AB Motorsport gearcable set: new July 2009 specification

[Monty]

Hi
Just a quick question to anyone who has just fitted a set of the new specification cables. Has anyone had any problems fitting the cables to the pins on the gearbox selector mechanism? I seem to be having a problem where the bushes (both the plastic one and the brass one) are too tight a fit to go over the pins. Is there a fix for this or will I have to take the cables out and ream the bushes?

Cheers
Chris

I`ve got the Old AB cables and onre of the cables was tight on the pin and was the cause of my stiff Nob (how sad is that lol) so i drilled the bush out which cured the problem

[lotos]

i drilled the bush

What you do in your bedroom is of no concern

[tigerdog]

Hi
Just a quick question to anyone who has just fitted a set of the new specification cables. Has anyone had any problems fitting the cables to the pins on the gearbox selector mechanism?

When I bought Smaug, the previous owner had just fitted the older style. The shifter was PAINFULLY stiff until I thoroughly lubricated the fittings and readjusted the cables and their placement. Shifting loosened progressively after that and now feels wonderful. Perhaps A.B. will comment on whether this tight fit is engineered into the cable design.

[Monty]

i drilled the bush

What you do in your bedroom is of no concern

it wasn`t in the bedroom but in the Garage LMAO

TigerDoug Wrote:-

Perhaps A.B. will comment on whether this tight fit is engineered into the cable design.

The cables should be a snug fit but the cable ends on the selector need to pivot/move when the gears are being selected, another thing with mine was the gear lever wouldn`t return back to center until i inlarged the hole

[mikeydude]

The new spec bracket would have come in handy when I got my cables last year. I had to go to a machine shop and have one custom made because one of the cables couldn't be mounted and adjusted. The mounting point had to be moved about 3/4 inch.

That must be a federal difference then...mine were spot on (1990 S1)

But I have allways had a stiff cross gate action as monty says above, that has eased off over the year, monty tell me it is due to a tight fitting bush at the gear stick end, But I still wonder if I have got the cable routed OK as I noticed that if I wrench them about at bit the gear change stiffness alters to suit!! it assume its due to the severe bend then go through anyone else had this problem?

[chrisP]

Thanks for the replies
I found the main problem was a thin layer of corrosion on the pins on the gearbox selector (which I fixed with a bit of wet and dry and some WD40) and that I had to detach the bracket from the gearbox to get the correct angle for the bushes to go over the pins. I'll see how this effects the shift tonight and enlarge the bushes slightly if required.

Cheers again
Chris

[rip]

Mine was also tight fit too on a fairly new AB shortshift kit, so there was no corrosion. I applied grease when fitting mine, but it still needs a little encouragement to centre the gearstick to 3rd/4th. I guess the grease may extend the time it takes to break it in?

[lotusgirlmarie]

I had to remove and reinstall the cross gate lever's pin upside down to get the stiffness out. Instead of pushing the cable on from the top I now have to pull it up from the bottom.

[rip]

Hi
Just a quick question to anyone who has just fitted a set of the new specification cables. Has anyone had any problems fitting the cables to the pins on the gearbox selector mechanism? I seem to be having a problem where the bushes (both the plastic one and the brass one) are too tight a fit to go over the pins. Is there a fix for this or will I have to take the cables out and ream the bushes?

Cheers
Chris

I`ve got the Old AB cables and onre of the cables was tight on the pin and was the cause of my stiff Nob (how sad is that lol) so i drilled the bush out which cured the problem

Good call.
I disconnected the crossgate cable earlier today, filed the bush slightly (not too much or I would have re-introduced some sloppiness), re-greased & re-assembled. This has improved the gearchange so it centres more easily but I still expect a couple of thousand gear changes will improve it further.

[petsin]

Hi Guys

Have just fitted my AB's, and found that there was no bush on the gearbox end of the shift cable, I assumed I had to use the old one, but have had difficulty fitting it as the diameter of the whole seems slightly smaller. Has anyone else had this problem?

Cheers
Peter

[Monty]

Hi Guys

Have just fitted my AB's, and found that there was no bush on the gearbox end of the shift cable, I assumed I had to use the old one, but have had difficulty fitting it as the diameter of the whole seems slightly smaller. Has anyone else had this problem?

Cheers
Peter

IIRC the AB cables come with the Bush already fitted, so maybe it fell off have a look in the package the cables came in, it maybe still there. If not you may need to contact AB

[ektrolleyboy]

Who's fitted AB's short shift and what are their opinions?
Also I note there are three different settings. Why wouldn't you use the shortest shift option? Which shift pattern is the best for normal use? I'd want it to feel as per standard but with a shorter and therefore faster shift. Is this possible or does the short-shift drastically change the OEM feel?

[Rice crispy]

ektrolleyboy,
recieved my AB shortshift about a week ago and haven't had a chance to get it fitted yet looks very well made and was delivered super fast. the 3 settings are explained on the website but basically the shorter the shift the heavier it gets.

David

[ektrolleyboy]

Ahhh... I see.

[rip]

Who's fitted AB's short shift and what are their opinions?
Also I note there are three different settings. Why wouldn't you use the shortest shift option? Which shift pattern is the best for normal use? I'd want it to feel as per standard but with a shorter and therefore faster shift. Is this possible or does the short-shift drastically change the OEM feel?

As lansledj points out, the shorter the shift, the more force you will have to use to change gear. SInce the kit fits at the gearbox end, this force needs to be tranmitted through the cable & end fittings & the SE's fittings are known to be weak-ish.
I fitted my shift last year & ran on the longest throw, I was well pleased. There is still some of the sogginess with the OEM kit, but the feel was improved immensely. In fear of my OEM fittings breaking up, I held off on shortening further until I installed my AB cables. With the cables fitted, I'm now on the shortest setting, with a ½" shorter gearstick too. It feels heavy, but this is due to the newness of the cables. Filing the bush on the AB crossgate cable has improved matters (thanks for the suggestion, Monty ).
The shortshift IS reversible. You don't have to break anything to fit it.

[muley]

Hi Guys

Have just fitted my AB's, and found that there was no bush on the gearbox end of the shift cable, I assumed I had to use the old one, but have had difficulty fitting it as the diameter of the whole seems slightly smaller. Has anyone else had this problem?

Cheers
Peter

Peter

Yes. The pic provided earlier in this thread purports to show the gearbox end but you will see that it includes the larger rubber bush - this bush did not come with my set of cables.

So, I had to reuse the old one. To do this; remove the plastic top hat from the middle of the bush by carefully prising it away. Then, using an old thin screwdriver gently prise the rubber bush away and out from the rusty old hole it sits in.

I tried for a few minutes to press it in to the new cable end and failed. In the end I made a simple 'press' from two large washers and a 6mm bolt and nut and tightened the nut to pull the bush into place. A litte gentle easing was then required to get the flange into place at both sides. Using the same press I pushed the top hat into place. Top Tip; lubricate the bush and top hat with soap.

I'm now going to have a cup of coffee before getting back to the job...

Jim

[WillB]

Hi All,

Have posted this on the other thread, but posting here in case anyone missed it.

Looks like the cables supplied in the latest group buy might have a rubber bush missing......

If your cables look like the below, please PM me your address and I will arrange for it to be posted to you from AB

Will

[muley]

An extra tip for this job; disconnect the battery before you start. If you don't the crossgate cable might foul the live terminal on the starter motor and then you can go to earth via the handbrake as you are trying to fit the cable - it gets quite hot quite quickly!

[Monty]

An extra tip for this job; disconnect the battery before you start. If you don't the crossgate cable might foul the live terminal on the starter motor and then you can go to earth via the handbrake as you are trying to fit the cable - it gets quite hot quite quickly!

Lmao

[Alan_Betts]

1. If you were a recipient of one of the eighteen sets of gearcables that were sent to Will B in the UK on 17 July 2009 and you are missing a bush from the cable set please PM me providing the following information:

(a) Your name and address

(b) Your E mail address

(c) Specify which bush you are missing

There are three bushes per cable set:

(i) Large nylon two piece, transmission end

(ii) Small nylon one piece, gear lever end

(iii) Small brass one piece, transmission end

I have been told that in each case where a gearcable bush is missing it is the large two piece bush but please confirm in your PM.

I will ensure that replacements are sent direct to your home address as soon as possible

2. Overall the conclusion I have drawn is that we need a better distribution arrangement for the UK.

As from now we will only supply gear cable sets and the other products we make for the Elan to customers in the UK direct to the end user. If any of you wish to order you can contact me direct by PM.

We despatch our cable sets and other items using a service called EMS which has proven very reliable and has on-line tracking.

3. With customers anywhere else in the world we are happy to supply direct.

4. Customers in the USA and Canada may wish to know that Dave Bean Engineering in San Andreas, California stock our gear cable sets.