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-   -   Who's running a B&M Pro Stick shifter? (https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=635027)

PontiacMatt72 06-01-2010 09:47 PM

Who's running a B&M Pro Stick shifter?
 
I'm havin a hell of a time gettin this thing installed/set up.

Just wondering what troubles, if any, others have experienced installing a Pro Stick. or any cable operated gate shifter from B&M.

65gto69 06-01-2010 10:01 PM

I am running the B&M Pro stick, and had no problems with setup. Even installed the reverse pattern plate for my setup.

I know the cable adjustment can be a can of worms, but if you follow the instructions, they should get you adjusted perfectly.

Mark

Jagtec1 06-01-2010 10:11 PM

I used one in my old car with no issues.

Banditogto 06-01-2010 11:09 PM

I am running one with the reverse pattern plate for my setup also without any problems. Maybe you have a reverse pattern setup and you're trying to install it on a forward shift pattern? Just a possibility. Be patient, you'll figure it out.

PontiacMatt72 06-02-2010 12:31 AM

Well the first issue was that it was impossible to shift- WAY too stiff- when the cable was connected to the tranny. Unconnected, everything felt great- smooth as could be.

Think the problem was the gear selector detent spring was too stiff... ? That's what B&M tech support told me anyway... had an extra TH400 and it seemed alittle "looser", so swapped out the springs. That seemed to help slightly, but still too stiff. Some have mentioned bending the spring alittle, to relieve some of the pressure. may give that a shot...

I played with trying to get the cable adjusted properly tonight, but couldn't get it quite right. figure I'd better take this deal one step at a time and get things operating smoothly first.

Ballast 06-02-2010 07:31 AM

I know of a similiar sounding circumstance where it turned out the cable was faulty - problem solved with a replacement cable. In his situation, it would shift with just a bit of finger pressure on the gearbox lever, but not without it.

65gto69 06-02-2010 10:07 AM

Make sure there is no really tight turns in your shift cable from the shifter to the tranny. This will also cause stiffness in shifting.

Mark

grandville455 06-02-2010 10:31 AM

Yes have a nice gradual bend and also to have the point of entry into the shifter as straight as possible where it hooks up. I have a loop at the top of my trans case and then it goes into the shifter works fine. I have a z gate ,but the idea is the same

65gto69 06-02-2010 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandville455 (Post 4006803)
Yes have a nice gradual bend and also to have the point of entry into the shifter as straight as possible where it hooks up. I have a loop at the top of my trans case and then it goes into the shifter works fine. I have a z gate ,but the idea is the same

Good point. My shifter cable comes out of my shifter and goes close to a foot before it starts a gradual bend over the top of the tranny than to the shifter detent.

Mark

mysticmissle 06-02-2010 11:09 AM

X2 on cable entry into shifter. Ideally it's as straight a shot as possible. Otherwise cable will bind in it's sheath. They make longer cables if you need. Or you may have to route urs differently. Could also bind where cable crosses between trans case and floor

PontiacMatt72 06-02-2010 06:58 PM

update...

cable is jacked up. disconnected everything: tranny changes gears smoothly, shifter functions smoothly, cable is jammed up in the housing somewhere. can't move it by hand.

gonna see if B&M will replace it first. if not, I'll have to buy another one i guess. :gag:

hopefully now that I have everything else right, a new cable will make everything work perfectly. we shall see...

wish me luck.

grandville455 06-02-2010 07:07 PM

Matt is the cable now straight and is still jamming up? or is there still bends in it?

PLAY400 06-02-2010 08:42 PM

My cable is centered on the tranny thru the floor then I dropped it down the right side of the trans and brought it under the tailshaft in a nice big loop to the gear selector the way B&M said to do it. On 1 of my shifters it wouldn't go into neutral properly so I trimmed the lever and it works now. Works very easy but I have the heavy duty cable too.

PontiacMatt72 06-02-2010 10:09 PM

Darby, Yes the cable is completely out of the car. even straightened out it will not budge, by hand, one way or the other. it is definately no good.

Play400, mine was routed exactly the same way- exactly how it says to in the instructions. I'm going to try to make that hole in the floorpan (over the tranny) just a bit bigger, just to have alittle more room. It wasn't a problem, but can't hurt to have alittle more "wiggle" room. from there, will route it down the right side of transmission, towards the tail shaft, then under and around the tailshaft, to the gear selector. all making one nice big "loop".

grandville455 06-03-2010 06:57 AM

Yep Sounds like something is fubar then!.. I ran my loop over the trans not under FWIW
Good luck with the new cable!

Bud Lyons 06-03-2010 09:43 AM

For what it's worth: Years ago I had 2 cables go south in a short amount of time after I installed the engine in my 72 GP. I talked to the dealer about it when picking up the 2nd cable. They told me to make sure I had the braided ground straps attached between the engine and frame. If not the cable was acting as a ground strap. It will heat up and bind. I did not have the braided straps installed. I put them on and never had another shifter cable issue.

PontiacMatt72 06-03-2010 06:47 PM

Bud, interesting info. I haven't even started or ran my engine yet, so that couldn't have been the issue, but I will make sure I have everything grounded well, to avoid this type of problem. Thanks!

PontiacMatt72 06-20-2011 11:26 AM

guess I could update this thread...

got the new cable in and setup, has been working good for about a year now.

well, until this weekend. got home from about a ~60 mile trip. parked the car 3 or 4 different places. got home, pulled the car in the garage, and couldn't get the car in Park. shifter was there, but it wasn't gettin the gear selector at tranny into park...

I figure I just need to "fine tune" the shifter cable adjustment. Maybe these things have a "break in" period so to speak?

ta man 06-20-2011 11:34 AM

I have two B&M shifters.Best to set them up in neutral..there is a fine line to having park and no first...and having first and no park.Watch if you don't have park and ram it into first you could actually go off the gear selector in the tranny.

PontiacMatt72 07-01-2011 12:26 PM

worked with this again last night. Cable is FUBAR. (again).

this makes 2 cables I've ruined. gonna order on more, and make the hole in the floor PLENTY big. as of now it's kinda a tight bend through the floor and around the tranny/trans tunnel. this must be what's causing the problem.

Would yall with this type of shifter/cable like to share pics of their cable routing or shifter/cable installation?


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