Replacement Shift Cable Kit - Similar to Bob B.

[RonR]

John (BCN)'s no longer on here but posted on the Facebook group "Lotus Elan M100 Owners & enthusiasts" on 1st June that he still had some cable kits for sale, and he was still active in late July.
The best way to contact him is via Email (cables-at-lotusm100-dot-com) or Facebook PM.

[MikeBromwich]

Contact BCN now, although that window is rapidly closing.

That window was well and truly closed over 12 months ago

That's a shame. My gear change is a bit like stirring custard so I'm keen to find a way to improve it.

[MikeBromwich]

John (BCN)'s no longer on here but posted on the Facebook group "Lotus Elan M100 Owners & enthusiasts" on 1st June that he still had some cable kits for sale, and he was still active in late July.
The best way to contact him is via Email (cables-at-lotusm100-dot-com) or Facebook PM.

Thanks - I'll try that!

[ecb056]

I spoke with John (BCN) today and he is doing better. He has made seven (7) more "shift cable-short shift" kits and able to provide them to LEC members for $550 plus postage/shipping.

[M100-NC]

M100-NC is the NEW ID for john-c who was Brit-Car-Nut.

Since I gave up my previous ID, This is the best way to let anyone wanting answers about my shift cable kits to know how to contact me.

You can also email me at: cables@lotusm100.com.

I still have a few sets of cables with the short-shift adapter kit available.

Thanks,

john-c

[M100-NC]

My health is not great and leukemia is slowing me down a lot.

Right now, I have enough components remaining to make 10 of my Shift Cable Kits (with the Short-Shift Kit included).

The regular price for a "Cables and Short-Shift Kit" has been $595.00 + postage

Postage to US customers will be AROUND $45.00 and postage to UK customers will be AROUND $85.00

I normally use a shipping broker to try to get the best shipping rate, so please send me your mailing address and I will get the lowest quote for the shipment I can find.

International shipments are not a problem, however, they might cost a bit more than before Covid-19 changed the world.

As always, payment by PayPal using the "Friends and Family" option is required.

Thank you.

[M100-NC]

IMPORTANT NOTICE OF PRICE CHANGE...

I ordered a much larger quantity last time to get the price as low as I could.

The replacement price of the raw cables has gone up considerably.
I am sorry, but the economy has not done well in the past year and prices have risen several times since my last order.

With fewer sales each year, I can't afford to order more than I can hope to sell.

The fabricated parts for the short-shift adapter kit have also gotten more expensive and that also increased the price.

I just ordered more bare cables and the based on the quotes I have just received, the price for a set of shift cables
with the short-shift kit is $595.00 + postage.

Thank you all for having supported this project.

[M100-NC]

I just finished putting together the LAST batch of shift cables and short-shift kits.

Please let me know if you want a set or have any questions.

Due to my age and health, it is most likely that this is the end of my "cables" project.

I will try to continue making kits until the components needed to make up the cables already in stock are used up.

THANK YOU to everyone that supported the cables project.

Cheers,
JC

[M100-NC]

John (BCN)'s no longer on here but posted on the Facebook group "Lotus Elan M100 Owners & enthusiasts" on 1st June that he still had some cable kits for sale, and he was still active in late July.
The best way to contact him is via Email (cables-at-lotusm100-dot-com) or Facebook PM.

The account BCN (Brit Car Nut) was closed. BUT!

I created a new account (M100-NC) strictly to help clear out the inventory of shift cable, short-shift kits and other M100 parts still in inventory.

I still have a fairly large collection of M100 parts (both NEW and USED) and it would be a shame to have it ALL end up in a dumpster.

email me with any questions you might have.

JC

[M100-NC]

I am just trying to bump this message to remind everyone that I am still visiting LEC regularly and still have: shift cable kits,
the 1,200+ parts inventory (using the OEM Lotus part numbers)and other projects that are available if anyone wants or needs them.

John C., M100-NC, formerly Brit Car Nut (BCN)

Thank you

[vroom1]

I am just trying to bump this message to remind everyone that I am still visiting LEC regularly and still have: shift cable kits,
the 1,200+ parts inventory (using the OEM Lotus part numbers)and other projects that are available if anyone wants or needs them.

John C., M100-NC, formerly Brit Car Nut (BCN)

Thank you

I'm contemplating going with the short shift kit for one of my Elan SE. I'm debating whether to go with the PNM "ELAN M100 GEARCHANGE KIT (IMPROVED S2 TYPE)" or the John C short shift kit.

How much of an improvement are the S2 cables over a stock SE and same question for the John C kit over the S2 cables/kit?

[vroom1]

I am just trying to bump this message to remind everyone that I am still visiting LEC regularly and still have: shift cable kits,
the 1,200+ parts inventory (using the OEM Lotus part numbers)and other projects that are available if anyone wants or needs them.

John C., M100-NC, formerly Brit Car Nut (BCN)

Thank you

I'm debating between the S2 cable kit from PNM and the John C. short shift kit. How much of an improvement are the S2 cables in cleaning up the lateral movement over a stock SE and how much of an approvement will the short shift kit be over the S2 cables?

[NoahR]

Are the plans for how these were made available?

I know that John no longer makes these; however, I have seen some comments on Facebook groups to the effect that LEC now owns the plans for these shifter cables. - Is that so?

I appriciate its probably quite technical, but I wonder about the possibility of looking to get these reproduced. - It would certainly be beyond what I could do, however, I have a couple of friends who may be interested in giving it thought.

Not to worry if not.

[dapinky]

Are the plans for how these were made available?

I know that John no longer makes these; however, I have seen some comments on Facebook groups to the effect that LEC now owns the plans for these shifter cables. - Is that so?

I appriciate its probably quite technical, but I wonder about the possibility of looking to get these reproduced. - It would certainly be beyond what I could do, however, I have a couple of friends who may be interested in giving it thought.

Not to worry if not.

To clarify, LEC has never seen or possessed the drawings/information on what was used by John to build up his cables.... and, having spoken with him at the time, I'm not sure that any such 'formal' things exist.

He is/was a talented engineer who would "just build it" then modify it until it was right..... then change it again when he saw a possible improvement. So they were constantly being developed, so no 2 batches were identical.

I'm sure that it would be possible for any cable-maker to reverse-engineer or build something new - but at a cost that may not make it viable.

John had a 'basic' cable which then had different ends fitted depending on if it was to be used on an SE or S2, and if it was with or without a short-shift kit..... all would work with something different (so sourcing used parts isn't a deal-breaker), but worked best as part of a 'kit' supplied for a particular vehicle.

I think the confusion over LEC involvement is over the 'short-shift' kit..... which is something that we DO have ownership of, as bequeathed by the original designer (Thanks, Dave ).... but which John decided to make anyway and sell as a commercial enterprise...... nowt to do with cables!

[Tuga2112]

I think the confusion over LEC involvement is over the 'short-shift' kit..... which is something that we DO have ownership of

i was not aware of this.

is there some place (apart from your brain) where the LEC owned IPs are all mentioned in a neatly packed list ?

[dapinky]

is there some place (apart from your brain) where the LEC owned IPs are all mentioned in a neatly packed list ?

Geoff is the "keeper of all things important"...... although generally, there has never been a "need" for such a list, as the original owners of the designs generally fall into 3 categories:-
1) Still active, and still supplying items (eg, Jamie_N etc)
2) No longer part of the M100 community, but were actively involved a few years ago, and still wish to support the community (Kuching, F1-Lotus, DeeAitch)
3) Passed on, with no trace, and nothing known for the designs left behind (Bobin Rastard)

Plus, there are all the (too many to list) great ideas by various members, which are freely published for everyone to use, develop or ignore as they wish.

The first 3 groups are really concerning things which are designed and produced, then offered for sale as a semi-commercial enterprise, NOT just the things which we throw together for a limited production run "Group Buy"..... although there are some which involve some sort of IP, often owned by Lotus (or their successor for provision of the remanufactured parts via Fibreglass Services), which we have managed to get permission from Lotus to proceed with on a 'non-commercial' basis (Rear Wishbones, some bushes).

Anyway, Group 2 are the ones which cause the most friction, IF the original designer has given no specific instructions (as usually anyone in Group 3 has already addressed the issue, or perhaps decided by a court decision!)...... LEC has possession of a fair few "drawings" for things which have been designed and built by Group2/Group3 - along with letters to state that the design is transferred to LEC - - - or even an individual/group of named people.

Whilst some of this information is held "in the heads of those concerned", or on various old hard-drives stuffed in the attic, any original paperwork is held by Geoff, as that was what Sy decided he wanted 'back in the day', and if it aint broke, don't fix it.

Things that come to mind initially are :- Wilwood front brake conversions, Rear hubs, Short-shift, Roll hoops, and probably lots more....

Obviously, just because "we" have the legal ownership doesn't mean that any/all of the designs will ever be produced - it all depends on desire for the product, along with complying with the initial designers wishes. (notwithstanding someone to actually make the things!).

There are also many things designed and built by people who are no longer active, but are still around, and who we would never plagiarise without specific permission (LGM, SurferPhill)...

[NoahR]

Ah, that's interesting, thank you for explaining, Dave! - A short shift kit would be amazing haha, something to hope for down the line.