Cable Shifter

Frank wrote:
Working on making a cable shifter up at present for #164 as my gearshift rod rubs on the 102-70mm rubber 90 bend .

Anyone else interested in one?

Hi Frank,

I have just made up a cable shift for 059 and I have to say it is a lot of hassle for minimal benefit as I see it. Certainly it is a much 'crisper' shift, and first and reverse are now easy to select. I had fully overhauled my original shift, re-bushed and re-bearinged, and done the two mods that reduce lever travel and it worked fine.
My only reason for going cable shift now is that I want to fit a 6 cylinder Perkins and the front two cylinders clash with the gear change assembly on the XT.

I would though be very interested in comparing notes on how you do yours. Mine at present is pretty rough, with hunks of metal hacked up with the welder and hacksaw, but I have ordered some parts laser-cut which should neaten it up. I can send or post pics when these bits arrive, soon I hope.

Probably this whole gearshift thing should be in a new thread - what do you think?

Cheers,
Paul

See also these earlier topics:

transfer-case-cable-shifters
cable-gear-shift
cable-gear-change-adjustment
cable-gear-change

And who could forget Brett's "O What a feeling" post here . (Well I did).

David

I had a post O what a feeling, gears

A collection of pic,s of the OKA cable change

Paul,
What I have done is pulled the cablecraft unit apart (from #135) that replaces the selector mechanism on the top of the spicer gearbox (as well as another similar unit that Joe Baz loaned me, thanks Joe.) and set about recreating it. So what I have made will bolt directly to the top of the gear box.

If I get enough shed time I should be trialing the prototype in two weekends time (assuming the bits I have ordered arrive).

At present I am still trying to source a suitable/similar gear stick to cable shift mechanism at a price I like. I am also planning on making the transfer cable operated, pending suitable lever being found. Once I have sourced these last two components I can draw up an interface plate to mount them using the existing bolts and slots on the console so it should all look standard Oka. Of course an LT will not need the transfer shifter and will no doubt need a different console interface plate.

Hi Frank,

Recreating the cable selector for the gearbox must have been a huge job - I wouldn't know how to start even. Would you need to have a casting made? I replaced the bolts that hold that cover on with long hex bar, tapped at both ends, and put a plate on top of the selector with ball joints and bell-cranks coupling to the existing selector from the cables. All very Heath-Robinson, but it works pretty well. However, I think your system replacing the selector on the gearbox would be much better.

The cabin end is even more Heath-Robinson because with the Perkins 6 there is so little room available the mechanism had to be very small. It only extends 90mm below the deck plate so it is pretty tight.

My laser cut parts arrived yesterday so I can put up some pictures in the next few days, hopefully over the weekend.

Cheers, Paul

My laser cuts parts have finally arrived, so I can make the cable gearchange look a bit tidier.



These parts sit on top of the selector housing, mounted on hex bar spacers to the original four mounting bolts for the selector housing.



The plate mounted on the selector housing mounted on the gearbox. Bell cranks couple the cables to the lever on the selector - one under the plate moves the lever in and out for selection the one on top of the plate moves the lever back and forth to shift the gears.



It is all a bit Heath-Robinson with bearing housings and bell cranks all over the place, but it does work pretty well. If Frank can get the original Oka cable gearchange system re-produced, it would be a much tidier system. The benefit of the way I have done it is simply no tooling charges, all the parts (except for the cables) are basic inexpensive ebay bits.

I hope to tidy up the gear lever end soon and will put up some photos of that.

Looks good.

I like Paul's solution - the only minus I can see is dirt and gunk affecting it over time, and its a pig of a place to get to.
But it does avoid the biggest minus of what I am doing, and that is that if anything breaks or comes loose it's going to drop straight down this square hole into the gearbox workings.



Everything on the inside of my box is going to be assembled with locknuts and Loctite.

The parts that make up the cable translation to X-Y are almost all done now.



Just have to make the spigot that goes into the selector, I have some 4140 to make that out of.

Gearstick and cables are a couple of weeks away still, hopefully trialing before end of month.

Nice work Frank !
Cheers,Joe

Frank, that is a fabulous piece of work, very impressive. How is the part on the far right made? Did you mill solid steel, or is it a sandwich of laser cut steel parts? It looks almost like a casting, great work.
I will be very interested to see how you handle the gear-stick end. Mine is VERY Heath Robinson.

Hi Frank, I wouldnt be too concerned about stuff dropping down to G/Box as it is no different to most other boxes in the same position.
What I am concerned about is how long do I have to wait for a cable shifter upgrade then again it did take me awhile to get the turbo ready.
Martyn "its an OKA thing"

Paul,
the original Cablecraft unit was cast, the one I borrowed off Joe Baz was machined, mine is a sandwich of laser cut parts.

Received the gearshift unit today.









need to make some time now.

Very impressive, Frank, what an excellent solution - so much neater than my Heath Robinson affair. Dare I ask how much it cost?
Cheers Paul

Hi Frank that looks good but I can see one problem ...that woodgrain knob is going to make my transfer knob look drab so maybe you will need to supply one of each.
Martyn "its an OKA thing"

Paul,
I'd rather not mention any costs until I determine if it is useable or not. Hopefully will get some time to play this weekend, didn't happen last weekend.

That's fine Frank, I am really more interested to see more pictures of your controller. I particularly would like to see how the left-right motion of the lever is converted to fore and aft movement of the cable. I didn't take photos of my controller before I fitted it - probably just as well, it is pretty daggy, bearings and bell cranks all over the place. Yours looks delightfully simple.
Good luck on the weekend.
Cheers, Paul

Hi all does anyone make kit for these cable shifters or know where to source the required parts to do this.Thanks Darren

Been away so not a lot happening but here's a brief update of where I'm at.

Have modified my translator housing so the cover that goes over the cable to mechanism clears the gearbox casing. This cover stops dirt and gunk getting in and holds the gearbox end of the cables. At the laser cutters again, should have proto#2 together within 2 weeks.

Have committed to a spring supplier here in WA to make the spring that does the centering of the gear lever mechanism to the 2-3 position. I wound the first spring myself, but did manage to radially scratch the spring wire; this creates a stress point and may lead to breakage at this point. Not wanting bits of metal that don't belong in my gearbox I thought I would see what a professional spring maker comes up with. Should have these within 2 weeks too.

While I'm waiting on these, am working on mounting of gearstick control in console. Want to mount two gear stick controls, the other for the transfer box. Should then have a H pattern for the transfer case as well. High- low one direction and 2WD or 4WD other direction.

Hi Frank
I am not wanting to put any pressure on you but we are waiting I for one want one and if you need I have an LT where you have an XT so if you need to experiment with LT mine is available and as I am rebuilding I have no floor so easy access.
Martyn (its an OKA thing)