$0.15 Gate Shift Kit for 915
 

A picture is worth a thousand words:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189760094.jpg

That's the first trial. However, the double looped green band was putting too much pressure on the shifter (for my liking anyway) in fore-and-aft direction. So here's the revised version:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189760201.jpg

... and it doesn't interfere with the tabs or the lockout mechanism:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189760261.jpg

The blue rubber band is there as a "helper". The shifter doesn't "glide" over the rubber bands when moving in fore-and-aft direction, but there's plenty of stretch in those bands.

I can imagine this little trick has existed for a long time. I came across a "rubber band" reference by BlueSkyJaunte in Pelican archives from way back in 2001. Tbitz made a similar gate shift system using a spring here. I don't claim this to be "my" trick; I just wanted a visual reference in the archives. So next time you buy some groceries, keep those rubber bands and turn your ordinary 915 shifter into an awesome gate-shifter!

PS. Those with sharp eyes may have noticed the rips in the green band. Maybe it will last a couple weeks, perhaps even less. But really, it took me 2 minutes to put those on, and the rubber bands cost virtually nothing, so it's all good.

Very clever. And it is adjustable for tension! How do you like the "upgrade?" I'm taking my car to a DE this weekend. If I can find some rubber bands and a half hour of free time, I might give this a go!

.15 cents? and they say we're not in a recession.

I'll stick with my spring loaded Seine Systems.

i guess the other good things is when they do break and fall down in the shifter, they are nice and soft... but i do like the way you are thinking :)

have you found any particular grocery store produce rubber band better than others? Very clever indeed.

Maybe try a little teflon or graphite powder dry lube?

Instead of rubber, try this:
I used a very long spring (3-4mm diameter) attached it to the lever above the lock-out tab with a small hose clamp and then hooked it into the opening on the right side of the shift tower.
Just picture a small diameter long spring with a hook on the end for the window, and the other end attached to the lever above the lock-out tab.
It's all out of sight under the rubber boot.
Keeps it on the 3-4 plane and works good for 3 years now.

Again, not my own clever idea, but thanks. I haven't done an extensive research as to what brand of produce comes with the best kind of rubber yet.

I thought about sleeving the part of rubber bands that touch the shifter with a bendy straw, but it works pretty well as it is.

I like Gunter's spring idea too. I may try it when I save up some money to spend, right now can't afford anything more expensive than $0.15 ;)

Careful with the bendy straw. That will double your cost of materials. :D

Interesting ideas here...

Gunter - I think I'll try your spring idea. Why do you need a hose clamp on the lever - wouldn't there be enough tension to keep it in place if that end is hooked around the lever above the tab? Just want to be sure I am visualizing the set up properly.

Great work; that should last a couple weeks at least. Then you'll be pulling off the boot again to dig out the bits...

ianc

Watch out you might take an eye out with that thing!

Actually I just wanted to say that. My Dad used to reiterate that one over and over when I was a kid. It must have worked because I still have four eyes.

It's all fun and games 'til someone looses an eye................Then it's just fun you can't see.

Sure, whatever keeps the spring up there.
It takes some experimenting with spring size and tension.
It has to be a continuous,long, small diameter spring because it will rub on the edge of the shift plate.
I made a double loop to get the right tension.
Lube everything inside the tower with Moly grease; Moly sticks.

:eek::eek: Wow! I tried Gunter's method with the spring today. It works fantastic.I cant believe I never thought of this. I used a universal spring I got at Pep Boys (the kind you might use for carb throttle linkage).I used a pretty stiff one, about 3/8" dia,1 1/2 to 2" long with an inch or two of straight wire on each end. I cut one end short to hookaround the hose clamp, then streched the spring until it reached the shifter plate, measured and bent a hook to hook thru the window. This left all the spring above the plate.
As I said the spring is pretty strong and it feels perfect to me.The shifter has a tight feel unlike the vague sloppiness we all get used to driving an older Porsche. I recommend this!!:eek::eek:
The hardest part was getting the console up and that was easy. Total time: 20 to 30 minutes.:cool:

Don

BLEW911,

A picture is worth a thousand words. Could you take another 30 minutes out of your schedule and take one or two for us and post them.

Thanks,
Matt

Ditto. Would love to see a pic. My 1 beer buzz has impaired my 'visualization' skills of how/where this spring is supposed to go.

My $0.15 upgrade contribution (not my idea. I believe I read it here on PP yrs ago): spray aerosol silicone lubricant down into the shift linkage, for smoother shifts. I worked for me.

thanks

I made a quick sketch. If you can't recognize anything let me know and I'll take pictures for you guys. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189926237.jpg

Wow. That's a masterpiece. Nice drawing. OK, now I got it. Thanks
Now I just gotta find the correct spring at PepBoys.

Thanks