I am still not convinced the gear change quality on my 2010 260 S is as good as it should be. With 7k miles (and a new clutch) on the clock it still feels very tight and at times downright petulant !
So … time to investigate changing the gearbox oil from factory gloop to something more slippery, Redline MTL ?, engine mount inserts ? expert adjustment of the cables, or replace with upgraded cables ?, if so which ones. Which order or combination of solutions would you recommend?.. or should I just bite the bullet and do the lot. Recommendations for an experienced garage to do the work (plus a service) in the North Bucks area would also be appreciated. I assume a Lotus dealer will only stick with the factory specs and parts.
Im my old S2 I used Redline MT90 which made a difference. I managed to snap a selector cable which was replace like for like and had a bit of fettling, but there is a motor sports version available. When I got the 260 upgrade installed I got them to put new engine mount inserts in which made a difference on the gear change but also increased the vibration when stationary but not to the point of being shaken to death.
I fitted Redline MT90 and noticed a difference, then engine mounts and this improved it to a more precise shift. Got to be worth £100 and 3hrs time well spent.
Fitting better fluid (I used Motul) should also provide improved protection for the reportedly sensitive syncros. It’s certainly not going to make it worse.
I also fitted the Elise Shop gearbox inserts and whilst I didn’t notice any change in the shift (mine’s always felt okay) the power delivery was marginally improved. I’d go win the poly versions if I did it again.
Both of the above were on my list of to-dos before I’d even collected the car.
I’ve just invested in some new gear cables from seriouslylotus. My standard cables have an unbelievable amount of play these days and when hot don’t like to change down gears due to flexing instead of just pushing the gear home. I’m looking forward to using the new cables, hopefully it’ll be a nice improvement.
Part of the issue can be flexing in the gear stick mechanism itself. I tend to rest my left leg against it when driving and it’s shocking how much it moves. Sector111 have a number of solutions including a complete new shifter, but I’m pretty sure I can ‘reverse’ engineer something myself or as we say in my trade ‘hack’.
A change of gearbox oil to Redline MTL was already on the agenda and is a DIY task. Stiff gear changes from stone cold are acceptable and expected in most manual boxes irrespective of brand, however, changing down gears when hot, especially after a long motorway drive isn’t. I will investigate replacement cables. Flex in the gearstick mechanism isn’t something I have noticed and inserts for the mountings may provide marginal benefits.
Thanks. Let me chat with a garage about fitting and then I will order the requisite parts. I assume the cables use the stock brackets and fittings, I have seen other upgraded cables with revised fixings and also heat sleeves, although it would be simple enough to wrap a heat resistant sleeve around the cables during the installation.
Fit Dave’s cables. Fit a brace. Change the oil. Fit a cooler ( mines on a thermostat fitted to a temp gauge). Consider stronger 3/4/FD and an LSD. What you will be left with is a shit gearbox! Basically you can make it better for purpose but the syncros are still consumables on track and budget a gearbox rebuild every 2-3 years if running big power and you do several track days a year. I see Sector 111 are selling some new sychros with carbon ( JF??) , I’ll be watching that with interest for my next rebuild ( Competition Gearboxes are the biz- small plug, any discount next time boys?)
Retro thread reply from me… I had the same
Problem on my 07 NA Exige and in the end I had the completed cables, linkage and gear lever fitted from the last run out model 2010/11 Exige. I had previously fitted the Letsla kit from the states which made it worse. After the latest/last kit was fitted it’s now perfect with riffle bolt precision changes. (Letsla kit still fitted as well though)