short shifter question
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short shifter question
I was thinking about getting a short shifter for my 90' GS here pretty soon. But the other day I was talking to one of my friends and he said I shouldnt get one because they wear out the synchros pretty fast in Honda's. Is this true??? I have never heard of this but he swears it is true. Will a short shifter really reduce the life span of your synchros??? If so, by how much??? This has really got me re-thinking the whole short shifter idea.
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From: Salt Lake City, Chicago at heart, UT or IL, USA
Re: short shifter question (G2DAteg)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by G2DAteg »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was thinking about getting a short shifter for my 90' GS here pretty soon. But the other day I was talking to one of my friends and he said I shouldnt get one because they wear out the synchros pretty fast in Honda's. Is this true??? I have never heard of this but he swears it is true. Will a short shifter really reduce the life span of your synchros??? If so, by how much??? This has really got me re-thinking the whole short shifter idea.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Whomever gave you that advice might have that opinion because they are more likely to slam through the gears, thus shortening the life of the synchros, not because of the length of the shifter.
Whomever gave you that advice might have that opinion because they are more likely to slam through the gears, thus shortening the life of the synchros, not because of the length of the shifter.
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From: SoCal, CA, USA
Re: short shifter question (marsbike)
You're friend probably also believes that you hurt an automatic transmission if you don't put it in nuetral when you are at a complete stop, instead of leaving it in drive.
A short shifter only makes the throw shorter for you, doesn't mean you have to slam it into gear before the tranny wants to.
A short shifter only makes the throw shorter for you, doesn't mean you have to slam it into gear before the tranny wants to.
B*a*n*n*e*d
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From: Fort Meyers, FL, US
it does shorten the lifespan of the synchros..a poorly designed short shifter will cause you to not put it in gear all the way or the other way around. i had one and it grinded wehn i put it in 1st going 10mph then i put the stock one on and it stopped,
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From: Nowhere and Everywhere
Re: (JB20VTEC)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JB20VTEC »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you want a good running transmission in a year dont get a short shifter.</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by opiumdaze »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it does shorten the lifespan of the synchros..a poorly designed short shifter will cause you to not put it in gear all the way or the other way around. i had one and it grinded wehn i put it in 1st going 10mph then i put the stock one on and it stopped,</TD></TR></TABLE>
No, and no.
I've had a short shifter for almost 3 years and 90K miles, and my transmission with over 185K miles on it total shifts completely smooth, no grinds unless I don't disengage the clutch all the way, i.e. user error.
A shifter cannot prevent the gears from engaging all the way. The linkage below the car moves the same amount, no matter what shifter you're using, and that amount is the distance between the different gear engagement points. However the length of the shifter below the pivot point determines the length of the throw inside the car. So if you put in a short-throw shifter, which has a longer distance below the pivot ball, the linkage is still going to move the same amount and engage the gears, just like it did w/ the stock shifter, but the distance you have to move the shift **** inside the car will be reduced. That throw reduction is purely a result of the geometry of the shifter, and nothing else.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by opiumdaze »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it does shorten the lifespan of the synchros..a poorly designed short shifter will cause you to not put it in gear all the way or the other way around. i had one and it grinded wehn i put it in 1st going 10mph then i put the stock one on and it stopped,</TD></TR></TABLE>
No, and no.
I've had a short shifter for almost 3 years and 90K miles, and my transmission with over 185K miles on it total shifts completely smooth, no grinds unless I don't disengage the clutch all the way, i.e. user error.
A shifter cannot prevent the gears from engaging all the way. The linkage below the car moves the same amount, no matter what shifter you're using, and that amount is the distance between the different gear engagement points. However the length of the shifter below the pivot point determines the length of the throw inside the car. So if you put in a short-throw shifter, which has a longer distance below the pivot ball, the linkage is still going to move the same amount and engage the gears, just like it did w/ the stock shifter, but the distance you have to move the shift **** inside the car will be reduced. That throw reduction is purely a result of the geometry of the shifter, and nothing else.
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Re: (opiumdaze)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by opiumdaze »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it does shorten the lifespan of the synchros..a poorly designed short shifter will cause you to not put it in gear all the way or the other way around. i had one and it grinded wehn i put it in 1st going 10mph then i put the stock one on and it stopped,</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah okay... you shouldn't be shifting into fisrt at 10 mph anyways, that is too high of a speed to into first. I dont shift into first if im going more than about 2-4 mph or in other words barely moving at all. I dont never force it in, if it doesnt go in with a light nudge then you shouldnt force it.
Yeah okay... you shouldn't be shifting into fisrt at 10 mph anyways, that is too high of a speed to into first. I dont shift into first if im going more than about 2-4 mph or in other words barely moving at all. I dont never force it in, if it doesnt go in with a light nudge then you shouldnt force it.
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Re: (PatrickGSR94)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sometimes I have to shift into 1st around tight autox courses, but I always have to blip the throttle in order for it to go into 1st gear.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ehh, I know it will go if you do it right but it still isn't the best thing to do; at least not often. What rpm and speed do you need to downshift from when you do the 2nd to 1st?
Ehh, I know it will go if you do it right but it still isn't the best thing to do; at least not often. What rpm and speed do you need to downshift from when you do the 2nd to 1st?
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From: Nowhere and Everywhere
Re: (hotsuma23)
Just depends on the speed and what RPM the engine would be at in 1st gear at that speed, that's what RPM the engine needs to come up to before you should put it in 1st. But like I said, I only do it while racing.
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From: Nowhere and Everywhere
Re: (bgmat58)
Mine is just the one that AutoZone sells. It's pretty much identical to the DC Sports shifter, but I have never had any problems with it breaking or anything. Smooth, short shifts and 100% rattle free. It's shaped the same as stock, and the shift **** sits at the same height as with the stock shifter. 
Not bad for $40.
Not bad for $40.
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From: Cincinnati, OH
Re: (bgmat58)
yeah, there's lots. i hear skunk 2 is a really good shifter, DC, edelbrock, neuspeed, twm (just looking at modacar.com). megan racing also makes one (which im using in my crx) and i have a ractive in the integra.
i would say brand usually doesn't matter, as long as it comes with its own sealed bearing. like i said, my ractive has been fine in the integra, and i think PatrickGSR94 said he got his from a pep boys or autozone or something, and his has been in almost 3 years and 90k miles.
it's also my opinion that people who break shifters (which seem to usually be aluminum) are shifting way too hard into gear, which is not necessary, and can be harmful to the tranny.
i also just realized that the megan racing is made of billet steel, so if you are worried about breaking one, may be a good choice because it's also only 25 bucks, and has its own bearing like i said above.
buy shifters from my bro! he only has megan listed, but he will get you whatever you ask for, and at a good price
i would say brand usually doesn't matter, as long as it comes with its own sealed bearing. like i said, my ractive has been fine in the integra, and i think PatrickGSR94 said he got his from a pep boys or autozone or something, and his has been in almost 3 years and 90k miles.
it's also my opinion that people who break shifters (which seem to usually be aluminum) are shifting way too hard into gear, which is not necessary, and can be harmful to the tranny.
i also just realized that the megan racing is made of billet steel, so if you are worried about breaking one, may be a good choice because it's also only 25 bucks, and has its own bearing like i said above.
buy shifters from my bro! he only has megan listed, but he will get you whatever you ask for, and at a good price
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From: Nowhere and Everywhere
Re: (G2DAteg)
B&M doesn't use sealed bearings in their shifters. You just have to transfer the stock parts from the bottom of the stock shifter over to the B&M. Those stock parts are where part of the rubbery feeling comes from on the stock shifter. If the shifter doesn't use sealed bearings, I wouldn't touch it IMHO.
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From: Austin, Texas, US
Re: (PatrickGSR94)
From what I'm gathering yours has a shorter throw but sits at factory height? I want a lower shifter with a shorter throw...do any of those brands do that? I hate this 5 post per day ****!!!!
Mike
Mike
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From: Springfield, OR, USA
Re: (opiumdaze)
tenzo r sells short shifters also. and for the most part short shifters are the same. i mean what would be the point in making a short shifter that made longer throws than the other company's short shifter??
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Re: (opiumdaze)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by opiumdaze »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well i guess you can say SOME short shifters are ok but if you get an ebay one youre bound to **** up that tranny of yours</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No, and no.
I've had a short shifter for almost 3 years and 90K miles, and my transmission with over 185K miles on it total shifts completely smooth, no grinds unless I don't disengage the clutch all the way, i.e. user error.
A shifter cannot prevent the gears from engaging all the way. The linkage below the car moves the same amount, no matter what shifter you're using, and that amount is the distance between the different gear engagement points. However the length of the shifter below the pivot point determines the length of the throw inside the car. So if you put in a short-throw shifter, which has a longer distance below the pivot ball, the linkage is still going to move the same amount and engage the gears, just like it did w/ the stock shifter, but the distance you have to move the shift **** inside the car will be reduced. That throw reduction is purely a result of the geometry of the shifter, and nothing else.</TD></TR></TABLE>
like he just said...the shifter cannot harm your tranny. user error does.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No, and no.
I've had a short shifter for almost 3 years and 90K miles, and my transmission with over 185K miles on it total shifts completely smooth, no grinds unless I don't disengage the clutch all the way, i.e. user error.
A shifter cannot prevent the gears from engaging all the way. The linkage below the car moves the same amount, no matter what shifter you're using, and that amount is the distance between the different gear engagement points. However the length of the shifter below the pivot point determines the length of the throw inside the car. So if you put in a short-throw shifter, which has a longer distance below the pivot ball, the linkage is still going to move the same amount and engage the gears, just like it did w/ the stock shifter, but the distance you have to move the shift **** inside the car will be reduced. That throw reduction is purely a result of the geometry of the shifter, and nothing else.</TD></TR></TABLE>
like he just said...the shifter cannot harm your tranny. user error does.
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