Anybody have a bicycle friction shifter

[carpenle]

I want to do a hand throttle on the 93 xj, so I am looking for a gear shifter like the one that Jim uses. Let me know if you have anything.

http://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2012-08-06--hand-throttle/img_0213.jpghttp://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2012-08-06--hand-throttle/img_0215.jpg

[Tom]

I don't but would think you could pick one up from most any bike shop out of their used parts bin.

[Jim]

Yep - used parts bin at a bike shop.

Would you want me to stop by the shop I purchased mine at? It's right on my weekly post office route...

EDIT: If I were to do it again, I'd buy what I bought the first time - a "shifter" that does not "click" (have detents and is smooth as it's rotated) and one that has an easy friction adjustment. Most of the time I have it set with enough friction to hold the throttle opening but sometimes I loosen it so it pops back to idle if I remove my finger.

[Atl-atl]

Yep - used parts bin at a bike shop.

Would you want me to stop by the shop I purchased mine at? It's right on my weekly post office route...

EDIT: If I were to do it again, I'd buy what I bought the first time - a "shifter" that does not "click" (have detents and is smooth as it's rotated) and one that has an easy friction adjustment. Most of the time I have it set with enough friction to hold the throttle opening but sometimes I loosen it so it pops back to idle if I remove my finger.

Many shifters of that style can be used as "indexed" or "friction" shifters. You simply tighten or loosen the wingnut that screws the whole assembly together. It will either have a black plastic looking wing nut (like the one pictured above) or a bent metal wire shaped into a half circle. They also come in left and right hand for front and rear shifters. The fronts will typically only have 3 notches and be able to switch between friction and index. The rear are the ones that sometimes can only be used as index and can have between 5 and 8 notches. Either way you should be able to grab a used one from a shop for a couple bucks. Bike shop guys are also easily bribed with beer, FYI.

[Serious Offroad]

If you can't find one at your local bike shop...

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.com/Interior/Hand-Throttle/Teraflex/Hand-Throttle

[Funrover]

http://denver.craigslist.org/bik/4322544114.html

[Jim]

Re CL entry: Not sure if the "cable exit" can be rotated 90-degrees / down to match the mounting orientation. That's one item to catch my eye on that sale.

[carpenle]

Would you want me to stop by the shop I purchased mine at? It's right on my weekly post office route...

EDIT: If I were to do it again, I'd buy what I bought the first time - a "shifter" that does not "click" (have detents and is smooth as it's rotated) and one that has an easy friction adjustment. Most of the time I have it set with enough friction to hold the throttle opening but sometimes I loosen it so it pops back to idle if I remove my finger.

If you do not mind Jim and it is not out of your way. I was thinking that I wanted one that was smoth and did not click, so we are on the same page. I have found some on e-bay, but not sure if they click or not.

[carpenle]

If you can't find one at your local bike shop...

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co.../Hand-Throttle

Looks like a nice set up and the price is really reasonable. It also is nice it comes with the cable.

[Jim]

I'll make a stop today or tomorrow and see what they have.

Anyone else interested if they have more than one??

[Tom]

Looks like a nice set up and the price is really reasonable. It also is nice it comes with the cable.I've a bunch of cable housing if you end up needing some

[trailfiend]

If you want a good source for el cheapo friction shifters, the Park Hill Bike Depot has bins FULL of them. We used to rip donation bikes apart if they weren't worth salvaging and sort out the usable parts.

Alternately any shop in town can get you a friction shifter for a few bucks likely by a Wednesday or Friday if they order it with J&B Importers...who delivers locally on those days. The part number that'd work best is JB# 53861 http://www.jbimporters.com/web/checking_product_description.php?part_number=53861

I think most guys get away with a standard shift cable for this application, but I know I've heard of some guys needing a tandem cable if the route of their housing isn't all that direct.

[carpenle]

Big thanks to Jim, he found a few shifters. I will use one and will have three extra. Let me know if anybody else would like one.

[flashboiler]

I used a brake lever on mine... I think it fit my hand a lot better. Plus it has an adjustment so I can raise the idle, great for playing in boulder fields.

One of the best cheap mods I did.

[06HokieTJ]

I used a brake lever on mine... I think it fit my hand a lot better. Plus it has an adjustment so I can raise the idle, great for playing in boulder fields.

One of the best cheap mods I did.

Do you ever find yourself using it around town? I think if I had a brake lever throttle on my stick, I'd use I all the time.

I have an (umounted) friction shifter, which makes more sense off road (maybe?), but keep debating putting a brake lever throttle on it.

[Serious Offroad]

Bad idea.
A cruise control system will drop throttle control as soon as the brake pedal is touched, a hand throttle stays engaged no matter what you do to the brake pedal.

[Jim]

Bad idea. - if it's set with friction to stay set. If it's set with no friction, it'll drop to idle when released. That's the primary safety concern.

While mine (pictured above) is not a brake lever, I do not use it on the street. Mainly as it's a pain in the arse to fiddle with. I have to first release friction from the lever and then I have to hold it. Moving the lever as the roadway dips/raises is not as fine/easy as the gas pedal. If I have the friction set (poor man's cruise control) the roads aren't of a uniform grade such that speed of the jeep is not what I want it too be (again, more fiddling with the setting). Overall, I'll take the gas pedal for on-street use. If I had a long handled "brake lever" at a convenient location to hold - I might think otherwise.

Now, for trail use, with the jeep in 4-low, the thing has enough torque to not change speed much depending upon grade. For me, the primary desire for it is to NOT have a foot "bouncing on the gas pedal" as the jeep goes over rocks in the trail (MSV/Coney Flats). As I have a standard trans, every foot bounce on the pedal has the jeep's seat hitting me in the back or me lurching forward - uncomfortable. This would be less pronounced if I had an auto trans, though I'd still find the hand throttle handy.

Overall, while on the trail, the hand throttle is on and set for perhaps 80+% of the trail. I'm just sitting back with steering inputs and occasional throttle adjustments as the jeep bounces over the bumpy terrain - no foot bouncing on the gas pedal.

[06HokieTJ]

I didn't mean using the friction throttle on the street. That's obviously a bad idea!

i meant, whith a brake lever, if you're farting around in traffic, seems like it would be easy to just blip the throttle with your finger on the stick, instead of toe/heel on the brake and gas.

[Jim]

Yes. This, for a manual trans, is another place where a hand throttle is fantastic! No rollback starts (sometimes critical on a trail). One foot clutch. One foot brake. One hand steering wheel. One hand for gear selection & throttle adjustment - bring up throttle enough to not stall as the clutch is brought into the friction zone while the brake is still applied to hold the vehicle while the two feet finesse each pedal position to release with enough throttle to not die.

[06HokieTJ]

Yes. This, for a manual trans, is another place where a hand throttle is fantastic! No rollback starts (sometimes critical on a trail). One foot clutch. One foot brake. One hand steering wheel. One hand for gear selection & throttle adjustment - bring up throttle enough to not stall as the clutch is brought into the friction zone while the brake is still applied to hold the vehicle while the two feet finesse each pedal position to release with enough throttle to not die.

Jim, assuming you use a brake lever for your throttle? I'm thinking that's my direction too... Seems like a friction throttle would be more cumbersome in the situation you just described.

The time I truly wish I had a finger/brake lever throttle was the last time I came down Black Bear and Imogene Passes. My Jeep was throwing MAP codes and was having trouble running under the high vacuum/high compression braking that exists when going down the pass in 4lo and 1st/2nd gear. (I'm sure elevation had a lot to do with it too). Every time I depressed the clutch, the engine would stumble... Which meant I had to heel/toe the brake while also blipping the throttle to keep the engine running. It was quite an interesting experience doing a two foot/3 pedal shuffle while coming down shelf roads!

[Jim]

I do not have a brake handle - only the "shift lever" that Levi shows in post 1 (that's my jeep).

The thing with shifters is that many of them have a fiction amount adjustment on their side. A simple twist of the fiction setting and it goes from "stay put / trail cruise control" to "easily variable with return to idle when released" mode.

Best of both worlds in one device.

[flashboiler]

Do you ever find yourself using it around town? I think if I had a brake lever throttle on my stick, I'd use I all the time.

Some around town but I use it alot on long trips (100 miles is a long trip in a Samurai lol). With the brake lever I can get full throttle, my knee gets tired on a long trip and I'll grab the hand throttle on the hwy and reposition/stretch my leg all the time.

Works great on the trail when clutching and braking (obviously) but I use it alot when turning (power steering pump).

[carpenle]

I got my hand throttle set up this weekend. Used one of the frictions shifters that Jim found and bought a 65" cable from a bicycle shop. The total cost was $8.50 and really did not take that long. I really did not take pictures, but followed Jim's build. It really works well and should be a useful addition.