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

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.

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

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

quote:

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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

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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]

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.

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.

Westfield type 9 extension on the back of billy quaife.



I can take more detailed pics if required.


Cheers


G

Thanks for all the help.

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


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.

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.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr G
Westfield type 9 extension on the back of billy quaife.

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Looks like the engine could move back a fair bit.

quote:

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Originally posted by Benzine

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr G
Westfield type 9 extension on the back of billy quaife.

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

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http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?thanks_for_the_reply

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 )

Tiger do a version of the above method - although the extension bar is above the tunnel cover.