spring loaded shifter ($.39 robotek)

[gumba]

This post is in regards to the Robotek theads "my friend installed a spring in his shifter holding it against the 3/4 gate for .39 cents. I installed this set up in our '73 targa about 5 years ago. We've been tracking the car for the past 2 years with no problems. I showed this trick to some friends, one of which posted a thread to the Robotek installation. Below is a description of how I did it. Hope it makes sense. I've done this modification with the shifter in the car as well as out.
1. Looking down on the shifter, remove the top nut holding the shift assembly together.
2. Install a small plate approx. 3/4"w x 11/2"l x 1/16" thick. I used a pre-drilled steel strap that is used to hold down the back of a cassette/cd player to the car chassis. It's thin & strong. The right end of the plate goes over the stud and is secured with the top nut (leave loose). The plate should just cut across the left corner of the factory top steel plate.
3. Drill a small hole thru the plate where it cuts across the corner.
4. I used a rear emergency drum spring, that holds the back of the 2 shoes together. It has 2 long legs and the spring is in the middle. Used full length it has slight tension holding the shifter against the 3/4 gate. I cut off about 1/4 of one of the long legs and formed a new hook.
5. Hook the long leg to the bottom of the fork (the retangular piece that holds the gear shift lever in place. Looking down from the top of the housing the spring should be on the outside of the fork resting against the top left side. Pull the spring up and clip it into the hole of the top plate.
6. Move the top plate so the spring is against the housing and tighten the nut.
The length of the spring determines the tension. You may want to make a couple at different lengths until you get the tension you like. The spring does not interfere with the shifter going into 1st. I've used this with the stock throw, Weltmeister short shift, and currently with the factory short shift. In my current set up the spring is taught enough to pull the shifter to the 3/4 gate with no effort from me. Same coming from 5th to 4th.

[pbs911]

any pics?

[gumba]

Haven't had a chance to do any shots.

[APKhaos]

OK, we need a volunteer who lives close to Burlingame, CA.
Your mission is to take a digital camera and a case of persuading juice over to gumba's place, and get good pics of this mod.
Upside for Gumba - become a legend among 915 owners
Upside for volunteer - be the guy who took the first documented pics of the latest [and cheapest!] definitive 915 shifter upgrade.
Upside for all of us - better shifting 915s, and significantly reduced risk of the devil downshift and associated valve bending overrrev.

Somebody just has to do this!!
This message will self destruct in 10 seconds..........

[nhromyak]

I am in Sacramento, ca. Sometimes I drive through Burlingame during the week for work. Sometimes I go down there to the South bay for family on the weekends. I can bring my camera and have it converted to JPGs and post.

- I would like to see it too!


Email me
Nick

nhromyak@yahoo.com

[tobluforu]

I want one! Please take a photo or two, I get the jist of it but a photo would make it all come together

[speeder]

That sounds like an incredibly complicated .39 cent robotek. I took a 99 cent carb-return spring, lifted rubber boot up, wrapped it around shift lever and hooked it to 2 tabs that rise up on right hand side of tower. Fully adjustable by how much of the spring is used, works like a charm. Sorry, no digital camera.