I'm trying to adjust my B &M megashifter, and I seem to be having a little trouble fine tuning it. I looped the cable over the tranny like it says, but it seems like the cable is way to long for (1) and when the cable is connected to the trans and I adjust it and try shifting upwards 1st to OD it's sweet and crisp, but down shifting OD to 1st and seems like the cable is fighting me and the gears on the shifter seat half way between 3rd and 2nd and 2nd and 1st. Do I just have to accept a lack luster down shift or is there a proven method of adjusting it so that the shifter is sweet and crisp both ways.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have that Mega shifter setup in my 82 Firebird. I used the cable supplied w/ my kit. Worked fine. Did u use the supplied cable? I didn't have problems with it but I have switched to a shorter cable because I wanted a more positive and quick shift while I drag raced my car. If the cable is too long try a shorter cable. Measure your cable and see what its measurement is then try the size thats a step shorter than what you have. I did remember hearing rumors that some B&M Megashifter console shifters for the Camero/FB had supplied wrong sized cables. But again its a rumor. I purchased mine, installed it using their parts, works fine, and shifts like a knife in butter. I just installed a shortened cable for quicker shifts. Good Luck with that anyways.

 

I am using the supplied cable, I think 5ft is what they gave me. I just don't understand why B&M could'nt supply a shorter more direct cable, STOP with the looping, around and through crap. It just makes more variables.

Thanks for your input.

 

How hard is it to actually attach the new cable to the transmission?

 

84CamroHO, it's not hard. If you follow the instructions (which are excellent), you'll have no problems. It's just that it takes a while to do, and involves the following pain-in-the-butt procedure:

1. Get in car, put shifter into a gear
2. Get out of car
3. Get under car
4. Adjust cable
5. Stand up again
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for each shifter stop (1,2,3,4,N,R,P), TWICE!

It's just a pain, that's all. I think people have a tendency to rush through the procedure because it's not fun- but I don't think that's the issue with this message...

I installed the B&M megashifter on my '86, yeah the cable's a bit long, but it works in the loop that B&M described in their instructions.

Now, you mention 'shifting upwards (is) sweet and crisp', but "shifting OD to 1st seems like the cable is fighting me". How are you shifting? Like a weak girl? Just joking, but you can't baby this thing- it's a racing shifter. Bang the stick forward, yank it backward, you'll be set. If you try to pullllll the stick backward, OD to 1st, you'll never get out of gear. Put some "slap" action, instead of pulling, give the stick a yank. Ya gotta get your wrist into it. (no pun intended) You'll find a good middle point between "pissed off racing guy" and "too tired to move".

You could also try adding some lube to the teeth of the shifter comb. I usually grease the mechanism once a year, using synthetic chassis lube.

 

I just installed my B&M shifter this weekend. I am having problems.

It shifts from 1st to OD, but wont go into N, R, P. Is like it locks up. I try to pull the lever up, but it wont budge. Whats going on.

I removed the pin and clips like it says for the 700R4. And it does it even if the cable is not attached. It is beginning to **** me off.

need help.

thanks.

 

The lever will only lift up (to allow access to neutral, reverse, and park) if the stick is in 4th gear (OD) position. Like, if I've got the stick in 3rd, and want to put the car in park, I have to push the stick forward to 4th, then pull the trigger up, then go into park. The trigger only pulls up in OD (it's a safety feature). It'll do it when the cable is detached from the transmission because this has nothing to do with the trans. The way the shifter acts/feels has nothing to do with the connection to the trans. It's in the shifter's mechanism. (That's why the stock shifter looks so "empty", it's got no mechanism at all!) But that was a good idea to test the shifter independant of the trans.

Is this the problem? If not, did you call B&M? They should've had a phone # for tech support inside the package or in the instructions.

 

I have tried to pull the lever up in 4th. I hope the shifter is ok.
I dont want to have to take it out. I will do some more checking on it and maybe call B&M. It just seems strange.

I love the shifter though. I just want to make sure it is working right.

 

Only other thing I can think of is that maybe the shift plate for the 700r4 (as opposed to the 1-2-3-N-R-P, the 1-2-3-4-N-R-P plate) isn't aligned correctly... so maybe it shows "4" but you're really in 3? Try this; ratchet the stick all the way forward, that'll put you in neutral. Slap the stick back towards the rear of the car once, that should be 4th. Now see if the trigger lifts up.

Oh hey maybe a wire or something is blocking the trigger. Hopefully it's something simple! Let us know what B&M says if you call them.

 

I will try it when I get home, and check the wires.

I had gave up yesterday, and went ahead and put the boot, plate, and T-handle on just to see what it was going to look like.

It wont be to bad of a job to take it apart. Maybe it is something simple.

I will let you know what I find out.

 

I just ordered the four foot cable from B&M. My 5ft has snapped.
I measured and this looks it'll work. I know some guys run the the three footer but one said it was tight fitting so I'm gonna try the four. I'll let you all know how it works.

 

Got it working. Something was in a bind. I checked a few things, Retightend the bolts, and It started working.

Man, that this thing is sweet. Now to get my tach mounted and take it to the track to get some times.

thanks

 

Glad to hear it wasn't something complicated, bluegrassz! Crazynights, my shift cable's been acting up the past week, too. The trans won't go into park all the way. Takes a couple tries to get the car to stay put on an incline, even with the parking brake. Turns out that even though the shifter goes into park, the shift lever on the trans isn't all the way forward. I can climb out and push the lever all the way forward so it clicks into park. I did the readjustment procedure but the cable appears to be adjusted correctly, even after all these years (since '97). So I just got a new 5 foot cable from Summit, I'm going to try putting it in. I hope it's not the shifter; i've tried to lube it once a year since I've had it.

 

TomP,
That's weird, I wonder why that happened...and I know you set yours by the instructions. You know your s**t.
Which one did you get the HD or the performance series cable? I ordered the Super Duty (HD) cable and I want to have more of a direct cable line instead of looping it and stuff. I re-measured last night after I posted and I really think the 4ft cable will do the trick. I have a Turbo 350 and I've read some other guys on this board have used the 3ft cable with minor to no probs. I just want a little extra just in case. I'll set it up so it'll be a "S" shape.
I was gonna get the five again but it is very long for our set-up.
And since this is my third cable I think I need to "beef" it up a bit.

 

I think the cable might just be worn out; I hope so, anyway. Haven't had a chance to do a real visual inspection on it. At the ends of the cable, at the trans, where the little tiny black boots are on the cable; well, one boot is missing, the other one has a ton of cracks in it. I'm hoping it's just wear & tear. Funny too, because when I pull the cotter pin out at the tranny's shift lever, and go through the original adjustment procedure, the shift cable matches every hole- including the "very far" position of the trans shift lever for park. (if that made sense). But plug the shift cable back into the tranny shift lever, and the shifter won't move the tranny shift lever all the way forward. I even double checked to make sure I have the right hole in the trans shift lever! Funny though how it hits every other gear dead-on. I wonder if it's because of how the shift cable moves further for park.

I bought the same part # shifter cable that came with the shifter... not sure if it's the performance or heavy duty. Oh wait, I'll look it up on the 'net... I bought #80605, the performance one. I bought the 5 footer because I hadn't had any problems for so long, I figured I'd stick with the same length. I'd like to look at it tonight, hopefully I don't have to wait for the weekend. I'll post an update in this message about it! Let us know how the shorter cable works, and how you loop it! I don't think anyone's mentioned the routing of a shorter cable yet.

[edit] Success!! I'll post a new message about it, but in case someone is searching for an answer- Yes, the new cable solved the problem. When I had the old cable out, I twisted it into a loop, similar to how B&M's Megashifter instructions say to do. Then I tried to work the cable by hand- holy crap! It was so hard to slide! I looped the new cable in the same manner, and worked it by hand- the new cable slid very easily. I put the new cable in (what a pain) and yes, the shifter puts the trans all the way in park. Another bonus- the shifter moves easier now! You still need to bang it a little bit, but it's much smoother. Funny, there weren't any binds or cracks or burns in the cable sheath, but I guess the inner lining just wore out after 6 years of use.

 

Well the 4ft is half installed I got it all connected at the shifter, my other cable the tab was on the inside of the shifter which the directions says is wrong, don't know why I did it like that before but anyway, this cable is thick. I did the same this TomP did when I took off the old cable. Tried to work it by hand and could hardly move it. The new one I looped it twice and it still worked like a charm. Once I get it all hooked up I'll let you know how I looped it (I'll try to snap a pic) and how it works.

 

I am having tons of problems with my megashifter. It seems to get stuck between reverse and nuetral and I never get ino reverse unless I wiggle the shifter. I have adjusted it like 6 times. It has never been right and I have to remove my mufflex exhaust every adjustment. I am using the cable it came with and its pretty much new. Can I use thge stock cable. I am about to get rid of this shifter all together. I have a TH400 reverse patten full manual valve body.

 

Just installed a new tranny with an existing B&M Megashifter. I down loaded a new instruction sheet for the shifter and noticed something different from the original. B&M says that on a 700R4 the cable is routed forward from the shifter, wraps down the passanger side of the tranny, around the tranny mount under the tail stock and then to the mounting bracket. I wrapped the cable with split fuel line at the rub points for a good reason that I haven't figured out yet. OCD! It seems to shift smoother than it did with "the loop", and it's much easier to install. Hope this helps.