How does aligning the shifter work?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: OC, CA
How does aligning the shifter work?
I talked to RPM about my notchey transmission and they said to align the shifter as I've heard before. He said that since i didn't have a neutral lock pin just put a drill bit in there (5/32 fit nicely), loosen the other bolts, then tighten them. As I expected this didn't change a thing and I don't get how it would...
You are moving hte shfiter body forward and back, but leaving hte rod/linkage in the same place. Basically if you push it back more your shifter will sit a bit more angled than before and opposite angle with forward. I don't get how changing this can make any difference to how nothcy the transmission feels.
I tried moving it all the way up, all the way back, and aligned according to the neutral lock hole and they all felt exactley the same.
What's the deal here?
You are moving hte shfiter body forward and back, but leaving hte rod/linkage in the same place. Basically if you push it back more your shifter will sit a bit more angled than before and opposite angle with forward. I don't get how changing this can make any difference to how nothcy the transmission feels.
I tried moving it all the way up, all the way back, and aligned according to the neutral lock hole and they all felt exactley the same.
What's the deal here?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,394
Likes: 1,137
From: Dyer, IN
I talked to RPM about my notchey transmission and they said to align the shifter as I've heard before. He said that since i didn't have a neutral lock pin just put a drill bit in there (5/32 fit nicely), loosen the other bolts, then tighten them. As I expected this didn't change a thing and I don't get how it would...
You are moving hte shfiter body forward and back, but leaving hte rod/linkage in the same place. Basically if you push it back more your shifter will sit a bit more angled than before and opposite angle with forward. I don't get how changing this can make any difference to how nothcy the transmission feels.
I tried moving it all the way up, all the way back, and aligned according to the neutral lock hole and they all felt exactley the same.
What's the deal here?
You are moving hte shfiter body forward and back, but leaving hte rod/linkage in the same place. Basically if you push it back more your shifter will sit a bit more angled than before and opposite angle with forward. I don't get how changing this can make any difference to how nothcy the transmission feels.
I tried moving it all the way up, all the way back, and aligned according to the neutral lock hole and they all felt exactley the same.
What's the deal here?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,394
Likes: 1,137
From: Dyer, IN
There are two fixed items:
1) The shifter itself, held in the neutral position by the locking pin.
2) The tranny linkage (placed in neutral).
The variable is the shifter housing, which has slotted mounting holes. The shifter is held in a constant position(neutral), and must maintain that relationship with the neutral position of the linkage. The slotted holes in the housing make up for any tolerances in the torque tube, and shift housing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
With everything loose and the lock pin/drill bit engaged you can grab the shift rod and spin and move it slightly to alligne it perfectly with the bolt hole that clamps it to the shifter body... very small movements there make huge differences in how the shifter behaves.
Last edited by tstar; Oct 28, 2009 at 03:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: OC, CA
Well I meant I get what RPM told me to do which is simply put the neutral lock pin in, loosen everything, then tighten it all.
If I am understanding correctly you are saying to put the nuetral pin in, loosen everything, pull out the back bolt that connects to the clamp and the rod, spin/move the shift rod (the part that connects to the tranny not the shifter) until it lines up perfectly (doesn't the bolt force it to be perfect?), then tighten everything back up?
I may try and pull it apart one more time. I have already pulled it apart the past 2 nights and I can probalby do the whole thing in like 20 minutes now lol.
If I am understanding correctly you are saying to put the nuetral pin in, loosen everything, pull out the back bolt that connects to the clamp and the rod, spin/move the shift rod (the part that connects to the tranny not the shifter) until it lines up perfectly (doesn't the bolt force it to be perfect?), then tighten everything back up?
I may try and pull it apart one more time. I have already pulled it apart the past 2 nights and I can probalby do the whole thing in like 20 minutes now lol.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You've got it... and no the "pinch" bolt doesn't force it into perfect allignement, there's some slop in there probably for variables between cars on the assembly line.
You'll be the Forum shifter allignement expert before this is all done...
Tim
You'll be the Forum shifter allignement expert before this is all done...
Tim
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,545
Likes: 3
From: CLIFTON PARK NY
Well, if you get the directions, but don't get how it works...then you don't get the directions......
There are two fixed items:
1) The shifter itself, held in the neutral position by the locking pin.
2) The tranny linkage (placed in neutral).
The variable is the shifter housing, which has slotted mounting holes. The shifter is held in a constant position(neutral), and must maintain that relationship with the neutral position of the linkage. The slotted holes in the housing make up for any tolerances in the torque tube, and shift housing.
There are two fixed items:
1) The shifter itself, held in the neutral position by the locking pin.
2) The tranny linkage (placed in neutral).
The variable is the shifter housing, which has slotted mounting holes. The shifter is held in a constant position(neutral), and must maintain that relationship with the neutral position of the linkage. The slotted holes in the housing make up for any tolerances in the torque tube, and shift housing.
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