B&M Shifter Problems...
 

The B&M shifter and Kartboy bushings definitely stiffened the feel up, but it doesn't feel smooth at all, and almost like the gears are grinding. Is there any sort of break-in period for the shifter? I put it on 2 days ago. Just wondering if perhaps loosening the bolt, or applying grease could help any? TIA!

one thing is for sure....its stiffer than stock....but that is normal. it will feel NOTCHY as well....you can FEEL the gears engaging.....unlike the sloppy stocker....

so probably what you are feeling is normal.....it just takes a little getting use to.

NOW if your gears are actually grinding...then NO its not normal.

try to feel it, insted of just push-grinding it into gear, don't hold the shift knob in your hand as if you just cauth a tenis ball someone trew at you, just know where the gears are and give it a litle push, it will slides in like.....(nevermind) And 'yes" it will be stiff for about a week, at least mine was like that, but I didn;t mind since I have a super strong right arm (working out and shh..t)

but make sure you didn't over tighten the bolt underneath, if you don't have a torque wrence, just get the bolt snug, then turn it another half or quorter turn.


(Disclaimer: "I can't be held responsible for any mechanical advise that I give on this forum. You are responsible for any work you may decide to do on your car.)

Mine felt a lot stiffer when I first put mine in, but the shifting was more precise. If you've never owned a short shifter in another car, it will take some getting used to and will feel strange until you get used to it. Like what Sir Nuke said, if you actually hear your gears grinding, you have a problem.

The only thing that really bothers me is that from 1st to 2nd, the main reason I got the shifter, it isn't very smooth. It seems like I have to slightly pause in neutral, holding it to the side before I engage 2nd. Just curious if you guys have any input on this?

1st to 2nd is a bit problematic because the engine RPM is very high in 1st gear right before you shift into 2nd. When you press the clutch to shift into second, the transmission layshaft is still spinning very fast due to momentum. This rotational speed of the layshaft and the gears is a bit too fast for a smooth engage of the dogteeth to the 2nd gear. So when you shift into second, you will feel the synchro braking the gears and the layshaft. In a short shifter, the synchro feedback is quite intimate and you don't get as much leverage to apply harder pressure on the synchro brakes.

For more info an trannies and synchros:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/transmission1.htm

Options to shift smoother from 1st to 2nd:
1. Shift at a lower RPM (I usually don't redline on first when "launching". I find the shift to be an issue. I shift around 5000RPM. For daily driving, I usually shift at 3000RPM w/ pause).
2. After pressing the clutch, wait for the gears and layshaft to slow down a bit before engaging 2nd
3. Shift harder
4. Get more leverage. Get taller shift knob or put stock back in (doh!)
5. Change tranny. Trannies with closer 1st-2nd ratio OR lighter layshaft and gears (like changing flywheels).

Right now, I really couldn't afford transmissions components or a new transmission, so what do you recommend for when I finally go to the drag strip? Obviously I'd have to let first rev to at least 6000RPM, and to prevent a length of time between 1st and 2nd, do you think I should just shove it in? In your step 3 you proposed I shift harder. Is that what you mean?

Yes, shove it in harder. You'll get used to the feel. :)
However, doing this will be at the cost of wearing out the synchro.

Think of your synchro as similar to the clutch. So doing this is analogous to revving your engine to a high RPM and engaging the clutch to burn out.

Good luck at the drag strip. :cool:

yea, I had the 1 to 2 issue, we all do, its just how you shift and hold your hand on the shifter.


try to not press the shifter agains the wall when you shift, and instead of going streight back, kind of have the shifter pushed\pulled by your hand slightly towords the side where 4th gear is. I'm talking milimeters here. nothing crazy or anything, just try to feel it that's all.

The shifter is definitely feeling less notchy and smoothening out. I'll try the idea of slightly angling my throw towards 4th gear and see how that turns out.

gcs118, it took me about a week and a half to sort of "break-in" the feel. You'll love it after a while, especially if you rev match when you downshift, it feels quite sexy.

Those who are shoving it to get into gear... aren't you also worried about breaking the shifter fork? It seems several MP3 owners have had forks break ($$$), some say they just break, but others say that it could be related to aggressive shifting on a tranny that isnt that willing to fly through the gears to begin with.

The slow 1-2 shift is something I have had to accept . This sucks cuz this is the slowest shifting tranny I have had, so its a bit of a transition. If I try to shift it any quicker than it wants to, I usually get a bit of a grind, especially when the engine is cold. The other gears have not been a problem for me.

Yes, that should be a concern. Keep in mind though that short shifters don't necessarily contribute to breaking the shifter fork any more than a stock shifter. I believe if the driver shifts using the same force, the stock shifter will exert more stress on the fork than the shorty due to leverage.

Yep. It sucks. A bigger 'diameter'ed synchro with more bite would have been nice.

.

I can shift so fast that it seems that there is just constant acceleration all the way to 5th gear. I only been doing this for a few days now, I like it a lot, takes me miliseconds I think. YOu can do this only if you believe 100% that you know where your next gear is and the distance to it.