Auto Shifter Discussion

[Caver Dave]

Backstory: After fighting the column shifter in the Moss for much of the previous 2.5 decades (including converting from the very "bindy" mechanical linkage to cable), I AM DONE!

Front story (tale of 2 shifters):

Buddy #1 - All new "west coast" build (tube chassis/big LS/reverse pattern 6LX0E/Atlas/10.5" steering axles) running the SHO "M40 Speed Shifter" and LOVES it "for the slow stuff" (crawling), but doesn't trust it for the "fast stuff" (wide-open across the desert at 100MPH) where an accidental bump

Buddy #2 - Similar southern Commando (small LS/std. pattern TH-400/D300/tons/39.5s") running the hobby defacto Winters Sidewinder and isn't shy to tell everyone how much he hates it/what a steaming pile he believes it be... despite the fact that he refuses to cut the gates = MUST look at it to know "where it's at" in the pattern and it makes a fawking racket banging from gate to gate.

I was set on the SHO shifter, but input from #1 that's it's geared towards "race"/"buggy" and even with a stiffened detent (inside tranny to "cocks comb"), isn't as positive as he'd like and now wished he'd gone Winters...

Having ridden with #2, *I* was aggravated AF just watching/listening to it!
Sure seems that A) cutting the gates to allow a more linear movement (without the "slalom course" BS) and leaving some "nubs" (ala. Cutler) that won't STOP the movement, but dang sure let's you now where it's at and B) potentially adding some thin plastic (PEX? Delrin?) around the shifter hex, where it meets the gates, would go a long ways towards resolving those "dislikes".

95% ready to pull the trigger for the Winters TH-400 Std. pattern w/ "Rockgate" just because taking it out of Park by pulling it towards me seems better than pushing it away, but wanted the collectives opinions good/bad/otherwise...

Example pics coming...
My vision of the trimming

Plus, incorporating Cutlers "nubs"

 

[StretchASU]

Winters w/ Rockgate. In countless rigs. It works.

 

[justjeepin86]

I'm interested in the replies. I want a new shifter too. I have a Hurst ratchet and hate it.

 

[Caver Dave]

Winters w/ Rockgate. In countless rigs. It works.

Exactly... having a reverse pattern tranny has bound to be 75% better (fewer positions between R & any forward), but I've got what I've got at this point (ain't hauling it back to Wilbers for *another* teardown)

I'm interested in the replies. I want a new shifter too. I have a Hurst ratchet and hate it.

Oddly, #2 touts a "racheting" shifter as "better" (like another he has), even though most of them require "unlocking" for N/R

 

[skyhighZJ]

Not that it will even buy a cup of coffee but my .02 is, its shooters preference. Just like a tire thread, or battery thread, or great DD thread. I really think it’s how it fits your hand, your reflexes, your driving style. Ask around and drive some different equipped rigs and do some field testing. It’s no small amount of coin but is also one of the more critical parts of your rig as your interaction with it is pretty critical in making your rig do what it needs to do on the trail.

 

[Hokie_YJ]

I’ve had two rigs with Art Carr/Winters with modified gate plates and liked them a lot. Would’ve used one on the powrglide in my single seater but really needed a front exit cable so I went with a B&M Pro Stick with the pistol grip. I modified it to eliminate the reverse lock out, and cut the gate plate as well. I like it pretty good too, but probably not as well as the Winters.

 

[Shreddinlettuce]

Winters all the way, got mine form wide open designs with an aluminum knob and it feels like it belongs on a piece of industrial equipment, just be careful to order the right cable length

 

[Bebop]

Winters with a modified rock gate. It's dead simple and just works.

The SHO shifter is an overpriced piece of crap but sold really well by influencers and it looks cool.

 

[Jody Treadway]

I run a Winters in my Ranger (C6) and no complaints.
Favorite shifter I ever used? An OEM TJ shifter when I ran my old YJ wayyyy back when. Already has a reverse lockout, can slam it from any forward gear up to neutral quickly and mounting was simple. I've helped a few buddies install OEM GM console shifters into their Jeeps, trucks, etc with the same results.
Just a thought.

 

[Kickdeez]

I have the Winters Sidewinder Standard Shifter (no lockout) with Rock Crawler pattern/gate in my buggy. P/N 4013-1 shown below. 10/10 would recommend.

It has a solid engagement feel in every gear. I like having the gates to keep me in the gear I want when I'm hammering down on something with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the shifter. Usually if I'm slamming it from forward into reverse, it's from 1st gear. If I'm in 2nd or 3rd, I'm fully committed to whatever the outcome is regardless. Even with the gates in place, you can still get to reverse from 3rd reasonably quick once you get a feel for it.

 

[Bebop]

How I modified mine.
It lets me go from first to reverse and from second to reverse in a hurry.
From second, because of the slanted cut the shifter will get moved to the right no matter what. Just have to give it a straight forward push.
I haven't had the need to go from third to reverse yet.
The only negative is going from second to first if you're hard on the brakes, you could over shoot and end up in neutral. I am just mindful of it when I'm driving like I'm racing an U4 race.