Gearshift lever question

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  • Enigma
    Low Range
    • Oct 2006
    • 88

    Gearshift lever question

    On my early 60's series II rovers I have what I call S shaped levers with a mushroom shaped cap. I recently came into possession of a different shaped lever that has a long section from the transmission and then a slight bend capped off with a round shift ball.
    When did these change?

    Is there any advantage of one over the other?

    cheers John
  • bugeye88
    1st Gear
    • Apr 2013
    • 167

    #2
    Enigma,

    I have a 68 Bugeye 2a and it originally had a S shaped shifter that I really liked.... until it broke at the shift ball (down at the very bottom) No S shaped levers are made anymore or are readily available, so I replaced it with a straight shifter with a round shift ball at the end (presumably from series 3 design) The new shifter works just fine, so no advantage to the S type or the straight. These shift levers are known to fail just as mine did, usually at very inopportune times.

    Cheers,

    Rob
    Bugeye88

    Comment

    • stomper
      5th Gear
      • Apr 2007
      • 889

      #3
      Just as Rob said. Always carry a spare on any long trips.
      Bad gas mileage gets you to some of the greatest places on earth.

      Comment

      • Enigma
        Low Range
        • Oct 2006
        • 88

        #4
        One of mine has been welded at the lower end. Obviously a weak point!

        Thanks
        John

        Comment

        • bugeye88
          1st Gear
          • Apr 2013
          • 167

          #5
          You know, when I examined my broke S shaped lever it looked like it had been welded at the bottom at some point. I'd go with a new un-welded lever if i were you.

          Rob
          Bugeye88

          Comment

          • Jim-ME
            Overdrive
            • Oct 2006
            • 1379

            #6
            I have a source for the early type shifters. PM me it you are interested.
            Jim

            Comment

            • Enigma
              Low Range
              • Oct 2006
              • 88

              #7
              I guess I can swap out the welded lever for the straight version and keep the welded unit for back up.
              I was wondering if the design might have changed for centre seating conditions.

              John

              Comment

              • stomper
                5th Gear
                • Apr 2007
                • 889

                #8
                I lot of people choose the S bent lever for originality, and for comfort in shifting. I'm not sure it it puts the lever in a better shifting position, or if it is just the muscle memory advantage because that is what they were used to.
                Bad gas mileage gets you to some of the greatest places on earth.

                Comment

                • Tsmith
                  1st Gear
                  • Jun 2009
                  • 103

                  #9
                  Series One's had different levers for RHD and LHD. The II and IIA lists two that are "suitable for LHD and RHD"
                  Tom Smith
                  '60 88" driver
                  '53 80" project
                  '60 Morgan drver
                  '60 Morgan project
                  33 Farmall F12

                  Comment

                  • Jim-ME
                    Overdrive
                    • Oct 2006
                    • 1379

                    #10
                    I will have two more LHD shifters available in the very near future but the price went up.
                    Jim

                    Comment

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