DIY Gate Shifter....AKA "Ghetto Gate"

[sammygon1]

I recently decided to upgrade to a 915 shifter for my 901. I found a shifter on EBay for $50.00, ordered some new bushings and was ready to install when I started reading about all the different types of gate shifters.

Being a poor grad student I realized I couldn't justify the expense of even the cheapest gate shift kit. So I decided to make one myself.

5 hours later I had created a home brewed gate shifter for about $5.00 in total parts. This post will attempt to describe the gate shifter. Before I continue I have to say that I borrowed and copied alot of the concepts from the Seine systems gate shift kit.

First pic: Top plate of the 915 shifter with gate tabs welded on and gate shifter spring installed.




The gate shifter spring mechanism is jsut a 3/8ths bolt and a spring from Home Depot inserted through the hole that used to contain the reverse lockout mechanism. I also had to make a longer pivot arm for the shifter so the spring would have something to press against. The pivot arm is simply a 3/8ths bolt which I notched like the original. (Not shown)

Second pic: Modified shifter.

I added a bracket to catch the new gate tabs and relieve spring pressure.

Third pic: First gear selected notice the bolt for the spring mechanism is raised of the plate.




Fourth pic: Shifter is centered in neutral by spring tension.


Overall, I am very pleased with the operation of the new shifter, its fabrication is pretty ghetto but it works really well. The shifter automatically centers itself on the 2-3 plane. Instead of searching for the gears like with my 901 shifter I can now just flick the shifter and hit all the gears without worry.
Anyway, just thought I'd share.
-Sam

[RickM]

Quite resourceful there, Sam. Nice work.