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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: 69merc on Friday,March 25, 2022, 01:25:28 PM

Title: Selecting gears with transaxle out of car
Post by: 69merc on Friday,March 25, 2022, 01:25:28 PM
Is it possible?  I have a 365 and have just mated it to the engine.  I’d like to put it in some of the gears to see if everything is meshed correctly with the clutch.  I know where the shift linkage attaches to, but not sure how to put it in gears or neutral.
Thanks
Jim
Title: Re: Selecting gears with transaxle out of car
Post by: jbcollier on Friday,March 25, 2022, 01:43:14 PM
It's easier if you can spin the input shaft by hand but, yes, you can shift through the gears.  Use a pair of vise-grips to lock one output shaft.  Use another pair of visegrips so you can turn the other output shaft.  Use an ice pick/punch/screwdriver in the shift rod pin hole.  Rotating selects the different gates, in and out selects the actual gears.  Turn the output shaft to ease selection.
Title: Re: Selecting gears with transaxle out of car
Post by: SilverBeast on Friday,March 25, 2022, 01:51:04 PM
If you put a screwdriver through the hole the roll pin fits through you can just push, pull and twist it using that, sort of using it like a T handle.  That minimises the risk of chewing the shaft with vice grips.

Roughly mid in/out should be neutral and all in or out should select a gear, which one depends on where it was on the "twist". You can tell if your in reverse or 5th by observing the external detent mechanism (with the plastic cover off)
Title: Re: Selecting gears with transaxle out of car
Post by: 69merc on Friday,March 25, 2022, 02:37:54 PM
Thanks for the quick tips!  You guys are great for a Lotus/Europa newbie!  It works like it should. :beerchug:
Title: Re: Selecting gears with transaxle out of car
Post by: jbcollier on Friday,March 25, 2022, 03:19:23 PM
Excellent.  To keep it that way, regularly check the oil level until you get a handle on how often it needs checking.  #1 killer of 365s is a low oil level.