done anything to the Lotus in 4 months!!!!

[TroyLotus]

The intake tube does not need to come off as you can just reach around it, just the U shaped alum intercooler pipe.

Yeah, the intercooler U-tube needs to come off and I think the intake tube needs to come off too. Hopefully that'll be enough.

I should be shipping them out begining of next week.

[Baysailor]

Below are the measurements for my shifter versus a stock shifter. I have my shifter set one hole from the shortest throw for the bellcrank shift lever (front to back) and the middle adjustment hole for the crossgate lever (side to side). These measurements were taken from the top of the shift ball. I used the horizontal line between the numbers as the reference point for measuring front to back movements and the 1 for measuring the side to side movements. The side to side was from the 1/2 position across to the 5/6 position (I did not include the lateral movement from going into reverse).

<table border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0> <th align=center colspan=4><b>Shifter Throw Distances</b></th> <tr> <td align=center>&nbsp;</td> <td width=80 align=center><b>Stock</b></td> <td width=80 align=center><b>LETSLA</b></td> <td width=80 align=center><b>delta</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td align=left><b>1st to 2nd</b></td> <td align=right>4.65 in.</td> <td align=right>3.27 in.</td> <td align=right>1.38 in.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=left><b>3rd to 4th</b></td> <td align=right>4.61 in.</td> <td align=right>3.23 in.</td> <td align=right>1.38 in.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=left><b>5th to 6th</b></td> <td align=right>4.65 in.</td> <td align=right>3.27 in.</td> <td align=right>1.38 in.</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=left><b>crossgate</b></td> <td align=right>3.39 in.</td> <td align=right>2.52 in.</td> <td align=right>0.87 in.</td> </tr></table>

[dmh]

I realize those are your "throw distances" but you can also keep both front-to-back and side-to-side the stock distances, yes?

[Baysailor]

Originally Posted by dmh

I realize those are your "throw distances" but you can also keep both front-to-back and side-to-side the stock distances, yes?

The furthest adjustment holes out from the pivot points should be very close to stock (if not exactly).

[IamBatman]

how does it compared to a Honda S2000 shifter? I consider that the benchmark for shifter throw and feel.

I have a short throw shifter on my Cobra, and even though it's accurate and short throw its is still miles away from the S2k stock shifter. The S2k shifts like toggle switches while my Cobra shift like I'm moving a hammer thru water. (right now, even with both shifter reinforcement mods, my Exige S still feels like shifting wet noodles.)

[dma550]

Originally Posted by Baysailor

Lots of play removed... I will see if I can get some video of mine versus a stock Lotus. Put them both in gear and wiggle the shifter around and also running each through the gears.

Video please!

[tvacc]

Originally Posted by IamBatman

how does it compared to a Honda S2000 shifter? I consider that the benchmark for shifter throw and feel.

.)

I have always considered the early Lotus Elan to be THE benchmark for shifter throw and feel.

Second is the Caterham with the crossflow engine...but in the Caterham it is not as silky smooth as the Elan. Nothing shifts like an Elan.

[TroyLotus]

My car prior to this, by two weeks, was an 05 S2000 (they had a great lease in Aug 05 at $297 a month). I think that is a big reason why I felt like I needed to make the LETSLA and what I tried to make it feel like. After 3 years of driving the S2000 it just felt natural and the Elise did not. The shifter feel on the S2000 was nice for sure, quick and smooth. The shifter on the Elise with the LETSLA now feels much closer to the S2000 and I am totally happy with it as it feels natural. I feel like I can feel the transmission again and what it going on. I can once again drive without the clutch all day long with no issues.

how does it compared to a Honda S2000 shifter? I consider that the benchmark for shifter throw and feel.

I have a short throw shifter on my Cobra, and even though it's accurate and short throw its is still miles away from the S2k stock shifter. The S2k shifts like toggle switches while my Cobra shift like I'm moving a hammer thru water. (right now, even with both shifter reinforcement mods, my Exige S still feels like shifting wet noodles.)

[IamBatman]

good to hear that you have direct experience with the s2k shifter. I'm looking forward to hear more customer feedback.

[IamBatman]

Originally Posted by tvacc

I have always considered the early Lotus Elan to be THE benchmark for shifter throw and feel.

Second is the Caterham with the crossflow engine...but in the Caterham it is not as silky smooth as the Elan. Nothing shifts like an Elan.

Not too many people have direct experience with the Elan, but I can't imagine it can be better then the s2k shifter

[lwein]

I have a 289 Cobra(a real one),a 1962 Elite (ZF box)and a 1970 Elan with an ultra close ratio box--------I have had an S2000.
IMHO, NOTHING shifts better than the early Elan. NOTHING!
But this is off topic,as our new Lotus are mid-engine,and the shifter cannot be as good as a front engine,RWD car. Cayman/Boxster is very good,however.:s hift:
and I have very good expectations for this LESLA.

[TroyLotus]

Just and update. I did receive word over the weekend that the part needed is in transit and shipped. I should have them today or tomorrow and will ship out on Wednesday or Thursday.

On a side note I did read over Lotustalk threads and others last week that the end of the cables can break and the sheathing can break also. I took mine apart to see if there is a solution or if it is a really a problem. What I noticed is that the solid portion of the cable is to short by design, especially on the crossgate cable. What can happen when using the stock linkage is the solid portion almost comes all the way out and then only a tiny portion is in and that puts a lot of stress on the end of the solid portion to braided cable inner. So when I see pics of the failure I know why it happens now. Now with the LETSLA more of the solid portion stays in the sheathing so it should have less chance of braking. Also the angle the solid portion comes out is straighter with the new cable bracket so there should be even less chance of breaking. I have also looked at both the 05 and new cable design that Lotus has on the 07-08 Exige cars and maybe Elise cars of that year and the only difference I can see is that the sheathing is 12.5mm thick instead of 11mm thick.

Now I did come up with a simple solution so that the cable ends and sheath are more protected just to be anal (these are the odd things that keep me up at night pondering). I also just want to put out there that I have not had any failures or problems with the cables or sheath like this at all or in any way in all the installs I have done or my own car. I am just super anal about making sure everything works right and for a long time. I debated on even making the sheath protector as I did not want to make it out that there were any failures and it might be construed that way, but I am thinking it is better to do it and make our cars better for the long run. Plus, I like making items and coming up with solutions to known problems. Now working on a cable solution also in the future I see how much cables cost so any extra protection is a good idea. What the solution is an aluminum tube that slides over the sheathing and clamps on it and also extends the sheathing size. It is a very simple solution, not super elegant and pretty, but simple. What this will do is basically make the sheathing longer so the solid portion of the cable does not have the chance to be at an angle and break the end of the sheathing or break away from the inner cable braided portion. I am going to include this with the kit now. You do not have to put it on when installing, but better to be safe and have no worries. The way I think about it is this, I put it on my own car because I would rather be safe then worry about it later so I would do it others as I do to my self. When I did the installs over the weekend I also put it on their cars when I showed them what it was and that made me decided to include it in the kit. So when ordering the kit just let me know what car you are putting it in as I will need to include the sheathing protector for the earlier model car or later model car.

Troy

[bull30]

I just had Troy do the shifter update for my S-240. I can't believe the difference!!! It reminds me of the Hurst Speed Shifter I had in my Sunbeam Tiger with 2 more gears . I'll have to measure the throw from 1st to 2nd but it's not much. Now why couldn't Lotus do this from the get go. As far as the previous poster stating the Boxster/Cayman shifter is not bad; I had a Cayman and it's VERY sloppy compared to Troy's solution.

If you only do 1 update to you Lotus, this is the one to get

I'm extremely happy