Gear shifting - issue remains after plate adjustment

[f0mo]

I bought my car a couple of weeks ago with 2,000 miles on the clock, and I have to say I’m really not finding it enjoyable when I can’t shift properly from first to second gear. More often than not, I end up just revving the engine like someone who doesn’t know how to change gear.

There’s clearly an issue with this car when shifting from first to second and from third down to second. It feels as though there’s a two-stage gate, and it takes an excessive amount of force to get it into gear. Sometimes I even have to come back to neutral and try again.

I’ve asked Lotus to take a look at this when I book it in for the leaking air-conditioning condenser, but I have to admit it’s really taking the enjoyment out of driving the car.

I’ve read online about possible airlocks in the hydraulic clutch and other related causes, but I’d be very interested to know if anyone else has experienced this exact issue and had it successfully resolved by Lotus.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

Unfortunately, 1-2nd is like that on all the cars. Nothing you can do it.

 

[NJemira85]

I bought my car a couple of weeks ago with 2,000 miles on the clock, and I have to say I’m really not finding it enjoyable when I can’t shift properly from first to second gear. More often than not, I end up just revving the engine like someone who doesn’t know how to change gear.

There’s clearly an issue with this car when shifting from first to second and from third down to second. It feels as though there’s a two-stage gate, and it takes an excessive amount of force to get it into gear. Sometimes I even have to come back to neutral and try again.

I’ve asked Lotus to take a look at this when I book it in for the leaking air-conditioning condenser, but I have to admit it’s really taking the enjoyment out of driving the car.

I’ve read online about possible airlocks in the hydraulic clutch and other related causes, but I’d be very interested to know if anyone else has experienced this exact issue and had it successfully resolved by Lotus.

Send a photo of your lockout plate location.

It made a huge difference for me.

Also, powerflex inserts and more mass (heavy shifter, eswkit) have helped

 

[seriously]

Adjusting the lockout plate primarily helps you get into 1st clearly and without crunchiness.

There is something with this shifter where it is always a kind of two step pull from 1st to 2nd. It's not a single pull, it's a two click shift down to 2nd. But it is clear and open and slots into gear really positively.

Somehow going from 2nd to 3rd is a straight shift diagonally- like the shifter wants to pull back into neutral so when you shift up, the gear naturally pulls back to neutral and it works smoothly. However the opposite is true when you go from 3rd to 2nd. You have to fight the natural pull to neutral and really exaggerate the "L" shifting to the left before pulling down. When you do the shift is clear and smooth.

My overall take is that the shifting mechanism is pretty good and indeed quirky. Gates are well defined and slotting into gear is positive. However, it's a shifter you have to learn to be a bit deliberate with vs. casually shifting into gear. Maybe you'll find more harmony with the shifter over time.

 

[Orchardbike]

1 to 2 in mine is fine, straight in, in a single action.

 

[Nick Sticks]

Mine is slightly notchy 1 to 2 and 3 to 2 when cold but is much better once warmed up. I've made no adjustments to the plate.

 

[f0mo]

Here’s my adjustment plate. It’s interesting some people say everything is smooth… sometimes it is, sometimes it’s awful like there is a literal problem with gear selection.

 

[Nick Sticks]

I've done two "Taste of Lotus" driving experiences where you drive their Emiras on the Hethel test track.

The one last year had Emiras that had definitely seen better days and had been used hard around the track for some time.

The one this year had all new Emiras that looked hardly used.

In both cases the manual V6's that I drove had good gear changes, no notchiness, and I was able to make fast changes up and down in the 2 to 3 and 3 to 2 sections without feeling there was ever an issue.

My point being that the gear selection can be good.
Whether Lotus had actually optimally adjusted the gear change linkage for these cars or that's how they were off the line I don't know.

 

[f0mo]

I've done two "Taste of Lotus" driving experiences where you drive their Emiras on the Hethel test track.

The one last year had Emiras that had definitely seen better days and had been used hard around the track for some time.

The one this year had all new Emiras that looked hardly used.

In both cases the manual V6's that I drove had good gear changes, no notchiness, and I was able to make fast changes up and down in the 2 to 3 and 3 to 2 sections without feeling there was ever an issue.

My point being that the gear selection can be good.
Whether Lotus had actually optimally adjusted the gear change linkage for these cars or that's how they were off the line I don't know.

Sounds even more like there is an adjustment needed. I’d trust that if it’s going into lotus they will be able to make it right.

 

[NJemira85]

Here’s my adjustment plate. It’s interesting some people say everything is smooth… sometimes it is, sometimes it’s awful like there is a literal problem with gear selection.

What you’re describing sounds like “moving target phenomenon”

Before I moved my plate, the car shifted like shit even while stationary.

Once I moved plate and added short shifter and cable ends and additional mass, it shifted respectably well while parked. Not great, but passing grade.

But under load, the transverse motor shaking around on absurdly soft oem mounts seems to lead to “moving targets” in the gates and shifting suffered again.

I think the power flex mount inserts helped partially remediate this.

Some of us have been hoping that @shinoo and @GRP will launch their fancy evora shifters for our car.

Others feel it’s futile bc there is so much slack in the transmission itself, and thusly any improvements at shifters pale in comparison to the root cause.

That’s all I got for ya

 

[f0mo]

What you’re describing sounds like “moving target phenomenon”

Before I moved my plate, the car shifted like shit even while stationary.

Once I moved plate and added short shifter and cable ends and additional mass, it shifted respectably well while parked. Not great, but passing grade.

But under load, the transverse motor shaking around on absurdly soft oem mounts seems to lead to “moving targets” in the gates and shifting suffered again.

I think the power flex mount inserts helped partially remediate this.

Some of us have been hoping that @shinoo and @GRP will launch their fancy evora shifters for our car.

Others feel it’s futile bc there is so much slack in the transmission itself, and thusly any improvements at shifters pale in comparison to the root cause.

That’s all I got for ya

Cheers for that. I’ll update once lotus take a look

 

[me73]

Cheers for that. I’ll update once lotus take a look

I hope Lotus resolves your issue. I have a feeling that the plate is adjusted to allow too much motion to the left and you're catching the gate towards reverse on your way to 2nd.

 

[f0mo]

I hope Lotus resolves your issue. I have a feeling that the plate is adjusted to allow too much motion to the left and you're catching the gate towards reverse on your way to 2nd.

I actually adjusted this myself following the guide push left in first and move the guide up until the shift moves slightly right.

 

[Orchardbike]

My gearbox mounts were changed during the last warranty work that was done on my car. The difference was night and day. I think maybe Lotus have changed the mount material. That’s a guess, but it was noticeably more precise and smooth.

 

[f0mo]

My gearbox mounts were changed during the last warranty work that was done on my car. The difference was night and day. I think maybe Lotus have changed the mount material. That’s a guess, but it was noticeably more precise and smooth.

Thanks for the info, I’ll be sure to tell them

 

[Dino67]

My car has an April 2025 build. After adjusting the lockout plate, I have not had any shifting issues.

 

[Whitey]

If your car doesn’t shift well, it will be the linkage which can be adjusted. My first Emira to the one I have had now for 2 years are miles apart in terms of gear change quality. Currently on 10k miles and it’s a super smooth and fast gear change. I have not done any adjustments at all, as it doesn’t need it. So all I would say if the change is not great, it can be, but needs to be set up correctly.