Lokar kickdown cable adjustment?

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Fri May 12, 17 5:34 pm

Currently completing an install of the Summit Lokar copy kickdown cable
Instructions state that the cable should be at full tension/tight when fully adjusted.

However, I have mine with some slack in it and it seems to work better for it. The cable gradually moves the kickdown lever and it's at full kickdown position at full throttle.

However, if I have the cable with zero tension the kickdown lever moves very quickly to full kickdown position.

I've not yet roadtested, but opinions on adjustment from those who have fitted this cable set up appreciated.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri May 12, 17 6:14 pm

Yea I have fitted one, awful things I would never fit one in place of the stock linkage or at all if I had the choice. We also used to have a fleet of Dodge 50's at work with torqueflites with a cable kick down and they were always a problem.
The ratio is wrong for a start, you need to hold back the cable at the point where it turns at 90 degrees to stop it just whipping about instead of pulling the kick down lever.
I also found I had use a spring on the kick down lever to pull against the cable so it returns correctly. Getting the correct adjustment so that the change up is correct and yet it still kicks down will take time and lots of patience and mainly swearing. If you have the standard linkage do yourself a favour and put it back on, the cable set up will never work as well as that does.

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Fri May 12, 17 7:39 pm

Damn Blue, thought I was in with the cool kids!
Thing is, with my carb and manifold I can't get satisfactory lockdown even if at all, hence the cable
The set up is pretty smooth with the lever moving back and forward as it should. Guess I'll complete the job and let the road test determine whether I got it right or not. Been bloody hours in total as I had to fab brackets and make adjustments.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri May 12, 17 8:53 pm

I spent a while modifying the kickdown linkage when I changed he intake and carb, works perfectly now.

Dart Vader · Post by **Dart Vader** » Fri May 12, 17 9:45 pm

Bananarama!.

that's maybe why mine won't shift out of first.

tci street fighter shifter and lokar kickdown.

going to fettle it this weekend

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Fri May 12, 17 10:58 pm

Post up some pics of your set ups if you can ,I have them on two cars one I used a throttle bracket,and throttle cable ,and kickdown from Lokor , and the other I modified some stock parts to make it work , they work great for me

Dart Vader · Post by **Dart Vader** » Fri May 12, 17 11:56 pm

sorry Drew

I only have it on my 4 barrel

you know the carb

the one real men use........

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat May 13, 17 12:21 am

Dart Vader wrote:sorry Drew

I only have it on my 4 barrel

you know the carb

the one real men use........

Get out there and fix that car!

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Sat May 13, 17 12:19 pm

Thanks for the pics Drew.
Went out and road tested this morning. Kick down was a bit drawn out so adjusted cable to get more tension and an immediate improvement. Kickdown works fine as it should.
Jobs a good 'un.

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat May 13, 17 3:45 pm

[quote="MilesnMiles"]Thanks for the pics Drew.
Went out and road tested this morning. Kick down was a bit drawn out so adjusted cable to get more tension and an immediate improvement. Kickdown works fine as it should.
Jobs a good 'un.

[/quote

YEA just a bit of tension on the cable and it will work fine

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Mon May 15, 17 8:03 pm

If it has to be a cable kickdown setup and you can't get the Lokar item to work correctly then it may be worth looking at the Bouchillon Performance version. It costs more but gives better adjustability.

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Mon May 15, 17 8:58 pm

Yes, they have a good rep. Mine works exactly as I should. Added more tension and it holds onto the gears a little more, same as the stock kickdown does if the lever is extended.

David Murray · Post by **David Murray** » Tue May 16, 17 7:07 pm

i got mine working sweetly after reading this thread and drilling another hole in the throttle lever to adjust the ratio. Did quite a bit of messing prior to trying this but worked straight away once I'd calculated where the new hole should be and done the mod.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubb ... tment.html

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Wed May 17, 17 7:07 am

Interesting thread, but simply allowing a little more slack or the opposite allowed me to fine tune the throttle shifts.
On a stock kickdown you can do the same by adjusting the lever length where it attaches to the carb.

David Murray · Post by **David Murray** » Wed May 17, 17 9:23 am

Yep, I think drilling holes is only required if the current ratio is too far out to allow proper adjustment by cable length. Your's must already be within range. Good that you got it sorted.