BD shifter for NV5600...

[LHolland]

Those of you who have installed the BD short shifter kit for the NV5600, how do you like it? Was it easy to install? Do you see a big difference? Less missed shifts. TIA

 

[wlknhoss1]

I've installed a couple. It's not difficult at all. The screws for the shift cover are under a couple of rubber covers in the cup holders.

rick

 

[ramtifosi]

Got mine in for about 20,000 miles, would not go back to stock. But to aid your shifting also try changing your transmission fuild, I used Redline MTL made a big difference. Short shifters require more effort from you especially on down shifts but I think it is worth it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jelag]

I own both an 04 and 05... . 04 with 105K miles both have had the shift kit since new... . I really like it... . and will do it again... my boy owns an 04. 5 and wants one... . after he drove mine... .



Jim

 

[willyslover]

so the other side of the story...

some of the 6 speeds suffer with this install. . mine was one of them, made the shifting worse. mine is a early version and don't know of they were improved or the mfg. process got better [quality control]. . or if just "some of us have THAT model"

 

[nickleinonen]

mine seems to be ok... less missed shifts is BS. if you don't pay attention while shifting, you can miss 3rd real easy... now if you drive it hard [like racing], gears go in easy and shifts don't get missed... driving like a granny it is harder... there is a relearning curve to the new shifting habits. once you have learned it, and you don't granny shift, it is nice... downshifting isn't ever a problem for me, but i heel/toe downshift [blip throttle while on the brakes while downshifting to match rpm to road speed for gear wanting to select] 99% of the time. if i don't do that, then downshifting is harder.



i'd install it again if i were to get another 6 speed... the gains outweigh the losses it gives...



it took me ± 2 hours on a cold monday morning to install it while i was taking pictures of the install... [it's been a few weeks and i still haven't uploaded them ]



***edit***



my pictures are uploading now, they will be in a new folder at the end of all the other folders in my sig link. the folder will be titles something like bd short shifter install pics... they should be up in about 30 min from this edit time [±2300 hours]

 

[LHolland]

Thanks all for the input. Nice pics Nicklienonen. I was hoping you were going to show everything back together. Does it move the shifter more towards the driver? Was it hard getting the shift lever off.

Thanks again everyone, sound like something else need to add to my wish list.

 

[JPM]

Funny you should ask!

I cannot really compare the stock shifter to the BD quick kit . The kit was installed before I bought the truck. I know its easy to get messed up, it takes concentration almost all the time to get it right on. As soon as I think I have it mastered, I lose the gear,its gone and I'm searching! ..... Today, I wish the previous owner stuffed the original parts under the seat or something ,because the threaded stud that screws into the stock shift lever just broke off :{ . Genos is sending a replacement unit overnight,they are great people by the way, I should be able to use the truck by Friday afternoon. (the BD part is just about as expensive as the whole thing ,I'm buying a new kit, I'm going to try to repair the broken unit and keep it as a spare) 27,000 miles 98% commuter truck.

 

[nickleinonen]

Thanks all for the input. Nice pics Nicklienonen. I was hoping you were going to show everything back together. Does it move the shifter more towards the driver? Was it hard getting the shift lever off.

Thanks again everyone, sound like something else need to add to my wish list.

the shift lever doesn't really change it's position anywhere, like in neutral, it sits in pretty much the exact same spot, but like 1/2" lower down. then the throws are shorter. taking the shift lever off is easy. it's a 19mm [or 21mm??? i can't remember] hex at the bottom of the lever. the hardest part of the whole thing i think was getting at them screws for the lower shifter boot [the one under the carpet]. as for reloacting that wire on the bracket, i didn't see that listed on the BD instructon paper, but the whole was there, and it is close to the same drop as the bd spacer will lift it, so why not. . i also greased the snot out of the internals of the shifter assembly before installing it... i had some nice sticky blue mobil/exxon synthetic grease i was going to lube things with but i couldn't find the tube so i greased it up with some lubriplate... i don't know if it was needed or not, but i grease everything i ever assemble at home or work...

 

[JPM]

Thanks Genos

thanks GENOS,(no word from BD) got the new kit, installed and tested. SAT. The new shift arm/ball had a different finish, it might be made of stronger material(I hope!) Also it had a different bend and seemed shorter. It now interfers with the Genos cup holder, not much ,but more than the old one. But what's really wierd , it shifts so much better. Its alot better than the old short shift arm that broke

 

[JSellers]

JPM,



You might want to contact BD about your replacement shifter kit. When I bought mine, the first one had the shift lever almost stuffed into the front edge of the seat. I couldn't drive the truck without raising the center seat back - I couldn't grab the shift knob with it down.



It only takes a small amount of error in the bend of the lever to throw off the entire pattern, so the shift lever isn't in the same place as OEM. As nickleinonen said, the neutral position SHOULD be same as the stock position. BD exchanged my first shift kit for a replacement. They made me purchase a second one, then send the first one back for a refund - which irritated me a bit - but I was glad to have the exchange. The second shift kit worked nicely, with center of the pattern in the same location (or, at least, so slightly moved that I couldn't tell a difference).



If your shift lever is interfering with the Geno's cup holder, get it replaced again. Mine works fine with my cup smoothie.



Hope this helps,

John

 

[CRoth - BD-Power]

thanks GENOS,(no word from BD) got the new kit, installed and tested. SAT. The new shift arm/ball had a different finish, it might be made of stronger material(I hope!) Also it had a different bend and seemed shorter. It now interfers with the Genos cup holder, not much ,but more than the old one. But what's really wierd , it shifts so much better. Its alot better than the old short shift arm that broke

Some of the earlier units were affected by hydrogen embrittlement. The newer units use a different coating process, different metal and are heat cured and should be much stronger.

 

[Jengle]

How can you tell which unit you have? Is there a way to determine, before installation?

 

[JPM]

compensation?

Some of the earlier units were affected by hydrogen embrittlement. The newer units use a different coating process, different metal and are heat cured and should be much stronger.

Please advise ,Would there be compensation for defective materials?

 

[nickleinonen]

If your shift lever is interfering with the Geno's cup holder, get it replaced again. Mine works fine with my cup smoothie.

i've got the cup smoothie on mine and i have no interference issues either...

 

[JPM]

I think I'll keep the short shift I have, its shifting better than ever, I think the older one was too long and was pushing down, binding up the shift mechanism. The shift ball does not hit the cup holder ,but I cannot get a cup coffee out of the left side holder when the truck is in 6th gear