Short Shifter Gearstick

[Nick3]

Greetings.

It appears that there are a few forum members using these.

Do they have any benefits / advantages over the standard item ?

Any brands recommended ?

I believe that the IL Motorsport brand is highly regarded (Thanks Fatty).

I am looking at Ralco RZ.

Thanks in advance.

Nick.

[Fatty]

it's a short shifter, the benefit / advantage is that it provides a shorter shift

LM motorsport? do you mean IL motorsport as sold by mx5parts.co.uk? this brand seems to be very well regarded.

[Mr Morlock]

it seems academic to me to shift quicker. You often hear forum members complaining about gearchanges being notchy or inferior. Whilst I cannot prove it this may simply stem from some drivers trying to hurry the change and ultimately wearing out synchros. I reckon being smooth is a good goal ( not always achieved) and a momentary pause often produces a better result esp 1st to 2nd.

[broady]

Well I had a voodoo knob on my '5 for a while, I thought it was fantastic, supposedly faster shifts and all that.

But then I got a skunk2 knob - which sits higher than stock (hence longer throw). I like it better than the short shift of the voodoo and the throw of the stock shifter. Shift accuracy is good and I think the actual time for shifts is similar if not the same. Not to mention that you don't have to reach all the way down from the steering wheel to shift gears.

[hks_kansei]

I think short shifters are more to do with personal taste than actually providing faster gearshifts.

you want faster changes, move your arm faster.


but yeah, some prefer the reduced throw of them. I'm a fan of the stock throw (with voodoo knob) enough that you can feel you're in gear.

but I have dríven a car with a shortshifter and a Skunk knob and it's still not bad, just takes some getting used to.

try a car with each and see what you prefer.

[WASP]

I use a 'short shifter' in conjunction with a Beatrush brass bush in my NA8,very happy with it,friends don't like it as it takes awhile to get used to.
WASP

[Benny]

I have the IL short shifter, and I love it.

I don't use it to make my changes faster, but because the throw is so short, when I drive someone else's 5 with a normal shifter, it feels like rowing a boat!

IMHO, it really increases the joy of driving and it's fun to change gears with your fingers, while your hand is resting on the handbrake.

They feel a little weird at first, because you can't believe how short the throw is, but one you get used to it, you won't want to go back to a normal shifter.
They may feel a little stiff when first installed, but give it a hundred or so gearchanges, and it starts to loosen up nicely.
Even Mrs Benny loves it!

[Fatty]

i love mine too for the reasons benny mentioned and also because it does make the shifts much faster, which is a good thing on a race track. altho as broady mentioned, shift accuracy can be an issue. i've never missed a gear on the road but on the track in the heat of battle, when the adrenalin levels are really high i have been known to shift from second to fifth, instead of third. i reckon i do this at least once a day at most sprint events. it's just coz i'm over excited and technique goes out the window, but yeah it can be a bit of a problem.

[Benny]

i love mine too for the reasons benny mentioned and also because it does make the shifts much faster, which is a good thing on a race track. altho as broady mentioned, shift accuracy can be an issue. i've never missed a gear on the road but on the track in the heat of battle, when the adrenalin levels are really high i have been known to shift from second to fifth, instead of third. i reckon i do this at least once a day at most sprint events. it's just coz i'm over excited and technique goes out the window, but yeah it can be a bit of a problem.

I used to have this problem too, even before I got the short shifter, and there is a very easy fix.

When changing from 2nd to 3rd gear, I just use an open palm to shift it.
The spring loading is quite strong and it works every time.
When changing from 2nd to 3rd, DO NOT try to guide the gear lever across the gate, but just push it up, the spring will take care of getting it into third.
Also, when changing down from 5th to 4th gear, just pull the lever down and let the spring do the work.
This way, you'll never get 2nd by mistake.

Try it, you'll find it works a real treat.

[AJ]

+1 for Bennys post..........take it from a truckie who changes gears about 5000 times a day, open palm upshifting is the best method.

[Fatty]

thanks benny. i do try to use that technique and i know it works well. it;s just that the brain sometimes becomes disengaged when i get onto a racetrack, and i resort to old habits and try to slam thru the gears as quick as possible

[pcmx5]

When I changed to a 6speed I would find myself in "nothing plane" in the middle of a corner just when you wanted some power in third changing down from fourth.A few friends with 6 spd had the same dilemna.

I got a Simpson design short shifter and Voodoo knob and have never had the same problem again, but can't be sure it is the fix or becoming familiar with the change or a combination of both!!!!

Peter.