Does anyone have any information on the transmission shifter control cable for a 1993 U225? The engine is a Cummins 5.9 mechanical and the transmission is an Allison MT643. The cable runs from an Allison T-handle control (dash mount, left hand, push for reverse, pull for all the other gears) about 30 feet (360 inches) to the MT 643 transmission. It is a push-pull cable.
I'd like to find out who made it. The entire shifter mechanism is Allison (including the tee-handle assembly) but while I can find lots of sources for the tee-handle assembly I cannot discover any data on the cable itself. If any of you have replaced this cable and still have the paperwork on it I'd like to hear about it. :)
Craig
Check with FOT they replaced the shift cable in Savournin's 93, U225 about 4 years ago.
Try Custom Control Cables. http://www.ccables.com (http://www.ccables.com) They fabricate all types and sizes of push- pull cables including transmission control cables for Allison 1000,2004, and 2400. You can request an on line quote or talk to them at 888-839-2366 open 7 days a week.Gam
I think that they mentioned an $800 charge for the cable alone when we were speculating about our "reverse" problem. I'd like to have some information on hand to go to a second source. Someone also mentioned that FOT might not have them any more... but I'm guessing they can order them from someone. If I have some idea of what they cost from another supplier I'll be a lot more comfortable.
Craig
Thanks, GAM. I clicked on the link and it off by one "c" (there are three not two). I googled the name and found the site right away. I'll contact them early next week. I have a rough idea of the length and there have to be a LOT of those MT643s out there with the t-handle shifter. We'll be pulling the cable out next week (and pulling a pull-string in when we do).
Craig
How about posting a picture of cable ends and length when you pull it? A standard shift cable may well work.
Craig, Call this guy, he is an old Allison Tech and now runs his own shop. He has been around for years and many be able to either help or steer you to a source.
TLC TRANSMISSIONS
Monroe, GA
770-207-9445
Ask for Terry Lail the owner.
Good luck
Gary B
I'm bettin the electric shift control is starting to look real attractive about now.
YMMV for sure.
Dave M
I am certain that a standard cable will work; of course length is an issue. How the ends are configured is also important as there seem to be at least 4 ways.
The mechanic at the bus barn for the school district, who has been doing these for 30 years or so and is the only guy *I* know who can do a major overhaul on diesel engines all by himself in 3 days, said that I should just keep the mechanical shifter. His experience with "updating" things from the KISS era has not been good. And $2500 is a pretty expensive chunk to lay down for something that might give more problems down the road. He's a pretty sharp guy so I'm following his direction on this.
It's really not that big a deal to fix... just getting the right part at the right price. We could even still drive the coach; just that one of us would have to get out, open the curb-side access door and do the shifting. :P
Craig
What is $2500 ?, surely not the electric shift control, maybe that is the bargain discounted school price, for the rest of t world, we paid in the $500 area. Maybe I missed sumpthin.
Dave M
Quote I got for the device ready to bolt on to the MT643 with 35' of control cabling, the shifter panel, and connection ready to air system was $2500. Stone Bennett Shifters (http://www.coachconversioncentral.com/stonebennett.htm)
Took a phone call... two emails - 3 months apart - went unanswered.
Where did you get the $500 unit?
Craig
DD Distributor shop, would check truck salvage shop too, being cheap, have found lots of goodies doing the MCI.
At $2500 the Morris cable would be nice IF you get the correct length and ends, had my pair made up at a heavy truck parts house, would be checking Fleet Pride to see if they can or who they recommend for cables, point, you need to take your cable to them so they are on your page.
Too dumb to attach from IPad, but go to. FleetPride: Heavy Duty Truck and Trailer Parts (http://www.fleetpride.com). And dig around.
Craig, go to Control Cables, Inc. (http://www.controlcables.com) 562-949-0455 and see if the can help. ^.^d
We have pulled most of the shift control cable out but it's hanging up where it enters the bottom cover of the coach (we're pulling it aft). Once it's clear we'll take it to a shop.
Temps have been over 100 (107 the other day) so we just work a couple hours in the morning and then go back to the house. It's not like when we were young and could work all day. LOL
Thanks to everyone for the cabling ideas. I can't actually order a new cable without having the ends clearly identified and the length known. I would prefer to have the cable in hand to take to a shop for replacement.
Fun, fun. But boy are we learning a lot about the coach. :P
Craig
Just an update. The cable is out and it is exactly 38-feet long. For future reference. I'm taking it to Spokane to a shop that can build up push-pull cables and have them match it.
The best way to remove it is to disconnect it at the dashboard shifter, attach a pull string to it and pull it down from the front of the coach (the convenient lift-up hood panels are great for this). Once it's into the front hood area, disconnect the pull string and pull the cable through the tight bundle of other stuff until it's at the bottom of the coach.
At this point attach another pull string using electrician's tape to carefully streamline the end of the cable and the pull string. This is because the cable is somewhat difficult to pull through the bottom of the coach where there are panels covering the structure. You will need a pull string to get the new cable back through this area as there is no access otherwise (short of taking the panels off).
More to come next week re: costing, etc.
Craig
Craig, good info do not break the string, pull in a heavier cord / rope.
Good luck on the new cable sounds great.
Went to the CableCraft franchise in Spokane this morning. Took them about 15 minutes to make a good version of my shifter control cable, charged me $210 (including tax) and I walked out the door.
Pleasant surprise. Figured it would take a week or so to order stuff and assemble the unit. They had everything right there. Price seems pretty reasonable, too.
Craig
Wow! Awesome! There's a hose place up there in Spokane that were the only guys who could rebuild the high pressure hydraulic lines for Audi V8s and turbos (2300 psi system). There's some good talent and low prices up there!
CableCraft is nation-wide and these guys just had a franchise from them ("assembler"). I had been told (by the DW's school-bus mechanic) to expect $200 to $300 so it was nice to have it come in on the low side. We had expected to have to drop it off and pick it up a week later (it's 120 miles to Spokane each way) but the guy was actually willing to do it while we waited. He said, "10 minutes"! We went off to Costco and when we got back it was done.
Anyone with the older mechanical (tee-handle shift lever) would be well advised to keep these guys in mind.
Mechanical Control Assemblies, Linkage Products, Cable Products from Cablecraft (http://www.cablecraft.com)
Craig :)
Similar cables are used on pre-'92 Unihomes for the manual leveling system. Thanks for the referral Craig