TKO-600,..Shifter 'Buzz'
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
TKO-600,..Shifter 'Buzz'
I have a Tremec TKO-600 that I purchased from Keisler (who's now out of business) a year ago and installed her in a 69 Camaro a month ago. The tranny is great except for an annoying 'buzz" or rattle from the shifter. I have the aluminum colored shifter tower. I checked the bolts/fasteners and everything is good and tight.
1) Has anybody overcome this buzz before? If so how?
2) I have a poly-urethane tranny mount,..would changing to a stock rubber mount calm down the noise?
3) Is it possible I failed to insert a bushing of some kind in the shifter unit that prevents this buzz?
4) Would switching to this shifter solve my problem (or only liberate me from my cash)?:
http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/?page_id=25
I would call Shafi Keisler but nobody is answering the phone at KE. So any ideas you might have are most welcome. Thanks!
1) Has anybody overcome this buzz before? If so how?
2) I have a poly-urethane tranny mount,..would changing to a stock rubber mount calm down the noise?
3) Is it possible I failed to insert a bushing of some kind in the shifter unit that prevents this buzz?
4) Would switching to this shifter solve my problem (or only liberate me from my cash)?:
http://www.hurst-drivelines.com/?page_id=25
I would call Shafi Keisler but nobody is answering the phone at KE. So any ideas you might have are most welcome. Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
My shift had a buzz and it was mph related. It actually would increase with speed like from 70 - 100 mph then go quiet for anything over 100. I thought that maybe my drive shaft was out of balance. Then there was a discussion here on the forum about drive shaft output and input into the rear diff angles.
So I spaced the rear tail shaft upwards another 1/2 inch and the buzz went down to nearly non exsistant.
So I spaced the rear tail shaft upwards another 1/2 inch and the buzz went down to nearly non exsistant.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 722
Likes: 58
From: Karlsruhe (Germany)
Hurst has the "Sidewinder II" side mounted shifter for this.
But i doubt it will fit right on the modification that Keisler made to the tailhousing of the TKO. In the worst case you have to replace the tailhousing including the shift rail in the gearbox. But its possible.
But i doubt it will fit right on the modification that Keisler made to the tailhousing of the TKO. In the worst case you have to replace the tailhousing including the shift rail in the gearbox. But its possible.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
The shifter is making the noise, but it is not the cause. There is some excessive amount of vibration coming from the drivetrain system which is causing the shifter to rattle. It could be driveline alignment, driveshaft balance, sticky U-joint....don't really know. But, if you reduce the noise energy being supplied, the volume will greatly reduce.
You can do stuff to snug up the rattling components, but the vibration will still be there.
You can do stuff to snug up the rattling components, but the vibration will still be there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
The shifter is making the noise, but it is not the cause. There is some excessive amount of vibration coming from the drivetrain system which is causing the shifter to rattle. It could be driveline alignment, driveshaft balance, sticky U-joint....don't really know. But, if you reduce the noise energy being supplied, the volume will greatly reduce.
You can do stuff to snug up the rattling components, but the vibration will still be there.
You can do stuff to snug up the rattling components, but the vibration will still be there.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
You will have to look around for one as Shafi is out of business with a big fat wallet
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
If your buzzing matches the speed of the car, I would be looking at driveshaft u joint angles. The rear pinion bushing is very touchy on angle before it starts buzzing. Years ago, I watched an old timer wrap his shifter with an old bicycle inner tube to keep his shifter from bouncing around. I guess anything that can absorb vibration will help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 1,395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
I had some shifter buzz prior to installing a TKO-600. It was getting worse every year. It was very much rpm related, and only under power.
Started around 1,800 rpm. When stopped and just rev, no buzz. When driving normal, no buzz.
After the TKO-600 install, the buzz was much worse. I also upgraded to the "blue" shifter and this helped a lot, however it was still there.
I then balanced the flywheel/pressure plate and replaced motor mounts. Nothing helped.
After much reading about vibrations etc, there was an interesting article on the function of the Harmonic Balancer about damping vibrations.
I replaced my harmonic balancer and the "Buzz" was 100% eliminated.
Started around 1,800 rpm. When stopped and just rev, no buzz. When driving normal, no buzz.
After the TKO-600 install, the buzz was much worse. I also upgraded to the "blue" shifter and this helped a lot, however it was still there.
I then balanced the flywheel/pressure plate and replaced motor mounts. Nothing helped.
After much reading about vibrations etc, there was an interesting article on the function of the Harmonic Balancer about damping vibrations.
I replaced my harmonic balancer and the "Buzz" was 100% eliminated.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
I can make the shifter stick buzz sittin' in the driveway in neutral by bringing her up to 2500~ RPM. The engine is pretty smooth but it's a big 540. And I'm happy with the balancing,..she can buzz to 5500 pretty smoothly. I have poly engine mounts and on the tranny.
So, it's clear that nothing behind the tranny is causing problems (driveshaft, u-joints, angles, etc).
I'll try that blue shifter but I have no idea where to look. Can somebody steer me in the right direction? I'm sure Keisler sourced this part from somewhere.
Thanks for all the responses,..big help!
So, it's clear that nothing behind the tranny is causing problems (driveshaft, u-joints, angles, etc).
I'll try that blue shifter but I have no idea where to look. Can somebody steer me in the right direction? I'm sure Keisler sourced this part from somewhere.
Thanks for all the responses,..big help!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
I can make the shifter stick buzz sittin' in the driveway in neutral by bringing her up to 2500~ RPM. The engine is pretty smooth but it's a big 540. And I'm happy with the balancing,..she can buzz to 5500 pretty smoothly. I have poly engine mounts and on the tranny.
So, it's clear that nothing behind the tranny is causing problems (driveshaft, u-joints, angles, etc).
I'll try that blue shifter but I have no idea where to look. Can somebody steer me in the right direction? I'm sure Keisler sourced this part from somewhere.
Thanks for all the responses,..big help!
So, it's clear that nothing behind the tranny is causing problems (driveshaft, u-joints, angles, etc).
I'll try that blue shifter but I have no idea where to look. Can somebody steer me in the right direction? I'm sure Keisler sourced this part from somewhere.
Thanks for all the responses,..big help!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,065
Likes: 1,395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The TKO600 in the photo I posted was purchased new in July of 2008 from Keisler and it had the blue shifter on it when delivered. In the time I've had the car, I've only had problems with the dreaded 2-3 shift 3 times and that was mostly from over-thinking it after I read about the problem. Anyway, I contacted Keisler in 2013 to see if there was an upgraded shifter available to address the 2-3 shift problem. They sent me a new "natural" aluminum colored shifter. It has a much stronger set of springs in it and pops into the 2-3 gate with more force. As far as I know, this is the latest shifter for the TKO600. No buzzing with my 540 either, at least in the 500 miles I've put on it.
That shifter really was a piece of crap, the pivot points were poorly machined plus other poorly fitting pieces.
The point is, this shifter was not spring loaded, the second generation, the blue one, was spring loaded, and was a major improvement.
If the OP's shifter is "natural" finish, and is spring loaded, then it is likely a third generation shifter, which should be fine.
If it's not spring loaded, then it's the first generation, (not so good) shifter.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Any ideas on which shifter I have? Here's more info after reviewing the receipt:
1) Date of purchase 3/27/12
2) It's not likely this tranny was sittin' on shelf at Keisler. Shafi was out of this tranny with the .082 final drive and he ordered it.
3) The shifter tower is indeed natural aluminum colored
4) The notes regarding the shifter on the receipt says: ""Low profile internal offset shifter, Keisler mini-billet shift tower & special lever stub".
Lastly, the car does have a factory-type rubber tranny mount; not a poly-urethane as I said in an earlier post. This mount came in the kit from Keisler
Does the info above help?
1) Date of purchase 3/27/12
2) It's not likely this tranny was sittin' on shelf at Keisler. Shafi was out of this tranny with the .082 final drive and he ordered it.
3) The shifter tower is indeed natural aluminum colored
4) The notes regarding the shifter on the receipt says: ""Low profile internal offset shifter, Keisler mini-billet shift tower & special lever stub".
Lastly, the car does have a factory-type rubber tranny mount; not a poly-urethane as I said in an earlier post. This mount came in the kit from Keisler
Does the info above help?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
If I do, any idea what to look for next? Could a broken or missing bushing be the problem,..though I don't remember installing any.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.