SE gearbox - can't find third gear in the bends or corner

JustinK · Postby **JustinK** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:59 am

Hi guys,

Has anyone else had this problem?

I have no issues finding the gate for third from second in a straight line - it's slick and rifle bolt like just as it should be.

However whenever I am going around a bend, from second to third it is impossible to find third without some effort - if at all in which case I end up backing out...killing the joy a bit :cry:

I have a suspicion the issue is the bushes not keeping the box in line when under lateral load... can anyone confirm or offer advice?

Regards,

Justin

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 10:35 am

Pick your gear before the corner! Unless you are driving an automatic.

Changing gears mid corners causes weight transfer when you may not want/need it! Doing a gear change causes a weight to the front wheels, away from the rear and in a corner may cause lift off/snap oversteer. Solution is more power to correct lifting off further or braking will only make it worse, this is not something you want to do on a public road.

ralt · Postby **ralt** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 11:07 am

Hi.
Have checked your gearbox oil level?

JustinK · Postby **JustinK** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:05 pm

ralt - oil levels are good.

Magpie - I can pick the appropriate gear for a corner (which to me 90 degree or equivalent to slowing for roundabout) no problem. In an SE that's ordinarily second so that's not the issue...

The problem is finding third coming out of a corner, or mid corner in a long bend (100 to 180 degree).

The answer can't be if I know there's a long corner coming up just pick third before hand...with the lag in an SE I'd go nowhere.

Shifting up from second to third in a long bend, or coming out of a corner, (particularly to take advantage of the mid-range power band in an SE) should not be impossible.

Or is it...?

pezchops · Postby **pezchops** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:17 pm

check your 4 bolts that connect the turret to the gearbox.
i had mine work loose 1 or 2 turns.
you would have excessive slop with your gear stick and with me oil made its way out onto the exhaust
i think it is common for 6 speeds to do that.
cant say i know out about mid corner gear changes but mine was difficult to find reverse .
all good after tightening up again

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:21 pm

Look at your engine mounts. If worn or soft, they can allow the whole engine/gearbox to move during cornering loads, so gears aren't where you expect them to be, making selection difficult. (You end up trying to move lever between gates cos the gate has moved from where it is in a straight line..)

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:22 pm

While I agree with Magpie, you shouldn't be shifting mid-corner, and if you need to I'd wonder what revs you're coming in on and shifting up on, there should be a decent window of revs there to see you through corner.

But that doesn't answer the problem you're having - how you drive and when/where you shift is your business. If you're finding it hard to shift, whenever, then my thoughts are either diff bushings or engine mounts could be worn. Do you have any issue under hard acceleration in a straight line?

pezchops · Postby **pezchops** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:26 pm

rascal wrote:Look at your engine mounts. If worn or soft, they can allow the whole engine/gearbox to move during cornering loads, so gears aren't where you expect them to be, making selection difficult. (You end up trying to move lever between gates cos the gate has moved from where it is in a straight line..)

i thought about mounts but then the turret and box will move together .
with loose turret bolts the turret can slide back forward and sideways a fair bit so you loose throw.

Dweezle · Postby **Dweezle** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:35 pm

Its your engine mounts.
2nd to 3rd is always the issue.
Everything has moved so 3rd is not where it usually is.

If you filmed the event you would see the issue clearly.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

JustinK · Postby **JustinK** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:30 pm

ManiaLachy - I don't have any issues under hard acceleration.

Thanks guys - very helpful!

Will check engine mounts, turret bolts, and diff bushes.

Cheers,

Jk

pezchops · Postby **pezchops** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:57 pm

if you did a search here you will find numerous threads dealing with 6 speed boxes loose turret bolts and poor gear selection..2nd to 3rd is mentioned and always improvement after tightening back up.
top right hand corner you will find SEARCH feature.

JustinK · Postby **JustinK** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:15 pm

pezchops - thanks for you last post.

I love treasure hunts so I went looking for SEARCH in the top right hand corner...but I only found the "Search" option which I used to look through the site for a solution before I posted my thread - none of the threads I looked at I thought were on point.

So instead I'll continue on the treasure hunt you suggested I go on.

There is an X in the top right hand corner though... they say "X marks the spot"...I think it's best for me to click on that at this point.

wasabi · Postby **wasabi** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 3:46 pm

Engine mounts for sure.

I had issues with the 1st to 2nd shift under hard acceleration & of course 2nd to 3rd in a sweeping corner situation... All fixed up with the engine mounts BUT, the street track version I went for does increase the vibration into the cabin significantly.

madjak · Postby **madjak** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:13 pm

It's probably the drive train twisting up under load. You can help the issue with more solid engine mounts and diff mounts but for a street car it makes the ride less comfortable. I had both of those in my track car and often still hit 5th coming out of corners.

My initial solution was to slow the shift down a fraction, let the transmission unload and then select 3rd, you kinda have to aim for 1st to get 3rd which is a little scary when your at max revs. This sort of worked, but I still missed gears on occasion. I have since installed a MR short shifter and Amsoil gearbox oil and haven't missed a shift since. I think if you have a 6-speed the MR short shifter, even though it's not that cheap, is definitely worth every dollar.

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 4:17 pm

I have a 6 speed with a MR short shifter, stiff engine/diff mounts and never had any trouble with 3rd on the track, but again I do the gear change in a straight line and not mid corner.