Lift stem for gear stick when swapping gear knob

[Shnozz]

Replacing the leather egg shaped knob with the Exige/Elise metal ball type used on the later Evora.

Knob procured but it appears the lift tube is a different kind to fit into the socket of the metal one - anyone done this swap to confirm?

[CocoPops]

Hi,

I just carried this out last week.

I used the existing lift tube.
You can't wind the gearknob down fully else it prevents lift tube from lifting fully.
However, wind it back 1 turn from lowest position and it works fine. The grub screw then stops the knob from spinning.

[Shnozz]

Hi mate - interesting - did you do away entirely with the secondary tube on top? I am a bit confused!

I removed the odd boiled egg last night and then removed the second "stem" section beneath it, leaving the spring and screw at the top in place. I wound down the new knob which fits ok, wound it down directly but there wasn't sufficient lift on the reverse to put it in gear.

Are you saying you screwed the new one straight on to the lever and just gave it a 360 degree turn counterclockwise?

Leaving the upper spacer piece in place it doesn't sit inside the metal knob because of the shape and has a smaller thread on the top where it crowns over the original size thread of the gear lever...

[Boogs]

You can't screw the knob down all the way as there is insufficient clearance for the lift tube to engage reverse. You can either pack out the thread in the knob and rely on the grub screw to hold it in place, or replace the lift tube as well.

Seeing. As the lift tube is only about £12 I'd replace it.

I did it the first way for a couple of months until I ordered some other parts and then changed it.

Not replacing the lift tube means that there will still be less clearance for reverse and also elongate the length if the gear lever by about 5mm. It's much nicer once the lift tube is replaced.

[Boogs]

You can't screw the knob down all the way as there is insufficient clearance for the lift tube to engage reverse. You can either pack out the thread in the knob and rely on the grub screw to hold it in place, or replace the lift tube as well.

Seeing. As the lift tube is only about £12 I'd replace it.

I did it the first way for a couple of months until I ordered some other parts and then changed it.

Not replacing the lift tube means that there will still be less clearance for reverse and also elongate the length if the gear lever by about 5mm. It's much nicer once the lift tube is replaced.

[Shnozz]

Thanks Boog - can I just check I have ordered the right part? Is it B120U0017F? I am guessing the top of this tube differs in shape to be circular to fit the metal gear knob instead of the squared off sides on the original? (and allow the thread of the actual gear stick to protrude through the top for the ball to screw on to?)

[Boogs]

That's the one. The tube is just a little shorter above the lift ring.

Make sure you have a replacement cable tie before you dismantle.

[Shnozz]

Boogs - thanks for your help with this.

Replacement tube now in hand (£26 from Lotus!), will embark on the swap tonight. I take it I need to remove the centre console to access the zip tie to remove the leather gaitor and then the old lift tube is not affixed to anything and lifts clear to be replaced by the new one and the gaitor then re-zip tied in place around the retaining ring at the bottom?

Also the old one has a black plastic end to it that appears separate to the lift tube - is that to be retained or does the new one not require it - I cant fathom a purpose for it I must say.

[CocoPops]

£26 for a lift tube that doesn't "need" replacing
Excellent.

[Boogs]

Yes, you need to remove the aluminium panel and can then cut off the old cable tie.

Everything is retained apart from the tube. Squeeze together the black plastic part in order to slide the old tube off.

[planenut]

I have recently bought a 2009 Launch Edition Evora. I am not keen on the worn "egg" gear knob and have got a replacement round alloy one from elise-shop.com, it comes complete with the B120U0017F lift tube. I thought that transferring the plastic lift tube adaptor (A132F0242S) would be straight forward but I have not been able to remove the tube from the adaptor, the four plastic retainers at the top won't move. At £70 for a replacement plastic adaptor, I don't want to damage it. Is there an easy way that I have missed? I can retain the old lift tube with the adaptor and not screw the alloy knob on fully to allow reverse selection but that seems a poor solution.

[Boogs]

You need to compress the 4 sections of the plastic retainer. It's a while since I did it so memory faded a bit, you may need to lift the tube and apply upward pressure to compress them, but it's definitely doable if slightly fiddly.

Edited by Boogs on Tuesday 27th December 22:55

[Boogs]

You need to compress the 4 sections of the plastic retainer. It's a while since I did it so memory faded a bit, you may need to lift the tube and apply upward pressure to compress them, but it's definitely doable if slightly fiddly.

Edited by Boogs on Tuesday 27th December 23:05

[planenut]

Thanks for that Boogs. I will have another go at it.

[blueg33]

I got lotus Silverstone to swap my knob for a 400 version. Total cost was about £45 and they sorted the fitting.

Ali knob gets cold though, so winter driving needed a glove on my left hand until it all warmed up

[Havoc856-S]

If all else fails, go to your local hardware shop and get some washers.

I have the Sector111 bk and an Exige V6 S one. The latter requires a locking stud but other than that they all fit on with no issue or requirement to change anything except the actual knob.

[planenut]

Finally got around to replacing the gear lever lift tube adapter that was proving difficult to remove. My car is an early one, so may be different to later cars. There is an insert plastic tube that that must be removed to allow the 4 lugs to spring in to let it be transferred to the new alloy adapter, it just pulls out with a pair of pliers. I hope that makes sense. The insert plastic tube needs to be trimmed down to the same level as the four lugs, then the alloy gear knob can be screwed fully down and the reverse gate still operate. All works and looks good now.