AB Motorsports Elan - Short-shifter

[Luke - the elanimal]

i know this post is a few months old but i wondered what the latest was please.

basically i really want a short shifter kit and all the cables etc id need to make it work, is there a person or a place i can contact to recieve one please?

all the best.

[Dico]

Alan Betts or WillB sell the cables and short shift kit.

I have an unused AB short shift available at cost if you are interested.
rip has shown an interest so I would have to check with him prior to confirming.

[rip]

I have an unused AB short shift available at cost if you are interested.
rip has shown an interest

Got it...fitted it....like it.

Good upgrade.

[Dico]

Glad you like it Rip.

basically i really want a short shifter kit and all the cables etc id need to make it work, is there a person or a place i can contact to recieve one please?

Didn't 'want' it all that much then?

I find it really odd when you give someone a solution/answer to their question and they blatantly ignore you.
Over the last few days I've posted both messages on here and sent private messages (including to a moderator), only to be completely ignored.
Why do I bother?????
I was going to start a seperate thread for it its pissed me off so much!
Just ignorant!!!!!!!!!!

Off for a cup of tea now

[Monty]

Glad you like it Rip.

basically i really want a short shifter kit and all the cables etc id need to make it work, is there a person or a place i can contact to recieve one please?

Didn't 'want' it all that much then?

I find it really odd when you give someone a solution/answer to their question and they blatantly ignore you.
Over the last few days I've posted both messages on here and sent private messages (including to a moderator), only to be completely ignored.
Why do I bother?????
I was going to start a seperate thread for it its pissed me off so much!
Just ignorant!!!!!!!!!!

Off for a cup of tea now

Think your going more grey mate, ever thought that people just don`t like you

[Dico]

Nope, not once

[rip]

Glad you like it Rip.

& I have only tried the 'longest' setting so far. Improves the general feel of the car no end. Easy to fit too.

[peter canepa]

Just a few months ago, I fitted DAVE'S Short shifter, on my Fed Elan, which has the stock cables. Huge improvement over stock. Now I notice the stick does not center itself, and I've fiddled with the cables to no avail. The manuals suggestions don't help either. Any suggestions or should I change to the AB cable upgrade?

[Mike_H]

Peter last year I fitted Daves short shifter with the A B cables and mine does not self centre either.

I don't think fitting the A B cables will make it any better .

The A B cables are far better quality than the stock cables and because they are made of steel at the gearbox location section they will never break like the O E cables will and do .

The cables actually do not break its the plastic joint that splits in two.

Mike.

[Monty]

I had the same problem but i`ve got the AB cables.

When you fitted the cables to Daves shifter did you noticed that 1 of the cables was tight to get on to the pin of the shifter? Well this was my problem and was solved buy drilling the hole slighly larger so it moves freely on the pin.
Hope that helps.

[rip]

This thread seems to be drifting

What position (long/mid/short) do most have their AB shifter set at?
Mine is still on the longest and I have not tried the others yet. I also have not changed my cables, so would it be prudent for me to keep the shifter set on the longest throw (just to reduce cable stress) until I do upgrade?

I also had to carefully open out the hole a little on the shortest setting because the pin would not quite fit.

[Nige]

I fitted the AB shortshift last weekend and set it on the middle setting, it's just fine although I've driven it very little since. I hope to fit AB cables this weekend (still on original S2 cables) and will then decide whether I want to reduce or lengthen the throw, or even keep it as it is. I'm just doing the one thing at a time route rather than everything at once so if I hit a snag I will know what it is.

[Sy V]

I've got AB cables and shortshift with a shortened gear stick too. I have mine set in the middle hole and everything's fine and dandy in the gearshift department, thanks.

[Rice crispy]

Guys,
I've recieved my shortshift from Alan but am a bit of a numpty with mechanicals, is it really easy to fit i.e. you can't really go wrong (drop something in the gearbox etc etc) ? or should i give it a go ?

[Elanlover]

Guys,
I've recieved my shortshift from Alan but am a bit of a numpty with mechanicals, is it really easy to fit i.e. you can't really go wrong (drop something in the gearbox etc etc) ? or should i give it a go ?

Its surprisingly easy but like all things Elan it takes care, patience and really tiny hands As long as you're careful there's not too much to go wrong. You'll likely have to remove the gear selector box and that's where you could drop something into the transmission so be careful there. I suspect you'll need a helper to pull the cables through the tunnel - use the old cables as a fish (tape or tie them to the new ones) and pull one at a time through the tunnel. Could take you a 2 - 3 hours to install and adjust although it has taken longer.

[ektrolleyboy]

People seem to have had various niggles here and there. Once fully set-up can it be left alone forever without needing to be adjusted from time to time. Or does it fall out of alignment and so on every six months, year or whatever?

[rip]

Guys,
I've recieved my shortshift from Alan but am a bit of a numpty with mechanicals, is it really easy to fit i.e. you can't really go wrong (drop something in the gearbox etc etc) ? or should i give it a go ?

Its surprisingly easy but like all things Elan it takes care, patience and really tiny hands As long as you're careful there's not too much to go wrong. You'll likely have to remove the gear selector box and that's where you could drop something into the transmission so be careful there. I suspect you'll need a helper to pull the cables through the tunnel - use the old cables as a fish (tape or tie them to the new ones) and pull one at a time through the tunnel. Could take you a 2 - 3 hours to install and adjust although it has taken longer.

Don't think he meant Cables, Blair, just the shortshift kit.

I didn't find it particularly difficult. The selector must be removed in order to fit the new kit. You need get it off to drive out a retaining pin with a punch then the selector rod comes out easily.
My selector gasket tore when I removed the selector. Easy fixed with a cereal pack & knife but cutting to size was the most time consuming part of the whole operation.
The fiddly bits are: Not dropping the split pins & washers when you remove the gear cables.
Getting to the 4 bolts which hold on the selector box.
Having faith that there are only 4 bolts & that the selector is then held on because the gasket is stuck.

Before starting, make sure that the selector fits together in all 3 adjustment positions. Mine was stiff in 2 of the 3. I cured this with some gentle filing.
When re-attaching the gear shift cables, grease all the contact surfaces.
The improvement gained by fitting this kit is, for me, the most gratifying upgrade I have applied.

[Elanlover]

Don't think he meant Cables, Blair, just the shortshift kit.

Oooops. Completely misread that then. But, my time estimate might still be close

[Rice crispy]

Rip, Elanover,
many thanks for the info may pluck up courage and have a go at the weekend if not will book it into be done.

Regards
David