Can't Get Into 2nd Gear (Just installed Kartboy, MTEC, Motul 300, and Whiteline)

[Mad_Mike]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

You sure you didn't install the bushing upside down or backwards? I'm running the Perrin shifter bushing and it didn't change the position of the shifter one bit.

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Do you also have the kartboy short shifter? It only goes in one way. I don't have the Perrin one I have the kartboy one so there might be some difference there.

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by Mad_Mike

Do you also have the kartboy short shifter? It only goes in one way. I don't have the Perrin one I have the kartboy one so there might be some difference there.

No, I'm running the BPS short shifter and Perrin shifter bushing. I haven't had the Kartboy shifter in my hands, but it looks very similar to the BPS unit.

Depending on how much slop your stock shifter bushing had in it, that could play a part in 2nd no longer being where it should be. If the shifter arm (the arm that the bushings slides onto and then secures to the body) is now much sturdier, the shifter will no longer have as much lateral movement, making it seem like second is no longer where it needs to be when in reality you just need to move the reverse lockout plate over slightly to make the 2nd gear gate more defined.

[modena]

Running around with the Kartboy shifter for about 100 miles now,
Works great, no issues with 2nd gear, reverse lockout works the way it should be and just checked, no problems shifting from neutral into second gear...
I have not installed the bushing yet.

[lickitysplit]

Originally Posted by Mad_Mike

Do you also have the kartboy short shifter? It only goes in one way. I don't have the Perrin one I have the kartboy one so there might be some difference there.

I have the Kartboy SS and the rear stay. I had the shifter in for about a month before the bushing and my shifts are 10x better than before now that the bushing is in there. Granted, I did change to Amsoil in the transmission at the same time as the bushing. Positive shift kit bushing is going in the end of the month, but I don't expect to feel much of a change.

[Mad_Mike]

Originally Posted by lickitysplit

I have the Kartboy SS and the rear stay. I had the shifter in for about a month before the bushing and my shifts are 10x better than before now that the bushing is in there. Granted, I did change to Amsoil in the transmission at the same time as the bushing. Positive shift kit bushing is going in the end of the month, but I don't expect to feel much of a change.

Well I'm glad you like the shifter feel now. For me I loved it with just the short shift. Installing the bushing just made it way too notchy. I just put in the shifter springs and I haven't fully made up my mind on them.

[Anthony]

It might be a few more days before I get back into this, but I think I'll start with the reverse lockout plate. If that doesn't work, I'll switch the Perrin out with the stock "bushing," although that thing is pretty much just a bracket and not a bushing from what I remember. If neither of those work, then I'll just start adjusting things until something happens.

Originally Posted by Mad_Mike

...2nd was no longer all the way to the left and straight down but more in between where 2nd used to be and 4th.

That is exactly the situation. Which gives me hope that maybe all I need to do is switch that back to stock and I'll be good to go.

This is why you don't install 4+ things all at once. I already knew, but was trying to make a deadline.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by FR-S Matt

lol, when I took mine off, I looked at it again and said, "Yeah right"

Trash can.

I kept the stock catback though. That's valuable.

The stock front pipe is probably worth more than the stock cat back... OEM cats aren't cheap parts at all (some cars are $1000+ for just the OEM cat), even wreckers pay good money for a used cat.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by Anthony

It might be a few more days before I get back into this, but I think I'll start with the reverse lockout plate. If that doesn't work, I'll switch the Perrin out with the stock "bushing," although that thing is pretty much just a bracket and not a bushing from what I remember. If neither of those work, then I'll just start adjusting things until something happens.



That is exactly the situation. Which gives me hope that maybe all I need to do is switch that back to stock and I'll be good to go.

This is why you don't install 4+ things all at once. I already knew, but was trying to make a deadline.

Except the rear bushing ships with the KB short shifter. Tom@Kartboy intended the 2 to be used together, and this is the first I've heard of the issue, so there's got to be more to it than that the bushing is not right.

Originally Posted by Mad_Mike

Well I'm glad you like the shifter feel now. For me I loved it with just the short shift. Installing the bushing just made it way too notchy. I just put in the shifter springs and I haven't fully made up my mind on them.

That's what it felt like in my STI with KB short shifter and front/rear bushings. Then my car put about 1k miles onto the bushings or so... and over that distance the bushings broke in and.... perfection. Once those new harder bushings break in, it's great. Way more firm than stock, but with just the right amount of give.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

Except the rear bushing ships with the KB short shifter. Tom@Kartboy intended the 2 to be used together, and this is the first I've heard of the issue, so there's got to be more to it than that the bushing is not right.

That sounds about right. I bought my shifter used and the seller didn't include the bushing. I figured they would all be about the same, so I went with Perrin because it was like $2 or $3 cheaper.

If the stock one feels good, I'll just use it. I think it's lighter, anyway. Between the shifter, the springs, the positive shift bushing, and my new tranny oil, my shifting feels incredible. It snaps into place with such authority. It's awesome. But holy balls, 2nd is easy to miss.

[SirBrass]

That's the thing... it shouldn't be easy to miss. It should still be where it has always been.

[FearBoy]

I forgot about this thread. Did you try repositioning the lockout plate and running through all gears? Make sure that all gear changes are possible before putting the interior back together. The short shifter and MTEC springs can increase shift effort quite a bit.

I've noticed in my car that 2nd gear is a real pain to get into when the transmission is cold. I have to double clutch most times until things warm up.

[SirBrass]

What are MTEC springs? From what FearBoy is saying, it doesn't sound like they're suspension springs...

[FearBoy]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

What are MTEC springs? From what FearBoy is saying, it doesn't sound like they're suspension springs...

They are springs that help center the shifter in the neutral position. Basically, they should improve 2nd-3rd and 4th-5th shifts by guiding you through neutral.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by FearBoy

I've noticed in my car that 2nd gear is a real pain to get into when the transmission is cold. I have to double clutch most times until things warm up.

How many miles on the box, how many miles on the fluid, and what trans fluid? I had this issue last winter, but it's colder than it was now than when I was having issues last year...and I'm not having any issues with 2nd gear lockout.