FFR Billet Shifter K tuned issues

[carrera1984]

I'm not sure if I have something wrong but my dad and I got the shifter installed last night and it seems to be pretty poor performing. Shift pattern is difficult even after adjustment. throw in insanely short.

http://i.imgur.com/m54VNHvl.jpg
Mock Up

http://i.imgur.com/7gbd9eHl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/G0GTxKzl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Y5RdgCBl.jpg
Rear End Connections

I have a dune buggy that shifts way better and it shifts using a ghetto tube sliding back and forth/turning. I'm just kinda bummed because I expected more?

Does the shifting get better with a warmed up trans(2008WRX)?

Will Craig's trans mod pieces help?

I'm just thinking that miss shifts are going to be so frequent and dangerous in traffic. I did cut the shifter shaft down about 1.25" because it was very high.

[STiPWRD]

The difficulty in shifting is probably coming from the really long FFR cables and the 180 degree bend. Does the shifter feel sloppy and difficult to find the gear? The only way I've heard to get around this is to have the cables coming out of the back of the shifter (not front) and reduce their length. Wayne offers his version of a k-tuned shifter that accomplishes this. Many others (including myself) have installed an mr2 shifter and gotten shorter cables.

[billjr212]

Craig's part will help. Unfortunately when you cut down the shift arm, you cut down your leverage and substantially shortened the throw at the same time, exacerbating the problem you are experiencing. I did the same and ended up adding a short extension back in.

[FFRSpec72]

The shifter is a POS, the screws come loose on the shifter mechanism and the bolt that holds the shift shaft. This not a quality product (at least for 818 application). The gears are hard to find, spent many hours trying to adjust the linkage, still a POS

[Canadian818]

Does anyone offer an all new mr2 style shifter? All I find on eBay is rusty old pieces or short shift kits that seem to require the old shifter as well. It's my understanding that the k-tuned rear facing cables shifter that Wayne sells won't work with Craig's linkage. I've read the mr2 shifter thread awhile back, but it was more of an idea thread with tidbits of success, I believe a lot of the info is getting lost in build threads.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Does anyone offer an all new mr2 style shifter? All I find on eBay is rusty old pieces or short shift kits that seem to require the old shifter as well. It's my understanding that the k-tuned rear facing cables shifter that Wayne sells won't work with Craig's linkage. I've read the mr2 shifter thread awhile back, but it was more of an idea thread with tidbits of success, I believe a lot of the info is getting lost in build threads.

Hi Adam,
I used the guts out of an MR2 shifter with rear exit cables.
We are very happy with the feel and operation. It is not as good as the donor application, but it is close.
Bob

64410 64411 64452
Edit: Added a picture of my side shifter. I used 7ft teleflex extreme cables similar to RM1sepex. With no gas tank, my cable route around the left side of the engine.

[Wayne Presley]

My shifter uses much shorter cables and is more precise. It has a longer throw for a better feel.
http://www.verycoolparts.com/shifter.htm

[Hindsight]

Adam, the used Mr2 shifter can be rusty.... really doesn't matter. They are easy to take apart, clean, paint, whatever. You don't even need to use the top plate which is usually what looks most rusty. Like Bob, I did a custom setup both on the Mr2 shifter end, and on the linkage end. You could probably do the same thing only using Craig's linkage since it will work just as well as mine (probably better since he uses a ball bearing on the bell-crank).

I'm very happy with the results of my setup. Throws are adjustable and just to my liking. Nice and smooth too. Not as good as a linkage shifter though, but that's just not an option.

All info is in my build thread starting with this post: http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?15217-Hindsight-s-build-thread&p=223849&viewfull=1#post223849

[Harley818]

Does anyone offer an all new mr2 style shifter? All I find on eBay is rusty old pieces or short shift kits that seem to require the old shifter as well. It's my understanding that the k-tuned rear facing cables shifter that Wayne sells won't work with Craig's linkage. I've read the mr2 shifter thread awhile back, but it was more of an idea thread with tidbits of success, I believe a lot of the info is getting lost in build threads.

Adam, I bought a used MR@ shifter on eBay for $40, added short shift cables for $160, and then Craigs shift mechanism. The shift is very positive, and feels like a mechanical trans shift, not cables. I am extremely happy with it. You are right, this is probably buried in the build threads. I have been travelling a lot, so I haven't been posting. Send me a PM if you have any questions, and I can shoot you some pics. When/if I get time to get caught up I will go back and check to see if I posted enough pics.

[RM1SepEx]

I'm also very pleased with my MR2 shifter,rear exit and 7 foot teleflex extreme cables are key. I made my own bell crank mechanism. It isn't as pretty as Craig's but it works great. I had obtained the FFR optional shifter, had to shim the block to get rid of slop and the front cable system sucked. I sold mine... ;) You could tighten it up and rotate it 180 use rear facing cables, you would need to do your own bell crank tho... The MR2 piece works better and is cheaper too.

[carrera1984]

I ordered a mr2 and some 1/2" aluminum off eBay. Well give it a shot next Saturday. Such a shame, the FFR billet shifter is a beauty.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

I ordered a mr2 and some 1/2" aluminum off eBay. Well give it a shot next Saturday. Such a shame, the FFR billet shifter is a beauty.

I totally agree that it is a beauty, I would try and find a way to make it work and not waste the $$$ you already spent.
Bob

[iblackwe]

I may have missed this in the previous threads but where do you order the shorter cables from?

[RM1SepEx]

I totally agree that it is a beauty, I would try and find a way to make it work and not waste the $$$ you already spent.
Bob

sell it, IIRC I got $350 for mine Cables are avail with simple search, depends how you want them mounted. Mine clamp on both ends IIRC Craig's setup uses bulkhead attachment like the original FFR cables,.

You want Teleflex Xtreme with 1/4-28 threads

[carrera1984]

sell it, IIRC I got $350 for mine Cables are avail with simple search, depends how you want them mounted. Mine clamp on both ends IIRC Craig's setup uses bulkhead attachment like the original FFR cables,.

You want Teleflex Xtreme with 1/4-28 threads

Where do you recommend selling it? I googled and think it works for accords and TSX of certain years?

[iblackwe]

sell it, IIRC I got $350 for mine Cables are avail with simple search, depends how you want them mounted. Mine clamp on both ends IIRC Craig's setup uses bulkhead attachment like the original FFR cables,.

You want Teleflex Xtreme with 1/4-28 threads

Okay perfect I will do some searching. I was originally looking locally in Edmonton, Alberta but it looks like I will be going online from the states now

[ben1272]

I have the same K-tuned shifter and Craig's ZeroDB bellcrank......maybe there is a way to change Craig's left-right shift bellcrank? (dont need to reverse direction of front/rear motion like I initially thought).

I found this in quick web search, it is from http://navtekindia.com/push_pull.html

64502

[STiPWRD]

I may have missed this in the previous threads but where do you order the shorter cables from?

I ordered mine from this site: https://www.cccables.com/
part number: 100-04222-0082

They will make you custom length cables (mine were 82") for $81 shipped (each).

[Mechie3]

IMO, the best setup is the MR2 shifter (or any shifter with rear exit cables) and a bell crank that eliminates the side entry cable (and another bend). The biggest problem with FFR's setup is the length of cable and the number of bends. There is some slop inside the cable (there has to be or it will bind) and the total slop increases with length. When the cable bends and you switch directions the internal cable pushes to the opposite side of the housing before sliding. All of this adds up to a vague feeling.

MR2 Shifter:
Good info here: http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?16142-MR2-Shifter
Rust doesn't matter. As others said, the top plate get chucked. All you really need is the cup, the plastic piece in the cut, the spring, bell crank, and the lever. Get a piece of 1/4" aluminum and make a new plate to mount the cables and the guts of the MR2 shifter. I priced out making new ones once and it would have been expensive due to the cost of the OEM toyota pieces needed.

Cables:
I'm using these cables:
http://www.boatersland.com/telccx43008.html

The 7' were about 1" too short, but they worked well for Bill (his shifter is in a slightly different spot). The 7' cables were purchased elsewhere (forget where) and had a 5 week lead time.

Bulkhead mount on the rear, clamp mount on the front. I believe they can be used with these strap clamps from McMaster, P/N 3125K12

[RetroRacing]

OK, so our shifter is stupid perfect, but also stupid expensive. 64522
Adjustable in height, side throw and fore/aft you can tune the heck out of it, BUT, you will need to make one of these as well to reverse the side throw, as it is meant for a front wheel drive RSX. 64523

Just the shifter is over $400, but very nice piece. Add the trans mount adapter for at least another $300 in time and material, Custom cables and shift knob/throw limiters and you have $1000 in gear changing awsomness.

[Wayne Presley]

OK, so our shifter is stupid perfect, but also stupid expensive. 64522
Adjustable in height, side throw and fore/aft you can tune the heck out of it, BUT, you will need to make one of these as well to reverse the side throw, as it is meant for a front wheel drive RSX. 64523

Just the shifter is over $400, but very nice piece. Add the trans mount adapter for at least another $300 in time and material, Custom cables and shift knob/throw limiters and you have $1000 in gear changing awsomness.


Mine has all of that with out the need for the side reverser and bolts in. $650 with cables and brackets

[RM1SepEx]

Where do you recommend selling it? I googled and think it works for accords and TSX of certain years?

I sold it to someone on this forum. I'm using the cheap sloppy cables to remotely operate the blast gate on the outside air intake of my Finnish Contraflow heater... www.Mainewoodheat.com (mine weighs 8000 lbs)

I don't have $250 in my MR2 setup including the new cables, brass bushings, bell crank etc. I used 7 foot teleflex xtreme cables with the clamp attachments at both ends. It was fabbed in my garage using a band saw, drill press, grinder and file. ;)

[RetroRacing]

I've seen it Wayne, awesome piece! Ours has a few more bells and whistles for racing that really are not needed for street use.

[RM1SepEx]

I hope everyone is following this thread too... same real subject

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?23621-Detailed-Drawings-of-Bell-Crank-Shift-Linkage

[iblackwe]

Has anyone gone with the smaller diameter cable? The Teleflex TFXtreme CCV633 #10-32 threaded ends instead of the Teleflex TFXtreme 4300 1/4-28 threaded ends? Teleflex indicates that the smaller of the two can handle 120lbs of force vs the 230lbs of force for 4300 series. I believe 120lbs of force would be enough to 5mt but If anyone knows for sure or has any suggestions that would be appreciated. I am trying to reduce the cost for the entire shifter with a bell crank and I can't seem to find a decent price on the 4300 series in canada, so far I have been quote $160 CAD per each cable when I can get the CCV633 extreme for $70 each.

[Bob_n_Cincy]

Has anyone gone with the smaller diameter cable? The Teleflex TFXtreme CCV633 #10-32 threaded ends instead of the Teleflex TFXtreme 4300 1/4-28 threaded ends? Teleflex indicates that the smaller of the two can handle 120lbs of force vs the 230lbs of force for 4300 series. I believe 120lbs of force would be enough to 5mt but If anyone knows for sure or has any suggestions that would be appreciated. I am trying to reduce the cost for the entire shifter with a bell crank and I can't seem to find a decent price on the 4300 series in canada, so far I have been quote $160 CAD per each cable when I can get the CCV633 extreme for $70 each.

You have to remember that the force on the handle get amplified 2 or 3 times because of leverage. IMHO, I think the size of the cable is important for good shifter feel. I would not skimp on the size of the cable.
Bob

[RM1SepEx]

I'm with Bob, as a Mechanical Engineer I'd also rely on the auto mfgs and they use the larger cables in MR2 and other cars with cable shifter setups.

[RDRP]

I ordered cables from steinjager.com

http://steinjager.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=15510

[RM1SepEx]

awesome pricing, I imagine w shipping to Canada still very reasonable. My cables have clamp ends on both ends and didn't include the rod end and ball end. easy to make the shifter components to utilize the bulkhead cables.

[Hobby Racer]

Best price I found for custom length cable including the bulk head ends AND rod ends $49 USD per cable.

http://midwestcontrol.com/

[Bob_n_Cincy]

I ordered cables from steinjager.com

http://steinjager.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=15510

I agree to $48 is a great price.
At that price I doubt they are Teleflex (SeaStar Solutions).
I've used Teleflex in my boats (Steering and shifter) for the last 40 years. Both OEM and Replacements.
Let us know about the quality of these cables.
Bob

[iblackwe]

That is a really good deal. The cables from steinjager come to $160 with shipping which is the best deal yet so if I go through with this shifter I will likely chose those, thanks for the input everyone