ultralite shifter

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To the ultralite owners out there,

I'm looking at changing my shifter knob, and was surprized to find an unthreaded shaft, 15 mm diameter. I believe the stock S2000 shaft is M10 x 1.5. I'm not sure exactly how the shifter has been modified, if it has simply been cut down or if a bushing has been added. Just considering my options for a new knob. I'd prefer the knob to be threaded, but I suppose just a 15 mm counterbore and a press fit would work. I'd like a simple machined knob, probably delrin. I'm interested to hear what other ultralite owners have done, and in knowing how the shaft was constucted before I start deconstructing it.

Thanks,

[JohnK]

M10 & 1.5 is what i used for the shaft+knob, but i had to cut up the stock assy to expose the same shaft that you show and and buy a die to put the threads on the shaft. Your pic looks as if someone pushed a collar on a stock M10 shaft. Maybe it unscrews or can be pried off to expose an M10 shaft?

Getting a die square on a shaft isn't as easy as it looks. I decided to cut and weld the shaft to make it easier/faster to get to the shifter - and found no problems doing this. I'll send some pics when i get to my other machine.

Original came with a much taller lever which included a bonded bush/coupler that had to be dissected off to expose the primary shaft- looks like someone was in a hurry in your case :-(

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Thank for the response, John.

 

Yes it does appear that a collar has been placed on a (M10?) shaft. I just don't know exactly what came with the stock assembly. It appears that the shaft is at least partially threaded under the collar, but I don't know how much. I've already tried pulling/prying the collar off the shaft and it's definitely not coming off easily. I don't see any traces of cement and assume the collar is just pounded on.

 

I suppose i could usee a dremel tool to cut along the length of the collar and then would be able to pry it off, but i don't want to (further) mangle any threads on the shaft.

 

I guess the easiest thing would be to use a knob counterbored to 15mm using set screws rather than a threaded counterbore. But that probably wouldn't work so well with delrin. The Momo knob I'm using now actually fits well and doesn't slip, I'd just like the feel of a smooth machined knob better.

[WestTexasS2K]

The stock Honda shifter is cut down about six inches. It originally came with a rubber bushings bonded to that shaft. That you have in the picture

The shifter is easy to removed if the console is out. You could take it to a machine shop and have them put it in a lathe to turn it down and thread it.

[JohnK]

Scott,

Here's the entire picture. You can supply the "You are here." arrow to it.

Original.jpg is from the Helms manual - the shift lever is what I cut vertically along the fat part in order to expose the shaft to deliver what's shown in What_I_got.jpg. This is shown after I threaded the M10 top with a M1.5 pitch. I turned the knob from a piece of Osage Orange and JBWelded in a nut. I decided that while I was at it I could reposition the lever to be much more ergonomic and cut/sectioned/welded it to give What_I_did.jpg. Also, before I began carving up the shift lever I found that a new one was $112, so recovery of a mess-up on my part would not have been too costly. Food for thought. Shift knobs are really personal touches. I appreciate you interest in getting this "right".

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thanks guys.

and thanks for the pictures, john!

pulling out the shifter and having a machine shop turn it down and thread it sounds like an excellent idea. i think i'll do that because i'd like to use delrin. i think aluminum would get a little too hot.

[powderbrake]

Scott, I made my own knob out of aluminum, and it is held on to the shaft with three setscrews, and they work fine. I have never noticed the knob feeling too hot, so I have no problem with the aluminum.

I'm at work, I'll post some pics when I get home tonight.

[powderbrake]

Ok, here's the pics. One of the shifter shaft cut off, and the other of the aluminum knob that I turned. It is secured by 3 setscrews which are hidden by the boot.

 

Note that I also added about an inch of foam under the vinyl on the center console, which makes a nice soft place to rest your right arm.

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hi jerry,

thanks for the response and pics.

nice job on that knob!!!

i think i'll do a similar shape. it's good to hear that heat from the transmission isn't a problem, though i'll probably still use delrin because in a open car in texas the sun is still an issue.

[jimrankin]

I've had the solid metal shifter knob get so hot from both the sun on hot days and heat rising up through the shaft that it was too hot to hold between even quick shifts. I'm going to replace it with wood or delrin and also make it a little longer. Super short looks neat but it makes for a bit of guess work in fast up's from 2nd to 3rd, get a 5th in there now and then if you get even a tiny bit more right pressure than you think.

[jimrankin]

PB's shifter looks to be about the right height for as "short" as you want to go. Mine is about an inch and a half shorter than his and I'm figuring I'll go about 2" more when I change up. All six gears are in about a 2" square at the top of the shifter right now. No problem for just "driving" but shifting on track when your being tossed around on the belts short shifting in a "S" can be a real heart stopper. LOL

[JohnK]

I think PB wins for having the slickest looking shifter, and possibly having a connection to the best machinist.

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I pulled the shifter out, cleaned it up and was going to have a machinist turn it down and thread it, but the shaft is at a slight angle so it can't be easily fixtured in a lathe. It could be done on a cnc milling machine but the process would be very time consuming and cost prohibitive. I think the thing to do is just cut the shaft off a bit more and then weld on a threaded rod. For now, i repacked the lever with grease and put reinstalled it, because I'd like to maybe drive the car for a change. Plus I can take my time in deciding how much taller I want the lever and if I want it angled differently.