B&M Short Shifter Q's

[ZoomZoom]

I was wondering, for those that also have the B&M short shifter, did you notice that it was any more difficult to remove the tranny from reverse after the install? It is not stuck or anything, just seems like it takes way more effort than it used to, kinda strange. I was thinking maybe I should climb back under there and loosen the bolt that goes through the bushing a little. Any idea onwhat is causing it or feedback about similar experience would be appreciated.

Peace
Griff

 

[Sir Nuke]

it requires a little more effort to make EVERY shift....but that is because the B&M shortens the throw....thus changing the leverage you had with the stock shifter, this is normal or at least expected.

 

[ZoomZoom]

Thanks Sir Nuke, I am not unfamiliar with short throw shifters, I have one in my Honda and have installed several. The 1-5 shifts are not that bad, it just going from reverse back to a forward gear. It requires more effort than any other shifts and more than any of the many other cars that I have driven with short shifters. I would say that it requires about 3 times the force of a 1-5 shift. It just seems a little strange and was not expected at all. Any other idea?

thanks
Griff

 

[Sir Nuke]

no...not really...but I wouldn't losen up the bolt...that is for sure.....lol.

did you "DIMPLE" the heat shield? or is yours like mine and not there anymore? if its there....just make sure you aren't hitting it causing the extra force to be needed.....if thats not it....your guess is as good as mine.

 

[70]

no...not really...but I wouldn't losen up the bolt...that is for sure.....lol.

did you "DIMPLE" the heat shield? or is yours like mine and not there anymore? if its there....just make sure you aren't hitting it causing the extra force to be needed.....if thats not it....your guess is as good as mine.

Um, wouldn't reverse put the under car portion of the shifter forward, and not back into the infamous heat shield. Just harassing you Sir Nuke...

I plired the crap out of the front edge of mine. Thought about removal, decided it looked better all bent to hell.

 

[ZoomZoom]

Hmmm, well I have already made the needed "modification" to the heat shield, so that is not the problem. I was thinking if I loosened the nut on the bushing, that I would put another nut on it to lock them together to keep them from loosening any more than desired, but I really don't think that is the problem. I guess it seems logical to me that if the bolt was too tight, all shifts would be harder, not just the reverse to forward gear shift. Oh well, guess the wife will be building up her arm strength. Hehe, she could have use it when she was trying to hold the spring/strut assembly up when we were lowering her car.

Thanks again
Griff

 

[70]

I would venture a guess that maybe the syncros aren't matching up right away and that is making the shift slightly difficult.

I forget what all happens when a manual goes into reverse, but I do know it has a few more parts to move around.

I don't know. Double clutching it might help relieve some of the trouble.

You know, depress clutch, move out of reverse, release clutch completely, depress clutch, and move into a forward gear. That might help out a little.

 

[ZoomZoom]

Nope, double clutching does not help, had the same idea when she first mentioned it. It is just actually hard to pull out of reverse, once it is actually out of reverse and into the neutral area, it is fine. There is no grinding or anything, just hard to move the lever. She'll just have to live with it.

Griff

 

[70]

Oh well, I guess living with it is the choice then...

 

[PR5hokie]

I've had mine on for just over a month and it seems to have loosen up a bit. Well it either worked itself in or I just got used to the throw. I agree though the first time I shifted I almost wanted to yank it out and put the original back in. If you work with it I'm sure you'll love it as much as everyone here does.

 

[Don]

I agree that it seems to loosen up just a bit after a few months. Mine was a little stiffer than I cared for at first, and the 5th to 4th shift was a little hard to find. Either it's much better now, or I've just gotten used to it

Mine seems harder to get INTO reverse than to get out - I'm pretty sure reverse took more effort than any other gear with the old OEM "mystery shifter" anyway, so I never thought too much about it.

I "dimpled" my heat shield in about 1/2 inch with a hammer and a 12 inch socket extension stuck down through the hole after I got the old shifter out - Worked fine, and nothing touches.

Don

 

[Equinox]

I noticed only a slight change in shifting, it was only a little harder as to be expected, but something curious, every gear I can shift into in one motion without killing the syncros at all, except when I shift from 1st to second, I have to atleast pull out of neutral then into 2nd (pop-pop motion), as opposed to one smooth shift into it otherwise I grind my syncros. Originally it didn't do this but now it does. I have to reall ybaby the gear from 1 to 2nd to avoid grinding. Is it possible the linkage is a little off when I installed the short shifter? Wouldn't that make the rest of the gears do the same thing as well though?

 

[JMS'sMSP]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I haven't had a prob with mine at all (knocking on wood) But the throw from 4th to 5th I think is longer than stock which I think is kind of good. The only minor thing I have with it is that is always seems I have to work the clutch to get it into reverse every time. But alot of people have told me thats normal too. I also didn't have to remove the heat shield either just kind of bent/moved it. Did the rubber seal that was on the stock one fit on anyone's B&M shifter??? I gave up on trying to make it fit and threw it away.

 

[OurP5]

I love this shifter

Reverse was a little difficult to engage but I don't have a problem disengaging reverse. The shifter when I first installed it was real "notchy" for the lack of a better word. It has loosened up consideerably.

I also installed the Kartboy shifter bushings as well and that probably tightened up the shift even more so it just seemed like a bigger change than it actually would be with just the shifter.

On another note. This may have nothing to do with this thread but I did not notice this sound until after I installed the shifter.

When driving and completely removing my foot from the gas pedal I hear a "rattling" noise. I say rattling because that is the best way I can describe it.

It sounds like you have a bolt, a washer and a nut with the bolt going through a metal plate or something and the nut is not tightened completely and the washer just vibrates within that non-secure space.

When I press back on the gas the sound goes away. I don't know if it actually goes away or I just can't hear it because of the noise of the engine revs.

Another example is when I take my foot of the gas it starts making that noise but I push the clutch in it seems to stop.

Any ideas?

Maybe I am just paranoid because I had never installed a shifter before and was worried my transmission was going to fall out or the shifter was gong to separate from the linkage!

I double checked all the nuts and bolts when I first noticed the noise and everything is tight.

Thanks in advance guys and gals.