AB Shift Cables

[Elanlover]

I'm just finishing the install of my AB cables and, while I'm not yet finished, I've got a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help with (acknowledging that they may resolve themselves after the install is complete).

First, I've installed them at the shifter end plus connected one cable in the engine bay (I'll explain one only one in a moment). The one I've connected there moves the shifter right to left across all the gear positions. At this point, the shifter feels "wobbly". It doesn't spring back to the neutral position as the original did. Anyone know why or what could be done????

Second, I stupidly pushed out the plastic/rubber ring that sits inside the "hoop" of the other cable. This is the black piece that has the hole to fit over the pin on the lever on the transmission side. It scooted out into the engine bay and I've yet to be able to find it. I'm going to presume it will be MIA and i'll need a replacement. Does anyone know if this piece (or a suitable replacement) can be found anywhere locally???

Thanks all!

[Elanlover]

Think I've got it.

Home Depot was the source of some rubber washers that I used to replace the missing piece. Had to stack two of them and drill out the senter hole a bit to fit over the pin but it seems to have done the trick. I'm sure the original piece is somewhere out on the road after it fell out of its hiding place in the engine bay on the test run.........

Shifter seems to snap back to neutral a bit more as well now that I have it all hooked up. Need to do a leeetle adjustment and we'll be good to go.

[valimar]

Hi All, as I promised Monty, about my strange shifting problem, I did some adjusting but the problem is still there! Changing gears is now better except going from 5 to neutral! Then I can only change gears by double cluching This happens only when the car is hot!!! Well I'm getting fed up and now as soon as I have a break I'll check if the cables are twisted inside! The gearbox cannot be the problem because with the original cables shifting was OK! Well I hope to have some more news soon!
Cheers, Rodrigo

[Monty]

Very strange, wonder could it be a clutch problem

The only problem i`ve had is the gear stick doesn`t spring back to the centre but i can`t remember if it did or not before i fitted the AB cables Dico did his and his does spring back to the centre.

[valimar]

Very strange, wonder could it be a clutch problem

The only problem i've had is the gear stick doesn't spring back to the centre but i can't remember if it did or not before i fitted the AB cables Dico did his and his does spring back to the centre.

Maybe I didn't explain myself very well: The gear stick springs back to neutral but then I can only go 3 or 4 by double clutching or by using a lot of strengh!

[Elanlover]

If you have a helper, park the car and pop the hood (bonnet). Have your helper move the gear shift around while you watch how the levers move to see if there's anything in the way, etc. Have a look at the clutch cable movement too. Maybe its still in need of some adjustments or maybe its what Monty has suggested. Might as well eliminate the relatively inexpensive before going on to the expensive problem possibilities...........

[valimar]

If you have a helper, park the car and pop the hood (bonnet). Have your helper move the gear shift around while you watch how the levers move to see if there's anything in the way, etc. Have a look at the clutch cable movement too. Maybe its still in need of some adjustments or maybe its what Monty has suggested. Might as well eliminate the relatively inexpensive before going on to the expensive problem possibilities...........

Thanks for your sugestions! I'll check it as soon as I can!

[Alan_Betts]

If you contact preeya@abmotosport.com I am sure she can supply a replacement for the missing bush providing you can identify which of the three bushes you require.

With regard to the lack of self centering I suggest you look at:

(a) The cable runs.

The objective being to maximise the radius of the cable turns.

(b) The angular position of the bracket supplied with the gearcables.

The bolt holes on the bracket are deliberately made slightly oversize so as to allow small adjustments in the position of the bracket. The objective here is for the cables to run as straight as possible to the two levers mounted on the transmission.

(c) All pivot points in the system. The objective here being to minimise friction in the system. The gearcable bushes are deliberately made to be a tight fit to minimise lost motion. If they are the source of the problem they should bed in quickly with use as the bushes are made of relatively soft materials.

Another factor I will mention is that, in my experience, low mileage cars tend to self centre better than higher mileage cars which suggests that internal transmission components may be an issue.

[Doug]

Hi, Alan!


FWIW, that's Alan Betts of AB Cables in case you didn't figure it out.

[Alan_Betts]

Hi Doug!

I do not get much time to look at LEC during the race season out here in South East Asia but now that is over for the year I will try to look in more regularly.

I am busy working on a quickshifter for the Elan right now.

This is a serious bit of engineering. If anyone wants more details or photographs of the version currently on test they can mail me (alan@abmotosport.com) or Preeya (E mail address given above).

I reckon it will be fully tested and ready to go in about six weeks.

[Sy V]

That is some quality engineering from the AB stable, again!

Good work and thanks Alan.

[Monty]

Hi Alan,

Just have to say how good u`r products are as i`ve got the Gearcables + bushes, the headlight motor fix kit and a rain cape.

What about letting LECers order direct instead of a third party? and maybe start u`r own thread with contact info and a price list and if members to query something they can leave a message.

[DeeAitch]

Not another shifter and in only 6 weeks

[Enright]

Not another shifter and in only 6 weeks

Yeah, but he didn't tell you he's been developing it for 12 years and now he's scared we'll pip him to the post!!!

And you forgot to mention Marie has got one too.

Anyway, on a more serious note:

From Sy's other thread I see that Alan has gone down the route of altering the length of the arms on the gearbox end of the mechanism - the same as the old Isuzu Perfomance Parts solution that I have installed in my Elan.

I would be interested to know the rationale behind this. Firstly because I thought it was easier to modify the gear lever end, and secondly because it seems to require 2 more brackets to be designed - one for standard cables to fit to the engine for use with the AB shifter mech, and one for AB cables with AB shifter.

I also wonder - would these brackets have to be specified when the kit is ordered, or would a selection be supplied?

[DeeAitch]

he's been developing it for 12 years

altering the length of the arms on the gearbox end of the mechanism

Thanks Neil, that makes me feel a whole lot better

[Enright]

Before I get done for slander, I was only joking about the 12 years bit you know - hence the " "

[Alan_Betts]

Maybe not 12 years but a quickshift has been on my 'to do' list for at least five.

I believe that it will be possible to use a common transmission bracket that serves both the standard selector box arrangement and a quickshifter with a bit of lateral thinking. The design I am working on is not quite as simple as it may appear at first glance.

Testing will tell but for every problem there is a solution.

I would like to develop the range of products that we do for the Elan over the winter months. I will also give some thought to marketing and our very out of date website.

With the combination of our own in house machine shop in Thailand and an excellent network of suppliers in both Thailand and China most things are technically possible. Of course, they also have to be viable as a product.

For the Motorsport Elise, for example, we have made gearcables, carbon and fibreglass body panels, rear diffusers, suspension uprights CNC machined from solid, fuel rails etc etc.

All the bodywork in the attached picture except for the doors and rear wing was made for us in China.

Often the hardest part is coming up with the idea for a product in the first place. The showercape was my wife, Preeya's flash of inspiration.

[F1 LOTUS]

'Often the hardest part is coming up with the idea for a product in the first place'

I dare you to ask the LEC members for their ideas...




Maybe start a 'Wish list' thread???

[DeeAitch]

A short shift was on my list from the moment I took my first test drive
Fitted proto #1 2 years ago but only got around to developing it after some prompting by ESM at Donny
AB I assume you have seen details of the product I've developed in my post http://www.lotuselancentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7072&start=100 ?
Must learn how to do that 'here' thing

[Enright]

Must learn how to do that 'here' thing

You don't need to learn now. There seems to be a new feature.
If you hit the URL button when posting, it opens up a box that you stick the address in.
Then when you hit the OK button it opens another box that you can type your "here" in.
OK that and your post will automatically show the word as a "clickable" one.