Short shifters bad for transmissions?

[omegis13]

Hi,

I had a strange conversation with one of the owners of Abel Racing. While paying for the transmission install job they did for me, the guy told me I should put my stock shifter back on as short shifter kits can damage transmissions. I had never heard this before, and through an engineering standpoint, it doesn't make sense; the short shifters are designed to move the pivot point closer to center on the lever. As long as the travel or of the lower arm remains the same (which would shorten the travel or "thow" of the upper arm), nothing should change. Has anyone else ever heard this?

Thanks,

Greg Heineken

 

[awdtalontsi1992]

The only way a short throw shifter could hurt a transmission(in general) is if the bump stops on the new shifter were not adjusted correctly. This doesn't really apply to the shifters in our cars. However you must make sure the cables are adjusted properly. So with the exception that you are shifting "quicker" with a short throw(this could be harder on parts) I don't really agree with that.

 

[omegis13]

I didn't either, but considering I just paid over $2000 for the transmission, not to mention everything else, I don't want to injure it. Just thought I would see if anyone had heard of this before.

Thanks,

Greg Heineken

 

[90blacktsiawd]

The other guy here got it right. The only way for it to damage a tranny is if you don't adjust the bumbstops to match the new throw. If you give it too much room you can over extend and break a shift fork.

 

[DGajre777]

Was he talking about DSMs or cars in general with short shifters?

 

[90blacktsiawd]

I assume DSM's since he was asking about his car.

 

[omegis13]

DSM's. His name is Andrei. He co-owns Abel Racing in the OKC metro. He knows his shit, so I don't instantly discredit him, but a short throw that is properly adjusted being bad on a transmission? Just doesn't make sense.

Greg Heineken

 

[housegsx]

Ask him why.
If he wasn't talking about breaking the forks he may have been suggesting synchro issues. If you are able to shift faster you are making the synchos match gear speeds faster. Essentially making them work harder. This shouldn't be a problem on a new transmission or a TRE or Shep transmission, but maybe he was just suggesting that on an old transmission it may grind with faster shifts.
Just a thought.

 

[Defiant]

I believe it was some of the early Fidanza shorts that didn't have stoppers, and made it possible to over-shift, that is, shift past where the collars over the gears were supposed to go.
I've heard of no issues with B&M nor their clones. I'd not heard of OBX shifters shifting incorrectly, but apparently they had issues with breaking themselves.

 

[Dream On]

Most every aftermarket 1g shifter does not even have the bump stops, except for the one on JNZTuning. Maybe that's changed now, but it seemed to be the case when I was looking into them.

 

[90blacktsiawd]

I'm pretty sure that JNZ is the only one that has the stops redone.

Actually, i stand corrected. Dogbox racing makes on that redoes the stops as well.

 

[FusionTalon]

seems odd, only thing that could be aproblem is the bump stops adjusted incorrectly. If anything a regular size shifter would probably have more weare or damage on the tranny becasue you have more levrage to rip the shifter.

 

[tstkl]

my short shifter lacks bump stops entirely, and I would just like to say as long as you don't force it past the point of engagement, your fine. You can feel whats too far and what isn't. Just don't be overly agressive.

 

[slipstream808]

I'll second the synchros issue. That's all I can really think of other than the bump stops.