Surprising improvement to gearbox shift

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:55 pm

Just thought I'd share some results from my days work on the 5 today...

Previously I had occasional difficulty shifting into 1st gear, and the other gears were a bit more notchy than I would have liked. A blip of throttle helped getting into 1st if needed. None of this rang alarm bells as it really wasn't too bad, and was only noticed occasionally...

So, today I finally installed my speed bleeders for brakes and clutch slave cylinder. The difference in shift feel is quite pronounced!! I suspect that I may have had some air in the clutch hydraulic system, or the fluid might have been far too old. Whatever it was, a fresh filling of fluid and full bleed of the system seems to have improved the ability to shift. I suspect that it has allowed more travel of the clutch, making it easier to then change gears with the clutch 100% in/out instead of maybe 90 odd percent...

So a happy camper, with a 'hot knife through butter' shift!

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:54 pm

I suspect that it has allowed more travel of the clutch, making it easier to then change gears

Quite possible, well done

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:38 am

Might I suggest upgrading your Voodoo to a Skunk2? :mrgreen:

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:42 am

1red5 wrote:Might I suggest upgrading your Voodoo to a Skunk2?

No you may not! :lol:

I was going to get a Voodoo plug into the first post, but thought not... but I have no doubt the Voodoo certainly helps the feel as well

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:44 am

NMX516 wrote:
1red5 wrote:Might I suggest upgrading your Voodoo to a Skunk2?

... but I have no doubt the Voodoo certainly helps the feel as well

Mmm yeeeah, but not as much as the Skun . . . ... oh nevermind then :mrgreen:

Richee · Postby **Richee** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:52 am

NMX516 wrote:but I have no doubt the Voodoo certainly helps the feel as well

Not wanting to start a knob war but ... I have noticed that the voodoo is a fair bit lighter than the stock knob on the NC.

bark · Postby **bark** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:17 pm

Did you change the transmission oil at all? If so I suspect this would have given you the improvement you have noticed.

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:46 am

bark wrote:Did you change the transmission oil at all? If so I suspect this would have given you the improvement you have noticed.

I changed it about 3 months ago.

As for knobs, I think the advantage of the voodoo over at least the stock knob is because of the lower height - especially on the NC. Your hand is lower down on the shift than a standard knob, making it feel like a shorter, sharper throw. I've never really thought that the weight of any knob would improve things much... A mate has an RX8 which he now has a voodoo on, and the voodoo is definately lighter than the std knob, but the shift feels shorter (better?) because the knob is quite a bit lower, so your hand would travel less distance than when on top of a taller knob.

Everyone has their own opinion on what makes a good shift feel though... Good luck with those Skunk things Andrew