WTB: Cable shifter

[Hf_martin]

Looking for a cable shifter kit for the NG3 gearbox for my Lotus europa S2.
I know there was a group buy and maybe someone have one they dont use..

Regards Martin

[Grumblebuns]

In case you can't find a spare cable shift kit, Dave L the originator of the cable shifter group buy posted the parts list and instructions which I saved.

145124NG3 Cable Shift Parts and Sources
Expand Messages
•   dklindemann
Dec 3 2:49 PM
•   Given the recent cable shift bracket and shift lever group buy, I thought I would provide all of the sources for parts and part numbers both for those who purchased parts and for those who may want to go this route in the future. I will not be doing any group buys in the future. Again, the following parts are for the NG3 transaxle and the system was designed to work with the rear shaft models.

•   1. Brackets (shift lever mount / cable abutments, lower cable abutment, rear cable abutment that fits the NG3 rear chassis crossmember.
Laser One Technologies, Inc.
1777 Oakdale Avenue
West St. Paul, MN 55118
651-451-3444

2. Toyota Shifter Assembly (1988-1992 Toyota Corolla)
www.car-part.com – This site has multiple pages of wrecking yards that can supply MT shifter assemblies.

3. Machined pre-hardened 4140 steel shift lever (looks like stock Lotus shift lever but fits the Toyota shifter assembly), top hat bushing, rod end extension, lever arm for NG3 rear shaft).
Foremost Technologies, LLC
5707 152nd Street N
Hugo, MN 55038
651-407-9456
 
4. Push-Pull Cables with ¼-28 threads (8’ standard length for cross-gate and 6’-7” custom length for gear selector) made by Orsheln (www.orschelnproducts.com/products/control-cables/ )
Fleet Pride - Catco (www.fleetpride.com)
 
5. Female Rod End, (2) ¼-28, one must be shortened and rod end extension from Foremost Technologies threaded in providing an effective length of 2” to the center of the spherical rod end.
Part Number CTF-4
Pin for standard rod end (1)
Part Number CPC2801-ZC
Midwest Control Products Corp. (www.midwestcontrol.com )
590 East Main Street
Bushnell, IL 61422
309-772-3163

6. Female Rod End - Studded, (1) ¼-28
Part Number CTF-4S
Midwest Control Products Corp. (www.midwestcontrol.com )
590 East Main Street
Bushnell, IL 61422
309-772-3163
 
7. Female Forged Steel Yoke (1) ¼-28
Part Number 280180-ZCHF
Spring Pin for above
Part Number SP2801-ZCHF
Midwest Control Products Corp. (www.midwestcontrol.com )
590 East Main Street
Bushnell, IL 61422
309-772-3163

8. Stand-off (1) 10-32 (female thread each end), 2-1/4” Length
Part Number 91920A053
McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com)

9. Washers, nuts, bolts, machine screws, etc. as listed on the parts list.
Your local hardware store or I ordered from:
www.BoltDepot.com
 
The parts list, installation instructions and other related documents are here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LOTUSEUROPA/files/NG3%20Cable%20Shift/
I hope this is useful.
Regards,
Dave L
 

[BDA]

Unfortunately, the link at the end of this post is broken since the LotusEuropa yahoo group moved to groups.io. Fortunately, most (all?) of the content at yahoo was moved to a new groups.io group. Here's the result of a search for "cable shift" in the files section of the new group: https://groups.io/g/LotusEuropa/filessearch?p=name%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C0%2C0&q=cable%20shift

Joining that group is free. Going here (https://groups.io/g/LotusEuropa) should help you join should you want to.

[Grumblebuns]

Thanks BDA, I forgot about the demise of the Yahoo Groups.

[Bullnose]

I located a build it yourself cable shift mechanism in the depths of the Lotus-europa.com files.
I fortunately printed it out as I cannot find it again although the url appears on the printouts.
The design was published by Julien Simard in 2002. He reported that he had built it in 1980 and it was still working some 22 years later.
I have finished about 75% of the build and am waiting for the appropriate cables to be delivered.
FWIW, he quoted a price of about $90 for the cables and brackets in 1980. Prices have increased by a factor of 3. I was unable to locate any North American sources for the custom lengths required.
Hindle Controls in Yorkshire UK are producing them for me.
I plan to install it in my 1970 S2 which is getting a new body - but that's another story.
I would be happy to scan and post copies of the Simard drawings and photos of my attempt at building it.
Grant

[s2europa]

I would kike to see the scanned copies

Please post them here and maybe even at the Europa groups.io site.

Thanks.

[Grumblebuns]

Agree with Dan, but post them on the Technical Articles section.

Also on the Group IO Europa site in the files section there are several articles on cable shifters.

- https://groups.io/g/LotusEuropa/files/NG3%20Cable%20Shift
- https://groups.io/g/LotusEuropa/files/Cable%20Shifter
- https://groups.io/g/LotusEuropa/files/Cable%20shifter%20%28using%20MR2%20parts%29

Dave L's NG3 cable shifter article has a picture of the Corolla shifter he used.

[jbcollier]

You don't have to go overseas to find custom cables.  Any large truck shop can make them up for you.

[Bullnose]

Sorry for the delay - had some medical stuff that took priority.
I did try the local truck and boat shops and they were not helpful regarding custom length cables . The ones from Hindles arrived a day ago and look great.
Here are the copies of the drawings from Julien Simard. Originals dated October 1980
If you want higher resolution scans please let me know.
I post a few pix of my version as soon as I get back to speed
Grant

[BDA]

I can’t comment on Bullnose’s Hindles cables but I have compared Morse cables to Cablecraft cables (https://cablecraft.com/control-cables/push-pull-cables/) and found them to be more flexible and smoother operating.

[TurboFource]

I made this …..of course I will need to make a custom center console etc. and I haven’t driven with it yet … soon though I hope!

[Grumblebuns]

Wow, that is one good looking setup. Would love to see the rear section at the transaxle.

[TurboFource]

Here are some …

[dakazman]

Wow, that is one good looking setup. Would love to see the rear section at the transaxle.

 
  WOW, I can't agree more.
 Dakazman

[Bullnose]

Here's a look at the current stage of development.
I had to go to the double deck arrangement to support the cable housings because I changed the design to use clevis connections rather than the ball joints. The ball joints added a twisting motion to the levers which seemed unnecessary. The change to clevis connections required a change in the dimensions of the location bar for the cables.
I used a cold galvanizing paint on the prototype and it is very soft - hence all the scratches.
The good news is that the assembly will pass through the elliptical hole in the top of the chassis , some fancy twisting required of course.
I have just put the transmission attached to a spare block into the frame so I can work the brackets at the transmission end.

Grant