Kartboy Style Short Shifter Rattle Fix!

[Manic]

I think I finally found a permanent solution to the rattle found in Kartboy style short shifters. Previously, I had been applying grease inside the shifter where the reverse lockout spring was and this would do a decent job until the grease inevitably squeezed out. I'm not sure if it's the same on the Kartboy shifter, but on the DNA Motoring clone, there appears to be a small hole where the reverse lockout housing is pinned to the mechanism and grease would start to push out of it.

Now I've been sure that the rattle has been coming from this spring having too much slack against the inner walls of the shifter and the resonant frequency from the transmission was making it rattle at higher RPMs. I decided to take the spring out and put some heat shrink on it to snug up the fit. I've covered about 2/3s the length of the spring and it gives it just enough diameter to snug up against the inner walls.

I've been running it this way for a week now with zero rattles.

P.S. The DNA Motoring clone has held up perfectly for the last 3 years with no issues apart from the rattling!

[JBezugs]

Originally Posted by Manic

I think I finally found a permanent solution to the rattle found in Kartboy style short shifters. Previously, I had been applying grease inside the shifter where the reverse lockout spring was and this would do a decent job until the grease inevitably squeezed out. I'm not sure if it's the same on the Kartboy shifter, but on the DNA Motoring clone, there appears to be a small hole where the reverse lockout housing is pinned to the mechanism and grease would start to push out of it.



Now I've been sure that the rattle has been coming from this spring having too much slack against the inner walls of the shifter and the resonant frequency from the transmission was making it rattle at higher RPMs. I decided to take the spring out and put some heat shrink on it to snug up the fit. I've covered about 2/3s the length of the spring and it gives it just enough diameter to snug up against the inner walls.



I've been running it this way for a week now with zero rattles.



P.S. The DNA Motoring clone has held up perfectly for the last 3 years with no issues apart from the rattling!

Planning on doing this tonight with my ft86speedfactory shifter; how did you pull the spring out?

EDIT: never mind, realized you were talking about the reverse lockout spring! I pulled my grease covered unit out and wrapped it in the pink waterproofing tape (had no heat shrink on me) until it was tight to the sides, but still allowing the spring to move up and down. Hopefully that fixes the rattle!

[Manic]

Originally Posted by JBezugs

Planning on doing this tonight with my ft86speedfactory shifter; how did you pull the spring out?

EDIT: never mind, realized you were talking about the reverse lockout spring! I pulled my grease covered unit out and wrapped it in the pink waterproofing tape (had no heat shrink on me) until it was tight to the sides, but still allowing the spring to move up and down. Hopefully that fixes the rattle!

Good luck! I'd recommend eventually switching to heatshrink as I imagine the tape won't be as permanent of a solution. Additionally, if the tape does manage to slip off or unravel, it might be a pain in the ass to get it out. Besides, it's nice to have some heatshrink tubing lying around for little DIY projects!

Either way though, hope it fixes the rattles for you because it's been working perfectly for me!

[JBezugs]

Originally Posted by Manic

Good luck! I'd recommend eventually switching to heatshrink as I imagine the tape won't be as permanent of a solution. Additionally, if the tape does manage to slip off or unravel, it might be a pain in the ass to get it out. Besides, it's nice to have some heatshrink tubing lying around for little DIY projects!



Either way though, hope it fixes the rattles for you because it's been working perfectly for me!

Tape solution didn’t work, so I got wise.





Hopefully this fixes it!

[gpvecchi]

How did you remove the spring?

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by gpvecchi

How did you remove the spring?

I thinks a 6mm Allen underneath the shift knob. Remove it and pull up on the lever and the springs comes right out.

This is with the aftermarket shifters only though

[gpvecchi]

I have the STi short shifter and there's no allen key, just a hole...

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by gpvecchi

I have the STi short shifter and there's no allen key, just a hole...

Well yes that is not an aftermarket shifter