I have owned two zeds now for just under 2 years and today was the first

time i've drove a zed with a normal shifter.

 

When i mean normal i mean a normal manual with a standard oem shifter.

 

My first zed was an NA with a short shifter and my TT was originally an auto

but when doing the conversion i put a short shifter on as thats what i was

used too.

 

Well i was having some issues changing gears with the one fitted so i decided

to hunt out the normal shifter i got from vody as part of a conversion kit and

fit that instead.

 

What a differance - simply couldn't believe how smooth the gears now change !

 

i took me a good hour or so to fit the oem back on due to being so fidly with

the bolts and so but i finally managed it - o` and how much a pain it is when

you drop a bolt or spanner down the tranmission tunnel.

 

Anyways; glad i done it now and for any one who's thinking short shifter route -

 

DONT !

I was thinking of a short shifter at one stage but seen to many people selling there's after fitting them so it put me of. Sometimes its better to stay oem.

yeh,

 

Its as if the shifter doesn't align proper and to get it in gear you have to throw it in !

 

In the long run i think it will do damage to your gear syncro as you end up forcing into gear.

never had that problem with my short shifter? might of been your clutch settings, I've had a N/A with normal throw, and a TT with short, and i have to say i like the short shift to be honest.

 

Shifting with the short shifter shouldn't make the gear changes any harder to do, its supposed to shorten the time it takes to get it into gear, if that makes sense.

yeah i know but the trouble i have is that im trying to do it so fast. but i love the feel of a nice stiff shaft................

 

We all like a stiff shaft in a lady !!:thumbup:

I hate short shifters. every car i have been in they have been awfull. been in coops, mr2's CTR's and Gsi and all they do is cruch everything :(

my M3 has a short shifrter, was thinking of selling it as they go for about £400 lol

get Rid then. if your not in a race there is no need in them. Then you have got £400 to piss up the wall :lol::lol:

Must admit, I've been thinking about going ditching my short shifter. Just feels a bit harsh when selecting gears.

Must admit, I've been thinking about going ditching my short shifter. Just feels a bit harsh when selecting gears.

 

The problem with both my zeds and there short shifters is that I like to do quick

shifts between gears as I can at times be an aggressive driver and because of

that I find the short shifter causes a few issues and it simply won't shift correctly.

Personally I'm looking forward to having one, after driving Mikeys WITH a short shifter and mine WITHOUT one, his feels much more positive on the gear change. Plus I get problems with a long throw shifter, my elbow starts to lock out on long drives etc.

 

o` and how much a pain it is when

you drop a bolt or spanner down the tranmission tunnel.

 

 

Yep, been there, dropped nuts and spanners down the transmission tunnel and it ended up taking longer to get them out than it did to fit the bloody short shifter

 

Eventually I ended up taping a magnet to the end of a long screw driver to try reach the nut stuck in the crease, but the magnet kept sticking to everything apart from the bloody nut that I was trying to reach!

 

mugged it off in the end and just retrieved the spanner!

Personally I'm looking forward to having one, after driving Mikeys WITH a short shifter and mine WITHOUT one, his feels much more positive on the gear change. Plus I get problems with a long throw shifter, my elbow starts to lock out on long drives etc.

 

that could be just worn bushes

Yeah could be, but Roses is basically the same, although for some very odd reason her gear level sits really far forward, feels basically the same changing gear though, really long through and not all that positive. I've had the same in other cars too, short shifters have always felt that little bit more notchy and positive when throwing into gear.

I definately prefer the standard shifter as the short shifters are very notchy,awkward and stiff,i reckon you could easily miss a gear with them and knack your gearbox.Lee

Very intresting thread this as a lot of people have issues with the short shifter, keep the feed back comming guys

im glad this was posted as i was considering the short shifter route...i am now sticking with OEM as i am an old fart and will no doubt have issues ...also dont need to be looked at like a C**k when the gears crunch ...much prefer the lazy but smooth and silent gear changes .....

I've got a short shifter waiting to go in, was going to do it this weekend actually! I had a short shifter in my ITR and hated it when I drove a mates ITR without the short shift.

 

I find the gear change in the zed is smooth with oem but it's so long a change. Short shifters shouldn't crunch the gears etc, as Vodkashots said it's just allows you to change gear faster :)

I used to like my short shifter, never had any problem with it.

I dont really see how it makes much difference other than requiring more effort from the driver as there is less leaverage to move the selector with a shorter "shifter"...

 

Surely as long as the clutch is depressed properly then all should be well!

I dont really see how it makes much difference other than requiring more effort from the driver as there is less leaverage to move the selector with a shorter "shifter"...

 

Surely as long as the clutch is depressed properly then all should be well!

 

I think timing comes into play though, because you're being more aggressive with the shifter, therefore faster, if you're not faster with the clutch too.................crrrrrrrrrrrrrunch

I think the shift in the zed is short enough already. Well in mine it is anyway...

I think the shift in the zed is short enough already. Well in mine it is anyway...

 

+1:wink:

I think there's def a diferance in shift capabilities between the short shift and oem, with the short throw shifter there is the timing of shifts which all depends on how well you can fully engage the clutch so if you have slight clutch issues then it will show more with the short shifter than the normal oem shifter.

 

With both of my zeds even with the clutch fully engaged and trying to move through the gears you still need a slight force to move it and you can feel the shift more like a clunking sound as it goes into gear which I did like.

 

The force needed on the short shifter is likely to do with the amount of leverage now required to move the shifter as apposed to the design of the oem model which as leverage goes requires less.

 

All being the short shifter is good fun but it takes to get used to and if you want to use the short shifter for a quick change then you need to have a good clutch, a fast left foot and a strong left arm !

I drove loads of zeds with short shifters and never liked at all.good man for taking it off.Box munchers i reckon.The zed,s shift is designed to work with the stock stick and knob.Thats why the knob is so heavy,its weighted for a reason.All short shifters do is reduce the travel on the gearstick which is hardly a long change anyway on a zed.

Hmmmmm this is making me think about ditching mine!!