Shift errors study--with Weight vs. W/O

[fasteract]

I did a little "clinical trial" with the gear linkage weight ON and OFF. Too hard to do re: number of upshifts and downshift totals so used a 30 day driving period where my 08 MS3 was used on my 94 mile/ day /5 day commute week. The route is very curvy with many up/down mountain road altitude changes( Western NC). I made a point of shifting quickly, rather than leisurely, and used heel/toe technique when I had to brake as I approached slower curves.
A missed shift was plotted as not hitting the gear intended or having gear change balk or be forced over the normal smooth transition. Gears were changed sequentially, i.e. 2-3 or 4-5, no 3-5, for example.

Weight ON
Total # of "missed" downshifts/30 days = 11
Total # of missed upshifts/30 days = 9

Weight OFF
Total # of "missed" downshifts/30 days = 5
Total # of "missed" upshifts/30 days = 3

I obviously can't give the percentage of missed shifts per total shifts but the number of missed downshifts improved by 55% with the weight OFF while the improvement in missed upshifts was 67%, weight OFF per that time period.

I have had the car 6 months, have almost 40 years of manual tranny experience, have substantial competitive track time as far as Tester profile. Gear box has Amsoil fluids. A/C off the majority of the time. Stock boost.

Can't say that I really noticed any large "feel" change in the shifter except for a bit lighter throw overall ..certainly no increased vibration in shifter mech. (have hardened bushings on shift mount).

Take it for what it's worth but thought it might give some "pseudo-objective" data for those of us who might want to try the same easy Mod.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Since this topic seems to surface every now then (with largely positive feedback) I think I might try this just for the heck of it. Thanks for the data.

 

[GoFast]

thanks for your detailed test. i too may try it

 

[ms3J]

def worth a try, may or may not be for everyone, but worth a try...

 

[Knox Joe]

How the hell do you miss that many shifts?

My car would hate me...

 

[aaronc7]

I did not do any sort of tests but i noticed the exact same thing

 

[shane02pro5]

Look into replacing the rear motor mount with a stiffer one. You'll have to look into which one to get since some of them cause too much vibration at idle.

(drive)

I did a little "clinical trial" with the gear linkage weight ON and OFF. Too hard to do re: number of upshifts and downshift totals so used a 30 day driving period where my 08 MS3 was used on my 94 mile/ day /5 day commute week. The route is very curvy with many up/down mountain road altitude changes( Western NC). I made a point of shifting quickly, rather than leisurely, and used heel/toe technique when I had to brake as I approached slower curves.
A missed shift was plotted as not hitting the gear intended or having gear change balk or be forced over the normal smooth transition. Gears were changed sequentially, i.e. 2-3 or 4-5, no 3-5, for example.

Weight ON
Total # of "missed" downshifts/30 days = 11
Total # of missed upshifts/30 days = 9

Weight OFF
Total # of "missed" downshifts/30 days = 5
Total # of "missed" upshifts/30 days = 3

I obviously can't give the percentage of missed shifts per total shifts but the number of missed downshifts improved by 55% with the weight OFF while the improvement in missed upshifts was 67%, weight OFF per that time period.

I have had the car 6 months, have almost 40 years of manual tranny experience, have substantial competitive track time as far as Tester profile. Gear box has Amsoil fluids. A/C off the majority of the time. Stock boost.

Can't say that I really noticed any large "feel" change in the shifter except for a bit lighter throw overall ..certainly no increased vibration in shifter mech. (have hardened bushings on shift mount).

Take it for what it's worth but thought it might give some "pseudo-objective" data for those of us who might want to try the same easy Mod.

 

[D_Roc7822]

This really is amazing... I was like no way theres no way that peice of metal can do that. But when I was installing my Cobb SRI I was like what the hell. Took it off and havent missed a gear since then. With the exception of my boost tubes from my FMIC getting in the way. But I fixed that lol.

 

[fasteract]

How the hell do you miss that many shifts?

My car would hate me...

I do have a TZR rear mount(poly) BTW. As to the total 20 missed per my criteria with "the weight" vs. 8 total w/o "the weight" over the 20 days, my 94 mile/day commute goes from Brevard to Highlands, NC via Rt. 64 which has a very Tail of the Dragon feel to it. Note I also made a point of shifting track style, quick pop of the clutch, shift (with a brake/blip if I was downshifting on the brakes)...I tried to count the number of shifts per one way drive but quit after hitting 60. Using that as a minimum shift number would equal 120/round trip or 2,400 shifts per 20 days = 0.83% missed shifts driving as described above....I enjoy this commute as you might expect wearing Hoosier R6's !! (barring rain). I suspect my old ass might make fewer miscues shifting in a more leisurely fashion.

 

[jville]

i have had the wieght off my ms6 for 4 months and love it.

 

[Knox Joe]

I do have a TZR rear mount(poly) BTW. As to the total 20 missed per my criteria with "the weight" vs. 8 total w/o "the weight" over the 20 days, my 94 mile/day commute goes from Brevard to Highlands, NC via Rt. 64 which has a very Tail of the Dragon feel to it. Note I also made a point of shifting track style, quick pop of the clutch, shift (with a brake/blip if I was downshifting on the brakes)...I tried to count the number of shifts per one way drive but quit after hitting 60. Using that as a minimum shift number would equal 120/round trip or 2,400 shifts per 20 days = 0.83% missed shifts driving as described above....I enjoy this commute as you might expect wearing Hoosier R6's !! (barring rain). I suspect my old ass might make fewer miscues shifting in a more leisurely fashion.

No excuse. I worked at Deal's Gap restaurant, coming from far north of Knoxville, drove a 5-spd everyday, and have never mis-shifted that much.(dunno)

I think it's you, not the shifter. Not trying to be an ass, or put you down, just sayin.

 

[tru-boost]

well your "study is purely coincedence the weight has nothig to do with it. it doesnt change the wat the car shifts or the gears line up or any of that. the counted weight is actually to make the shifter go into gear more easily, with less effort from you. with it off teh trans feels very rough and sloppy if you ask me. it made my car feel like my old mustang with its race duty trans. it wont hurt anything, but it wont perform miracles either.

 

[fasteract]

Tru-boost...your spelling suggests you are a bit buzzed or not too bright....since it's a bit late on a Sat. night, I'll assume the first. My "study..forgot that second apostrophe, eh Bucko..... suggests that "pure coincidence" ( note the correct spelling, mon ami) may not be the reason for less missed shifts based on a 30 day trial with near identical conditions...no big deal, just a data formatted test.

Knox Joe...I was occasionally missing shifts driving Daytona in ALMS series when you were 7 years old. I don't think you quite understand the intensity level at which I drive this route.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Well I can't comment on the miss-shifts as I hardly ever do, but I did remove the counterweight and have been enjoying the new feel of the shifter. Maybe it's the fact that I have the twm SS and bushings but the shifts feel even more positive and are easier. Now I feel like a dope for not trying this earler.

 

[Knox Joe]

Knox Joe...I was occasionally missing shifts driving Daytona in ALMS series when you were 7 years old. I don't think you quite understand the intensity level at which I drive this route.

lol, I don't understand the intensity...


Well, I can run the gap in less than 12 mins in a stock Neon, and less than 11 mins in my MSP, so I'm pretty sure I can drive a stick as well as you. You being old has nothing to do how well you or I drive a stick. I drive everyday for my job, all day, every day, driving. Now just because I have more hours behind the wheel does that automatically make me a better driver than someone else?

No.

Some of it is natural talent, some of it is brain capacity and intelligence, some of it is the proccessing of all the different info and variables while driving. Experience is just a small piece of the puzzle, but being an ALMS driver you should already know that, and not assume you're better than anyone at anything, especially driving.

Also if you're driving that instensely and mis-shifting, maybe your age has caught up. (dunno) Or maybe you lack finesse while you're driving "intensely".

 

[AjaxUSA]

fasteract... i know what you mean. my miss shift happens from 2nd to 3d when i push the car hard (race it). when driving slow or relaxed, it does NOT happen. i remember the same thing happening to my '88 5.0 Stang (back when i was a youngster). never in any other car. Could this be a mazda issue? is it a overall ms3 issue or is it an issue that shows up on just a few cars?

 

[MS3077]

fasteract... i know what you mean. my miss shift happens from 2nd to 3d when i push the car hard (race it). when driving slow or relaxed, it does NOT happen. i remember the same thing happening to my '88 5.0 Stang (back when i was a youngster). never in any other car. Could this be a mazda issue? is it a overall ms3 issue or is it an issue that shows up on just a few cars?

It's a known issue.

 

[fasteract]

Balky shifting areas seems to be more common to cable shifters on tranversely mounted motors...more places where slack can occur plus a motor that may like to shift fore and aft.

 

[AjaxUSA]

TWM Short Shifter & Base Bushings PACKAGE

been reading that this might help...reveiws seem positive...add in that rear stiffer motor mount?

 

[tru-boost]

the missed 3rd gear is due to a sloppy lower motor mount, that is fact. i dont care who drove what how long ago, that means s*** to me. i have been drag and autox racing since i started driving 12 years ago so the fact that your farts have dust in them doesnt make your silly ass "study" any more accurate. you may be able to drive but you seem to be missing some very basic mechanical knowledge. removing the counter weight requires the driver to use more force while shifting, thats all there is to it really. you may be able to feel your way around better without it. that may be true. but if you need to feel your way through the gears, you are shifting too damn slow !!