Cheetah troubles

Ok ran some checks and here is the deal

THE PLAY IS ALL in the cable

1--With cable removed from trans, there is virtually NO play in the trans lever

2--The "nut" for the cable fits nice and tight into the trans lever, so the hole and nut is not worn. The cable is tightly clamped in the groove of the trans bracket and does not move

3--You can hold and observe the play from the knob to the cable connection on the shifter. There is virtually NO play. As soon as you move the knob, the cable connector follows

4--I jigged up a dial indicator and found both shifters/ cables to be similar. Locked the far end of the cable, so the play is the back/ forth in the length of the cable---------------------

A--Cheetah shifter measured at the flat on the reverse lock tab on the handle is about .2--.24" on respective shifters. See top and second photos

B--Moving the indicator to the cable below the shifter results in about .12 --.140 or so. This is very difficult to get precise, but I tried this several times See bottom photo

C--Similar cable end play on the BM resulted in about .06", and this is the raggy old cable I have been using. A brand new BM cable estimates to about .045--.050" Third photo down

It is IMPORTANT to note that even though I'm not in love with the function of the BM, it shifts flawlessly.

THE SOLUTION:

I have a reverse pattern gate coming. I'm going to do one of two things----either fab what's necessary to use the new BM cable with the Cheetah shifter, or just install the reverse gate and if necessary, grind the 3rd gear end of the gate deeper.