Dave's shortshift - now under the management of Bob Brown

[Specky]

#1 for me this Month is my ex Volvo seat heater

Careful if it's an 850/V70... they had a recall for bursting in to flames...

TTFN

Yeah, happend to a mate of mine - he only had the car - T5 IIRC - 2 weeks when his ass was toasted

Mine too and it's a T5... Luckly It was prior to my ownership, but it must of hurt...

A ring of fire...

It's one way to get your 4rse in to gear, but not as effectively as a short shift...

How's the group buy going...

TTFN

[Jimmer]

Dave,
Does the shortshift put more strain on the cables and if so would you suggest upgrading to AB cables?
Jim

[rip]

What are the other two essential upgrades Doc?
Sorry if that's an amateur question

My money's on an ESM chip and a caliper & disc upgrade up front.

Had a mountain chip for a while but not at the moment...long story (but I do want to fit one again though).
Fitted a Piper exhaust later. If I could only have one, I would choose the Piper.
Brake upgrade is high on my list of priorities now.

[rip]

Dave,
Does the shortshift put more strain on the cables and if so would you suggest upgrading to AB cables?
Jim

I can answer that. The kit reduces movement at the gearbox end of the cable. Force * movement = work . Work must always be the same, so less movement = more force, which would stress the cables more.
S2 cables are tougher than SE ones & AB tougher still.

[Jimmer]

Thanks,
Can anyone suggest where to get a set? I've been to AB's website but couldn't find cables for sale.
Jim

[Specky]

Thanks,
Can anyone suggest where to get a set? I've been to AB's website but couldn't find cables for sale.
Jim

I'm currently in the process of getting some...

PM WillB he's the import agent...

TTFN

[BFG in the BRG]

Talking of cables......
can anyone confirm the following????????

I was also thinking of replacing the cables once Dave's shortshifter was fitted - but only because of the plastic bits issue and not the strain - I'm sure from reading a thread somewhere that Dave's short shifter didn't put additional strain on the cables - unlike all of the other shortshifters that are available, since they shorten travel distances in different way to Dave's - which works by magic .

The way I understand it is that the original SE cables had plastic clips to connect the cables to the cars and this is what snaps, not the cables themselves.
I also gather that eventually the plastic bits will go brittle over time and will break - leaving the car stranded, (probably late on a sunday night where there is no mobile signal) .
I believe the S2 cables and AB's have metal connectors and both are compatable with the SE and should last the life of the car .
From reading a thread somewhere, replacing the cables with new ones can result in the gearstick not centering and this is a partially as a result of the hole in the connector which the bolt goes through being a little tight - and therefore needs drilling out slightly before fitting (possibly for AB cables only) and partially because the cable is new and needs lubricating well when it is put in and just needs a little time and use to allow it to bed in.
So...
If you are going to do track days - then go for AB cables, becasue they are the, strongest etc?
If you are going to just replace the cables to avoid the plastic bits breaking off leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere - then fit either.
To check whether the cables are plastic or metal ends (previous owner had replacement cables in 2001), I take off the central console between the driver and passenger seats, and I can see the cables ends there.
And if I am going to do both shortshift and cable jobs, it would be prudent to do the cables first, try them out and then do the shortshift.
Is that about right?

[G UK]

I should point out that I managed to break an S2 cable with daves shortshift, not sure how but I did it.

I've now got AB's, takes a while for them to get here and the first one was faulty (albeit useable) but this has now been rectified and it feels much much tighter on the gearchange. My personal opinion is therefore to go for the AB's even if you have S2 cables (its just not as urgent as with SE's).

Just a note about the fault so nobody gets the wrong idea, it was a minor manufacturing fault with one of the threads (hole drilled to big or worn tap with the looks of it) that had slipped through the net, AB no questions asked sent me a new cable with a covering letter stating that they had found and rectified the error.

Actually typing this has just reminded me that I've still got Neils borrowed SE cables in my boot that I need to return!!

[DeeAitch]

Dave,
Does the shortshift put more strain on the cables and if so would you suggest upgrading to AB cables?
Jim

I can answer that. The kit reduces movement at the gearbox end of the cable. Force * movement = work . Work must always be the same, so less movement = more force, which would stress the cables more.
S2 cables are tougher than SE ones & AB tougher still.

Thanks Rip, that sums it up quiet neatly

Since the modification is at the gearbox end the additional load required to move the levers is transmitted by the cables.
There was once an idea proposed to modify the gearlever end - in that case the load at the gearbox end would not change so the cables wouldn't see any differance.
I've no first hand knowlege of the AB cables but a search on here would bring up a load of info. From what I've read they are bullet proof.
From what I know the SE cables have plastic twist to lock adjusters / attachments which tend to fail - always at the gearbox end - due to age &/or fatigue.
S2 and AB have locknuts for adjustment at the Gearbox end - not sure what they have at the gearshift end but I'm sure AB's are metal.
I would say - and this goes for any changes you make to the car - that you should only change one thing at a time. That way you can keep track of what any change does in isolation.

[DeeAitch]

Progress update:
All laser cut and general machining complete.
Will drop the bits off at my welder chapie tomorrow

[HJ2]

oh boy oh boy oh boy....
It's gonna be a goooood spring this year

Do you supply an idiot's guide how to place the shortshift?

[DeeAitch]

Do you supply an idiot's guide how to place the shortshift?

Of course - well it depends on your definition of idiot.
None on LEC that I know of

[BFG in the BRG]

Well,
The stupidist thing I did was to use self tappers to attach a new window seal that were too long,
having thought the cracking sound was just the screw tightening,
imagine my surprise when I realised the tip of the screw has come through the door skin.
How I laughed.
Especially when I then had to spend 2 days filling, rubbing down and re-painting

You might need to supply pictures and crayons with my instructions,
that way, at least I shall have something to colour in

[HJ2]

... I rest my case ...

[DeeAitch]

All parts back from the welder and are now fully assembled
Just waiting for some fasteners to arrive and they will be ready to go

Will send PM's out in the next few days so get ready to raid the piggy bank

[HJ2]

Speak about piggybank... Please don't forget to include shipment to the netherlands!

[Joe]

All parts back from the welder and are now fully assembled
Just waiting for some fasteners to arrive and they will be ready to go

Will send PM's out in the next few days so get ready to raid the piggy bank

Hammer raised, Piggy nervous.

On a serious note I'm working away a lot at the moment so please don't fret if I don't notice for a week or so when the demand for cash is made.

[Rambo]

Blimey - that's quick Dave. Let me know how you want paid - I'd prefer cheque if that was OK with you as I don't do the PayPal thing. I'll pick mine up at Donington if it makes it easier for you ?

[DeeAitch]

Blimey - that's quick Dave. Let me know how you want paid - I'd prefer cheque if that was OK with you as I don't do the PayPal thing. I'll pick mine up at Donington if it makes it easier for you ?

And here was me thinking it was taking a long time

Everything now sorted and ready to go
You should all have PM's now with payment details etc.
Be sure to let me have the shipping address when you reply

[JIMBO]

[quote="BFG in the BRG"]:banana:
might be worth mentioning this on the group buy page - I don't often venture onto this page and nearly missed it, I was just doing a periodic check for......a Dave's shortshift!
I'm almost tempted to buy 2 - and I dunno why,
infact thniking about it, if you do struggle for numbers, rather than have loads of cash tied up in stock, let me know, and I'll but another, nodoubt someone will want one after everything has gone.


There's allways one! and it's usually me.
If there is a spare one looking for a home I would like like to put my name forward.
Regards
Jim