S2 gear linkage

[richyb66]

Is the S2 gear linkage supposed to have a gaiter around it where it passed through the diaphragm panel at the back of the chassis? I can't see any mention of one on the parts manual and  it wouldn't actually keep all the debris from getting inside but I thought there might have been something there to keep the bigger stuff out.

[dakazman]

   Richyb66,
 Short answer , no but I might add I haven’t driven mine around much.
 Have you found large pieces of debris?  Adding a plate across the lower y section would probably be easier to gain access and accomplish the same results. However it would also collect more debris .
Dakazman

[Bryan Boyle]

Is the S2 gear linkage supposed to have a gaiter around it where it passed through the diaphragm panel at the back of the chassis? I can't see any mention of one on the parts manual and  it wouldn't actually keep all the debris from getting inside but I thought there might have been something there to keep the bigger stuff out.

Not to contradict Dakazman....but, yes, it was supposed to have a gaiter; it was a modified/repurposed Elan shift lever boot.  The top of the boot is cut off and used to finish the europa shift lever boot (they come without the ball at the top.)  Cut the two apart where the red arrow is pointing.

You then use a GOOD contact cement around the inside of the hole, on top of the mounting flange on the rubber boot, push the front shift rod thru the hole in the boot with the bellows pointing to the rear, push it thru the big hole, and then attach.  Alternatively, pull off the big bung on the front of the cross member, feed both thru the center, grab with your hand thru the oval opening on top, and guide back to assemble and glue the bellows onto the back of the frame.  You can figure it out if you're at this stage..  Smear some lube on the tube where it goes thru the gaiter and it will be good to go.

Lotus did a lot of sketchy things, but leaving holes open and unfinished was not SOP. 

See the photo.

[dakazman]

  Thanks Bryan, now I have another job to do.
 Just goes to prove, no question is off limits, we all learn from it.
  After reading its location the part listed is under the shifter boot. I went through the S2 parts manual and didn't see any mention of a grommet in the back of the chassis where the water lines, e brake cables and water heater lines are, at the end of the tunnel the Y section.
Dakazman

[314159td]

Also discovered that from RD'd store. What they don't mention is that it's the shift boot for the S1 Europas, so a bit less strange than just the Elan shift boot.
For the price...I'll grab a generic one.

[GavinT]

This gaiter is also fairly common among older Hillman, Humber, Singer etc. and other Rootes Group cars.

[Bryan Boyle]

This gaiter is also fairly common among older Hillman, Humber, Singer etc. and other Rootes Group cars.

Well...while they were looking for the rear stub axles...might as well, right?

I can just see the draftsmen/mock-up/etc folks surrounded by stacks of parts manuals for cars already in production trying to figure out what bits they could use from those lines to meet a need in the design.

Door handles?  Hey, see this one from the R16?  Stub axles?  That Hillman Imp has something we can adapt.  Tail lights?  How about a low-production Lancia?  Won't even go into the Lucas catalogue of stuff. 

That they built the cars they did from the bits of other manufacturers is a testament to creativity.  To be honest, I think most of the companies in the UK did at that time...after all, is the style of your speedometer really the differentiator or a part you can grab out of a catalogue? 

[GavinT]

Yes, agreed - Colin was necessarily savvy.
But even the larger manufactures did something similar. We only have to observe the 'parts sharing' between the Herald and the Spitfire line. Similarly between the Vitesse and Spitfire GT6. And these days we have entirely different brands sharing a whole platform!

The stub axles one is interesting. I once converted some Imp axles. The Imp used a 4" PCD if I recall and needs to have the hub machined down for the brake drum fitment ID.
The stub axle for the TCS uses larger UJ's and I don't know of any car that used those so perhaps they are proprietary to Lotus?