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Author: Subject: Gear Stick Out of Reach!
rthurbin

posted on 12/4/05 at 09:45 PM Reply With Quote
Gear Stick Out of Reach!

Gear Stick Out of Reach!

I have bought a Locost 90% complete and am currently converting it in to a Race car.

The thing is the gear stick is half way up the tunnel and it is hard to reach. I haven’t yet put in a proper seat, but using the bits of foam (that came with it) as a seat meant I could reach the gear stick but I couldn’t move my legs!

See below:
Gear Stick
Gear Stick


I can take some more shots without the internal panels on (they weren’t the best).

Is this normal for a Locost? I am not particularly tall at 182cms (6ft) and I am wondering if the original builder didn’t shorten the prop enough or mounted the engine too far forward, hence the stick is out of reach.

Is there a easy way of compensating for it (like a z shaped gear stick) or some fancy / will go wrong gear link set-up?

Any help appreciated.

Regards,
Richard.





--
Regards,
Richard.
richard@thurbin.demon.co.uk
http://www.thurbin.demon.co.uk/blog

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tom_loughlin

posted on 12/4/05 at 11:00 PM Reply With Quote
westfield do a lever extension - for £85!!!
Westfield link

and there is also someone on this site who detailed how to fabricate your own - not sure of the link though.

someone will be able to dig it out im sure - ive searched but cant see it

all the best,
Tom

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DavidM

posted on 13/4/05 at 12:53 AM Reply With Quote
There are a number of different ways of moving the lever back. Extending and bending it is probably the easiest but gives a long gearlever travel.
There are some photos in my archive showing how I did it. Others have taken similar but different approaches.

Hope this helps

David





Proportion is Everything

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David Jenkins

posted on 13/4/05 at 07:22 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by tom_loughlin
there is also someone on this site who detailed how to fabricate your own - not sure of the link though.

someone will be able to dig it out im sure - ive searched but cant see it



Me Sir! Me! Me! Me!

If you've got access to a lathe and your car has a Type 9 gearbox, then you'll find details of a DIY gearchange extension/quick-shift on my website (link below). Click on the "Special Tools & Parts" link and pick it from the list.

Cheers,

David






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clbarclay

posted on 13/4/05 at 07:38 AM Reply With Quote
Another site allong similare lines to DavidM

http://www.locostcarclub.co.uk/

Clikck on the help button at the top and theres info on a lot of locost issues.

[Edited on 13/4/05 by clbarclay]






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DorsetStrider

posted on 13/4/05 at 08:50 AM Reply With Quote
The best way to do this I would have thought would be to fabricate your own remote.

If you know how to use a ruler and can cut steal it shouldn't be too hard.





Who the f**K tightened this up!

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britishtrident

posted on 13/4/05 at 12:19 PM Reply With Quote
Normally the gear lever is just given a dog leg, no problem, the throw of the gear lever can be adjusted to give a shorter throw by removing the gearlever and ball and adjusting the postion of the lever in the nylon ball with a small mallet.

I suspect yor lever is so far forward that you have a basic Escort 4 speed box, the Cortina and Sierra gearboxes are longer bring the lever a bit closer.

The best mounting postion for the engines is as far back as possible -- normally this means the rear face of the bellhousing is almost in line with the footwell bulkhead.

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Mr G

posted on 13/4/05 at 02:35 PM Reply With Quote
Westfield type 9 extension on the back of billy quaife.



I can take more detailed pics if required.


Cheers


G

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rthurbin

posted on 13/4/05 at 03:52 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks for all the help.

Heres a pic of the engine location (I know its a bit of a mess):

Engine Location Close Up
Engine Location Close Up


The bell housing is a country mile away from the bulkhead!


I will have a go at a z style stick extension otherwise i'll have a crack at the linkage setup.

Thanks for all the info & the links, very useful.

Regards,
Richard.





--
Regards,
Richard.
richard@thurbin.demon.co.uk
http://www.thurbin.demon.co.uk/blog

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Mr G

posted on 13/4/05 at 03:57 PM Reply With Quote
As a rough guide with a 4 speed & xflow the top of the gearbox cover should only be slightly protruding from beneath thebulkhead top panel iirc.






Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a
car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes
and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.

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Benzine

posted on 13/4/05 at 04:02 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Mr G
Westfield type 9 extension on the back of billy quaife.



Could you tell me how much further back that puts the gearstick? I hadn't heard of these before and it would be perfect





The mental gymnastics a landlord will employ to justify immoral actions is clinically fascinating. Just because something is legal doesn't make it moral.


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britishtrident

posted on 13/4/05 at 04:05 PM Reply With Quote
Looks like the engine could move back a fair bit.
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Mr G

posted on 13/4/05 at 05:22 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
quote:
Originally posted by Mr G
Westfield type 9 extension on the back of billy quaife.



Could you tell me how much further back that puts the gearstick? I hadn't heard of these before and it would be perfect


http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=24138






Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a
car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes
and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.

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Benzine

posted on 13/4/05 at 05:37 PM Reply With Quote
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?thanks_for_the_reply





The mental gymnastics a landlord will employ to justify immoral actions is clinically fascinating. Just because something is legal doesn't make it moral.


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RoadkillUK

posted on 13/4/05 at 05:57 PM Reply With Quote
I've been thinking of an extension for the gear lever. Mine is the same setup as rthurbin.

Here are some scribblings of a madman

I was thinking of using some bar and a balljoint for the 'second' stick.

Hope they are of some use (and the rest of you be nice )








Roadkill - Lee
www.bradford7.co.uk
Latest Picture (14 Sept 2014)

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Mr G

posted on 13/4/05 at 06:41 PM Reply With Quote
Tiger do a version of the above method - although the extension bar is above the tunnel cover.






Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a
car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes
and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.

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