MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 08:15

Title: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 08:15
One thing I have noticed in my limited time driving the 2 is how long the gear stick is. Is it possible to cut it down at all? i have from feeling under the gator that the shaft itself isn't straight so not sure if simply cutting down the original start is possible. I'm sure someone must have done this sort of thing though so ideas would be greatly appreciated. Only need to be about an inch low I would think
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Topdownman on March 16, 2018, 09:34
There is an ebay short shift kit but it is not to everyones liking, especially on the 6 speed.

You can no doubt try out a few at Ding Day!
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 10:48
It's not the travel length that I don't like it's the height that the gear stick comes up. Not sure if that's what the kit does that your referring to or if it cuts down on travel length
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: J03 on March 16, 2018, 11:09
Alternatively, if you have access to a grinder & a tap/die set, you could take an inch or so off the OEM & then cut some new threads.
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 11:13
Quote from: J03 on March 16, 2018, 11:09
Alternatively, if you have access to a grinder & a tap/die set, you could take an inch or so off the OEM & then cut some new threads.

That's exactly what my thoughts are but with the bends in the stick wasn't sure if it was possible
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: J03 on March 16, 2018, 11:23
There's plenty to go at before the kink  ;)

Sorry for the low quality pic, but gives you an idea...

(https://i.imgur.com/GstYPF8.jpg)
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 11:26
Quote from: J03 on March 16, 2018, 11:23
There's plenty to go at before the kink  ;)

Sorry for the low quality pic, but gives you an idea...

(https://i.imgur.com/GstYPF8.jpg)

Picture not displaying on my iPad but I'm sure once I get the gaiter off I will see now that I know it can be done
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: J03 on March 16, 2018, 11:27
Direct link... https://imgur.com/GstYPF8

Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 11:34
Quote from: J03 on March 16, 2018, 11:27
Direct link... https://imgur.com/GstYPF8

Link doesn't work either  ::)
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: m1tch on March 16, 2018, 12:23
Fit a short shiftier - makes a huge difference!
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Call the midlife! on March 16, 2018, 12:29
The short shifters change the character of the gearchange too much for a lot of people, makes it hard work, ironically there are cage mounts available to raise the height of the lever for some applications.
Get the grinder out!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Carolyn on March 16, 2018, 12:38
From what I've heard, the short-shifters that are a complete cage and mechanism are much better, but hard to get hold of.

TRD ones now cost hundreds (I've seen them for £400!), but are lovely to use and give a shorter stick.

Cutting yours down will be an interesting experiment, but you will need a different knob.
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: shnazzle on March 16, 2018, 14:05
Mine's a cut-down. Wasn't a drastic difference obviously as the throw is still the same.
At some point I will do the trick where you knock the pivot ball up the stick to make the throw shorter.
I just don't look forward to that pin that holds the pivot ball down....
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: J03 on March 16, 2018, 14:58
Quote from: shnazzle on March 16, 2018, 14:05
Mine's a cut-down. Wasn't a drastic difference obviously as the throw is still the same.
At some point I will do the trick where you knock the pivot ball up the stick to make the throw shorter.
I just don't look forward to that pin that holds the pivot ball down....

Don't forget you'll need to raise the cage height as well if moving the pivot point  ;)
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: shnazzle on March 16, 2018, 16:28
Quote from: J03 on March 16, 2018, 14:58
Quote from: shnazzle on March 16, 2018, 14:05
Mine's a cut-down. Wasn't a drastic difference obviously as the throw is still the same.
At some point I will do the trick where you knock the pivot ball up the stick to make the throw shorter.
I just don't look forward to that pin that holds the pivot ball down....

Don't forget you'll need to raise the cage height as well if moving the pivot point  ;)
Yes indeed. A few big washers under my bigfoot mounts should do the trick
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 21:14
Quote from: Carolyn on March 16, 2018, 12:38
From what I've heard, the short-shifters that are a complete cage and mechanism are much better, but hard to get hold of.

TRD ones now cost hundreds (I've seen them for £400!), but are lovely to use and give a shorter stick.

Cutting yours down will be an interesting experiment, but you will need a different knob.

Changing my nob is first on the list of things to do  ;D
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 16, 2018, 21:15
Quote from: shnazzle on March 16, 2018, 14:05
Mine's a cut-down. Wasn't a drastic difference obviously as the throw is still the same.
At some point I will do the trick where you knock the pivot ball up the stick to make the throw shorter.
I just don't look forward to that pin that holds the pivot ball down....

I'm not looking for a shorter throw just don't like my nob being so far in the air
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Mikeymead on March 18, 2018, 18:00
Well I have cut an inch of a spare one that I have got and re-tapped the thread. also cut a groove lower down just before the kink and used a E-clip instead of the plastic retainer for the gaiter. I reckon I can still use the original gear knob. Saying that I haven't tried fitting it yet.
Did have an ebay short shifter for a while, liked it at first then got fed up with it.(reverse was a right pain to get and change was quite notchy). Found that the standard shifter with solid mounts and bearings on the cable ends gives a nice light gear change so hoping the the shortened standard shifter on the same mounts will be a nice compromise.   
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: 8thumpers on March 18, 2018, 21:06
The best improvement on changing gear is all down to the Knob changing gear!
Title: Re: Short gear stick
Post by: Callyuk on March 18, 2018, 21:24
I'm not looking at improving the gear change the knob changing gear is just fine. This is purely about looks and feel