b&m ripper owners?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: TX
b&m ripper owners?
just checking with other ripper users on this.a couple times a week on my 00 FRC the shifter gets kicked out of 1rst on all take offs , slow or fast and it sometimes(more frequent than the 1rst item) , wont go into reverse without letting up on the clutch a bit . now when i instaled the shifter it had no directions i guess because it seems pretty straight forward.just the shifter and 4 bolts.the stock shifter did have a plastic or teflon cover to go over the ball so i swapped that and thats it .right?is this a part of a bigger problem (clutch or trans.) does anyone know or have experianced similar symptoms.although i had alot of time in the c5 prototype in 95-97,i am a 1rst time vette owner and this is a bit different than the proving grounds...because this time its mine. thanks in advance,Joe :chevy
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 23
From: Newark CA
Re: b&m ripper owners? (texasfireman)
Mine kicks out of first sometimes, but I figure it's because I didn't get first gear engaged all the way. Reverse is sometimes difficult without the clutch, too. I wouldn't blame the shifter too much, though. It just requires more effort to engage the gears when the car isn't moving.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles CA
Re: b&m ripper owners? (texasfireman)
I assume you have a newer Ripper (made within the past two years) that has no adjustable stops. It may be slightly off on the install, so loosen the four bolts and move it around a bit, then tighten it and see if it's better. If that doesn't help, you may have a tranny problem of some sort. The Ripper is really a fairly inert sort of thing, and shouldn't cause any problems like you've mentioned. By the way, for getting into reverse with a short-throw shifter, I've found that going into 4th before going into reverse seems to line everything up better in the tranny.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: DesMoines Iowa
Re: b&m ripper owners? (joeflyer)
I have a ripper shifter and experienced the same problems you desrcibe in your post with both 1st and reverse. I thought at first it was the shifter as well but someone with much more technical experience than myself posted a thread about the same type of issues and it was discovered that it is more likely a tranny issue. I have since removed my tranny ( since the car was in pieces anyways ) and had Crashed94 do his level 4 upgrade and replace bad parts. I don't claim to be an expert by any means but Rodney from TransSpec said something about my sliders being bad and the gear going into reverse we're shot. Bob
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 0
From: Loveland CO
Re: b&m ripper owners? (Bad Bob)
I had this same problem when I had my 2000 Hardtop. It came w/ the car so I never installed it. It would do it all the time and I could never shift hard into second and reverse just sucked. I replaced my tranny fluid w/ Redline synthetic and that helped it ALOT. After that I would still have occasional problems. I took it in and they adjusted the shift linkage and I never had a problem after that. kaley
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 954
Likes: 21
From: White Oak, GA
Re: b&m ripper owners? (texasfireman)
The newer rippers aren't adjustable, but the older ones are. The early rippers have threaded nuts on the front and rear of the shifter. You can loosen the nut and use an Allen wrench to set your detents.
Mine is the older model. I adjusted it according to the installation instructions, but thought the throw was still too long. I later went back and shortened the throw, but then the car tended to slip out of first. I went back and let the nut out some. The throw is longer than I expected, but it still shifts better than the stock unit.
Mine is the older model. I adjusted it according to the installation instructions, but thought the throw was still too long. I later went back and shortened the throw, but then the car tended to slip out of first. I went back and let the nut out some. The throw is longer than I expected, but it still shifts better than the stock unit.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Re: b&m ripper owners? (6krpm)
I had the same issues before and after installing the ripper. I am in the process of working through the few ideas before getting into the transmission.
1. replace shifter -- done
2. red line diff/tranny fluid --going in this weekend
3. into the more technical
1. replace shifter -- done
2. red line diff/tranny fluid --going in this weekend
3. into the more technical
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 173
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, TX
Re: b&m ripper owners? (adame780)
Adjusting the shift rod fixed the same problem I had in my car. Loosen the 40 torx bolt on the shift rod and put the pin that is on the stock shifter in the hole in front (the car should be in neutral to put it in). Then retighten the torx nut making sure the bolt hole surface is perfectly flat. If the car is far out of adjustment, you may have to loosen the two bolts on the side ad move the whole shifter assembly up or down.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 2
From: Brookhaven Pa
Re: b&m ripper owners? (texasfireman)
I was having this problem sometimes before I change to the Hurst shifter and changed the fluid to Royal Purple ATF. This has smoothed out the shifts and made it easier to get into first.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 260
Likes: 4
From: TX
Re: b&m ripper owners? (Monster231)
all right guys . it looks like we've got some remedies to try out.the adjustment posted by fellow texan ,Bobby Buche sounds good as well as the fluid upgrade.will let you know how it comes together.thanks ,Joe :chevy :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,414
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From: financial-freedom-for-all.com
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: b&m ripper owners? (texasfireman)
I thought popping out of first was normal. :crazy: I hear most people with MN-6 have this problem no matter what shifter they use. :rolleyes: It's one of those GM known faults! :mad
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: b&m ripper owners? (VETTENV)
I have 50,000 miles on my C5 MN6... I have a three year old Ripper... it has no adjustable stops... my car has never popped out of first gear...Ive never had any problems getting into first or reverse...And I love every shift
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,032
Likes: 124
From: Dallas TX
Re: b&m ripper owners? (Evil-Twin)
I have 50,000 miles on my C5 MN6... I have a three year old Ripper... it has no adjustable stops... my car has never popped out of first gear...Ive never had any problems getting into first or reverse...And I love every shift