Adjusting B&M Shifter

[JimB]

I was under the impression that people were using the little orange tool from Porsche to adjust their B&M short shifters but it doesn't seem to work on mine. Is there a trick?

Jim

[Loren]

Nope, the blue tool fits the B&M shifter.

Before the blue tool existed Tool Pants and I used the orange tool to check the cable alignment -before- we removed the original shifter. Then you mark or count the threads on each cable to the end (when properly aligned). When you install the B&M you put the cables in the exact same (aligned) spots.

[JimB]

Thanks Loren. I marked the cables as you described when I installed it. It worked fine but after a couple of years of racing I'm having trouble every now and then. Specifically shifting from 2nd to 3rd at red line. I thought I would check the alignment.

As always, thanks for the info. I'll order the blue one.

Jim

[tomdeg]

Loren,

Can you show a pix and part # for the blue tool?

Thanks

Tom

[Loren]

I think Tool Pants posted a pic of that somewhere but I can't find it right now...

[geoff]

See my first picture in http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7371

I think the cable alignment tool part number is 997-424-383-00

[Tool Pants]

I met Geoff in November and checked out the blue tool. I do not think it will fit on a B&M because the metal shaft is fat and the "pinchers" may not clip on. But I have never tried it on a B&M. If the blue tool works with a B&M then let us know because I will then buy one.

There is also a white tool but it is identical to the orange tool, and neither will work on a B&M.

[Ray S (Chicago)]

Wow!!

I installed a B&M and goofed up the alignment. I really need a tool to fix it.

Is the blue tool the right one to use? Where can I get one?

[JimB]

I'm picking up a blue tool this afternoon. They come in the factory SS kits so I'm just going to borrow one for a couple of days. I'll let you know if it works on a B&M.

Jim

[Tool Pants]

Make sure to verify the part number that is on the tool. Just in case there are 2 different versions of the blue tool.

If I had Geoff's blue tool I would try it out on one of the local owners that has a B&M, but Geoff is in Southern California.

His tool came with the Porsche 997/987 short shift. But this short shift is not like the B&M or the black Porsche clone that Porsche used on the 996/986.

[JimB]

The blue tool I borrowed did not work. I'll post the p/n later just in case there is a different one. Looking at the B&M, it would have to be a very different tool to work.

[box10k]

i recently installed a schnell short shifter (similiar to b&m). i believe its aligned correctly since it seems to shift gears etc. what would happen if its not correctly aligned? there is also nuts and allen bolts, what does that do?

[Tool Pants]

The blue tool I borrowed did not work. I'll post the p/n later just in case there is a different one. Looking at the B&M, it would have to be a very different tool to work.

Too bad. But at least you tried. And I suspected the blue tool would not work because the B&M/Porsche clone has a fat shift lever with a "hump" in it and you would not be able to clip the tool on. This was the same problem with the orange tool or the white version. The blue tool for the Porsche factory 997/987 short shift does not solve this problem.

When the black Porsche clone (original B&M blue) came out for the 996/986 Peter and I went through the tool catalog and the Porsche computer to see if there was a new tool for the Porsche clone, since we could use it on the B&M. Nothing. Then he showed me the white tool, but it was identical to the orange tool.

The search for the Holy Grail contines....

[Loren]

Sorry, I could have sworn I saw a blue one that they used on the OEM short shifter (B&M clone).

[Tool Pants]

And now there is a green tool. It looked identical to Geoff's blue tool except the part number ended in 01 instead of 00. The green tool also will not work on the B&M or Porsche clone.

[vfxbox]

Any one can let me use this blue, white, red, orange tool? so I can clone and re-engineer for B&M short shift?

It seems to me B&M do not make one and I guess if you waited long enough.. make one by your self.. :D

I have to cast one out from original factory tool and then add wide size in center for B&M spec.

Any volunteers?

[Tool Pants]

They are only about $3.

Loren and I tried the green version on his B&M, and of course it did not fit.

[vfxbox]

part number?

[geoff]

Any one can let me use this blue, white, red, orange tool? so I can clone and re-engineer for B&M short shift?

It seems to me B&M do not make one and I guess if you waited long enough.. make one by your self.. :D

I have to cast one out from original factory tool and then add wide size in center for B&M spec.

Any volunteers?

I have the original blue tool Tool Pant's referenced in his post, and Torrance is a lot closer to me than San Jose (somehow I never get up there when they work on cars). Want to get together one of these weekends so you can see it and try to make a B&M clone? I can see your speaker bracket at the same time :D

[vfxbox]

part number?

I got the part number from old photos from ToolPants... and already start to reverse engineer this alignment clip. I can see where the center is and related keypoint corners. I am going to order it from sunset imports or Geoff will let me cast his alignment clip. so I can measure it and add oval shape for B&M shift. Can't wait ... :D

[Tool Pants]

I always said I would try to make a shift lever centering tool for a B&M/Porsche clone, and then retire.

If I were you I would start with the green version, because it has an arch to it, unlike the almost flat versions of the red and white tools.

I was not able to order Geoff's blue version because it had a standard 997 part number, and not a tool part number. Plus his blue version is identical to my green version. Porsche is a funny company. They put part numbers on the back of the tool, but it is not a tool part number. Tool part numbers start with 000 721 - then you know it is a tool. My green version is 000 721 961 91 when you order it as a tool.

The "pinchers" of the tool are not wide enough for the fatter B&M shaft. I also think you would need to raise the arch even more than the green tool so that the pinchers can snap onto the shaft.

These pictures are of the green tool on a spare standard 996/986 shift tower, so they are just a guide. I wish I had a B&M loaded in the tower so I could take measurements.

[delirium]

is this tool just supposed to keep the shifter in neutral? how does this adjust the shifter cables?

[Loren]

It holds the shifter in a fixed position - you then can adjust the cables by how they are dropped into the slots on the shifter rods.

[GOB]

Please forgive my ignorance as I am not too mechanically inclined, but is this "Holy Grail" tool required to properly adjust a B&M shifter? :eek: I am about to purchase a B&M SSK, but want to make sure that the mechanic can adjust it properly as I do not want to go a step backwards with the install of this SSK. Everyone loves the B&M, but I want to make sure I do this properly.

[Tool Pants]

Have your mechanic follow the 996 Porsche short shift instructions and he will not have to disturb the cable connector settings.