Super-klasse C's short shifter reproductions

[househead]

So I was considering getting one of these after missing out on a few TRD ones and trying a cheap (£35) Barbarian racing one and not being wowed.

I even went as far as considering sponsoring and organising a group buy and enquired about it.

https://super-klasse.com/products/spyder-zzw30-cs-short-stroke-shifter-reproduction

Despite this, I am now far less inclined to after reading the thread on SpyderChat here...

https://www.spyderchat.com/threads/cs-short-stroke-shifter-reproduction-for-the-spyders.152573

Turns out that despite the pretty high price of the shifter (even for US buyers), that a few what I would consider rudimentary things have been missed by the manufacturers.

Firstly, they didn't "have chance" to test the final product on a single car before sending them out

Secondly, although they had access to the Japanese instructions for the original product they reproduced, they did not fully translate/read them. SpyderChat members have since done this and exposed a very important step which requires one to cut part of the shifter cage in order to stop the shifter cables catching on it.

Thirdly (and this is more related to the original than the reproduction) despite the added bend, the shifter still does not sit completely vertical in the neutral position.

Doesn't bode well with me this, given the pretty high cost of these and the very low cost of "ebay" (and Barbarian etc) short-shifters. I do like the look of their knobs tho (ooh-er).

[Dev]

Yeah that shifter is a major disappointment. Not everything that comes from the Japan aftermarket is going to make sense. The biggest failings of this shifter is no one had the original to compare before it went into production. It was just assumed being JDM it would have to be great.

[househead]

Blind loyalty to anything (tangible or not) often doesn't work out well!

[Dev]

Here is a good read on the various shifters that someone posted a link on the site which Im on.
Its for the Celica but its basically amounts to the same thing as far as throw and feel.


https://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?t=210641

 Im very happy with my B&M knock off.  Its short and has a very nice feel when engaging the gears.

 The TRD shifter feels so anemic that I wonder why they even bothered but apparently people like them. 

[m1tch]

I think I have an ebay special short shifter, works really well, can always add an extension if I want to add a bend in it.

[Dev]

I think I have an ebay special short shifter, works really well, can always add an extension if I want to add a bend in it.

That would be the B&M knock off, I have the same one. B&M did a very good job of making an actual short shifter for our cars. Some people don't like the extra effort but that is part of the trade off for positive shifting feel where it feels like a bolt action riffle.

[househead]

Thanks @Dev that's a very informative and useful article!

I've got a spare shifter assembly so I was thinking of hacking a bit off the OEM rod and re-tapping the thread. Will of course update here if I do!

[Mikeymead]

Thanks @Dev that's a very informative and useful article!

I've got a spare shifter assembly so I was thinking of hacking a bit off the OEM rod and re-tapping the thread. Will of course update here if I do!

I had an ebay short shifter and now I've done exactly what you are proposing to do. I have got solid mounts though and Nathan's linkage bearings. The ebay shifter has a very short throw and is very switch like but it was easy to get the wrong gear and reverse was a right ***** to find. I find the current set up much nicer and reverse is no problem.

[househead]

I had an ebay short shifter and now I've done exactly what you are proposing to do. I have got solid mounts though and Nathan's linkage bearings. The ebay shifter has a very short throw and is very switch like but it was easy to get the wrong gear and reverse was a right ***** to find. I find the current set up much nicer and reverse is no problem.

Are those linkage bearing still available anywhere?

I've just took delivery of some spherical radial bearings which I'm hoping with make the action a bit less tight. There's not a guide I can find for them but I think I can work it out.

These be them (GEB8KS)...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1PCS-Spherical-Plain-Radial-Bearing-GEBK6S-GEBK8S-GEBK10S-GEBK12S-n-hv/273943685495

In fact I have spares if anyone wants them. Call it a pint at the next meet etc

[Mikeymead]

TBH I don't know if they are still available, I see that you enquired on the group buy.

I have no idea about the ones you have bought unfortunatly, definitely different to the ones I have fitted. IIRC mine have 2 flange bearings fitted top and bottom of each gearbox arm.

[Dev]

Cleaning up the slop on the other end where it meets the transmission makes going into gears a real joy. I have the brass bushings which work great for this purpose. 
 
If you notice B&M versions of the shifter has weighed end at the bottom half. This is what give the shifter that gated shifter feel. Add a little effort and like a spring it goes into its gate like a switch blade. This tells me someone put a lot of thought into this style of shifter.
 Fortunately for us the design was widely  knocked off that its dirt cheap.

One other thing to note. If your cables are old and a bit stretched out it can change the feel of the shifter. 

[shnazzle]

I've just got a modified stock shifter. Love it. Couldn't imagine it any better tbh

[m1tch]

I've just got a modified stock shifter. Love it. Couldn't imagine it any better tbh

Fit some simple Tein springs and look at a few under braces, it is all it really needs.

[Gaz mr-s]

The bearings that are supplied in a kit are 8mm i/d 22 o/d & 7mm deep & flanged. The flange diameter is 25mm.A washer is required to take up the space between the top bearing & the the retaining clip hole. Because the bearings are 7mm thick they protrude a lot top & bottom out of the cable end.  Perhaps 7mm is the thinnest that can be had.....

[m1tch]

Worth noting that just cutting down the stock shifter and retapping it, isn't a short shifter, a short shifter adjusts the pivot point to make the throw shorter.

[shnazzle]

Worth noting that just cutting down the stock shifter and retapping it, isn't a short shifter, a short shifter adjusts the pivot point to make the throw shorter.

There's more to it than just a chop and re-tap. It's also moving the pivot point by blunt force    See jaworjawor's thread. The stock shifter to me now feels like a soggy bus shifter.

But then I have the solid mounts, solid gear linkage bearing bushes and the shifter mod. Very notchy, direct and short shifting

[househead]

I've a choice of solid mounts currently, the short shifter I have came with spacer bushes but I also picked up standard height but solid mounts.

I'll dig out the thread on the use of brute force to move the pivot!

[shnazzle]

Here it is

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?msg=660457

That doesn't include chopping mind. You might light to keep the length

[househead]

Here it is

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?msg=660457

That doesn't include chopping mind. You might light to keep the length

Awesome thread (and not just for the short-shifter mod)! I'll be reading all of that!

[Dev]

Here it is

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?msg=660457

That doesn't include chopping mind. You might light to keep the length

Thats very interesting in innovative. I approve.  Its user adjustable but most of all free.
Since we have the measurement of the TRD shifter on the lower end you could technically set it exactly there. 

[shnazzle]

Here it is

https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?msg=660457

That doesn't include chopping mind. You might light to keep the length

Awesome thread (and not just for the short-shifter mod)! I'll be reading all of that!

It's one of my favourite threads. Shame he isn't as active anymore