Ratchet Shifter

CorneliusRox

CorneliusRox

Seasoned Rookie
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
4,154
I know this is asking a lot, but does anyone know of a ratchet shifter out there that lets you ratchet through the gears, but then also has a way to slide through all the gears?

I really like the B&M style ratchet shifter. It feels good, it's super accurate, it sounds great when it clicks into the next gear.

What I really hate is moving from Park to Drive, or from Drive to Reverse and back.

I haven't seen one, but if anyone has eyes on one that ratchets, but then has a lever or something to turn it into a normal through shift style, that's what I'm looking for. At least before I put my thinking cap on... :Cheer:
 
B&m starshifter. Acts like a normal console shifter. But also has a ratchet mode. Downfall is it only ratchets up 1st thru 3rd, and then you have to reset it. Not sure how handy it would be with a full manual valve body, if that's what you are after.
 
rowingears said:
B&m starshifter. Acts like a normal console shifter. But also has a ratchet mode. Downfall is it only ratchets up 1st thru 3rd, and then you have to reset it. Not sure how handy it would be with a full manual valve body, if that's what you are after.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. Thanks for pointing it out.

I really would like to be able to have it shift like a normal through shifter for daily driving and backing up trailers, then flip a switch or something and have it go into FMVB style. I have my VB set up as an auto still so I can DD/tow with no issues, but can lock TC in any gear and control 1/2. D is all, but is always 3rd when shifting into it around 2800+RPM from 2nd.
 
Go to a gated shifter. You can pull them down from park all the way to 1st in one motion, and can also shift it manually by just hitting the shifter, one gear at a time.
 
jasonc said:
Go to a gated shifter. You can pull them down from park all the way to 1st in one motion, and can also shift it manually by just hitting the shifter, one gear at a time.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been down that path a decent amount. I really just don't like gated shifters. Some love them, and I'm happy for them, but to me they feel kind of soft and spongy. There's also something really rewarding about the mechanical haptic feedback from a ratchet shifter.

FionaThe02PSD said:
Lightning rods!!!!
Click to expand...

E-Shift? That's an option and I have a system in my head that could work, but they seem to have two flavors. 1) a single plunge style actuator 2) a slow gear driven system with a step motor. I'd love to keep my dinosaur truck free of extra electrical complexity ;-)
If you do have an e-shift you like though, let me know. I'm always down for checking out new concepts.
 
I always liked the quarter stick, it's what I ran in my wheelers because it was faster to get from forward to reverse than a ratchet.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
chevota84 said:
I always liked the quarter stick, it's what I ran in my wheelers because it was faster to get from forward to reverse than a ratchet.
Click to expand...

How do those work?

EDIT:
Nevermind. I found this:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKNxyJXLu8A"]Hurst Quarter Stick Shifter (Black Pistol Grip) - YouTube[/ame]

It looks pretty complicated at first, but I bet I'd get used to it. That doesn't look too far from what I'm looking for actually.
 
Last edited:
He kinda makes it more complicated than it needs to be but that's how they work. After you run it for a while it gets pretty fast. I sure prefer them over ratchets. I havent used many gated shifters, but a friend of mine has a winters in his mud truck and seems to really like it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
I run a quarter stick on my drag truck.
It works decent. 1st to second just slap the shifter.

2nd to 3rd you have to squeeze the handle and it will only shift to 3rd. If you squeeze the handle, then let go of it, it will go straight to neutral.

I've gotten used to it, had it for over 10yrs. But wouldnt recommend it.
 
CorneliusRox said:
Yeah, I've been down that path a decent amount. I really just don't like gated shifters. Some love them, and I'm happy for them, but to me they feel kind of soft and spongy. There's also something really rewarding about the mechanical haptic feedback from a ratchet shifter.



E-Shift? That's an option and I have a system in my head that could work, but they seem to have two flavors. 1) a single plunge style actuator 2) a slow gear driven system with a step motor. I'd love to keep my dinosaur truck free of extra electrical complexity ;-)
If you do have an e-shift you like though, let me know. I'm always down for checking out new concepts.
Click to expand...

You can slap a good gated shifter as hard as you want. Then just slap it again for 3rd.
Buddy of mine has the turbo action model. I really like that one, and will be my next.
 
I was thinking my B&M mega, would allow you to pull from P to D, then once in D, you pull it back once, that give you second, then once again that gives you first, then bump it back up to get 2nd, and then bump again to get 3rd.
 
Modify the valvebody and set up a shifter like out of a bmw. P-R-N-D. Then pull it to the left for manual mode and slap it up and down... that’s that I’m doing.
 
Redrider2911 said:
Modify the valvebody and set up a shifter like out of a bmw. P-R-N-D. Then pull it to the left for manual mode and slap it up and down... that’s that I’m doing.
Click to expand...

I've tried making my own before with a stiff spring and a gate so it would push to the left or right and give the feeling you're falling into another track like you're saying, but how does yours work? It must have some electrical component, otherwise I can't picture how you'd get your 'manual mode'?
The PRND is easy, just limit travel so the shifter stops at D, but are you saying you then rotate over and have a gate that zig zags 1-2-D?

jasonc said:
You can slap a good gated shifter as hard as you want. Then just slap it again for 3rd.
Buddy of mine has the turbo action model. I really like that one, and will be my next.
Click to expand...

Hmm I might have to look into them again. It was a little while back when I was messing around with gates.

zstroken said:
I was thinking my B&M mega, would allow you to pull from P to D, then once in D, you pull it back once, that give you second, then once again that gives you first, then bump it back up to get 2nd, and then bump again to get 3rd.
Click to expand...

I'll check it out. Thanks!
 
A friend of mine had a Hurst olds with the lightning rods years ago, that brings back some memories.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
CorneliusRox said:
I've tried making my own before with a stiff spring and a gate so it would push to the left or right and give the feeling you're falling into another track like you're saying, but how does yours work? It must have some electrical component, otherwise I can't picture how you'd get your 'manual mode'?
The PRND is easy, just limit travel so the shifter stops at D, but are you saying you then rotate over and have a gate that zig zags 1-2-D?



Hmm I might have to look into them again. It was a little while back when I was messing around with gates.



I'll check it out. Thanks!
Click to expand...


I modified the valvebody, added 2 extra solenoids to directly control the 1-2 and 2-3 shift valves. Then used megasquirt to control auto mode shift points
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top