Break-in and Smooth Shifting

[Chad86]

I believe I saw this in another thread. But during the break-in period, apparently shifting can be not so smooth. I find that the only shift transition that I don't always have smooth is from 1st to 2nd. All other gears are fine. As time is going on, it seems to be getting better. Just wondering if anyone else has run into this.

[rawrmatty]

I have the same issue here. I just purchased my FRS and I can say that 1st to 2nd is the hardest to make a smooth transition.

From what I saw on other threads this is pretty common especially if its cold. I'm sure in time though with more practice that I will get it down cause I have done it a few times.

Off topic though have you ever felt going into first gear from Neutral being kinda clunky at times ? then it goes in smooth at times also ? I've noticed this when I stop and do my start offs at times.

[unsurety]

Delay your shifts a few tenths of a second for 1st to 2nd. Remove the helper spring and lower the clutch pedal height to a couple of mm above the brake pedal.

Maybe it's just me, but the shift timing is off for the first minute or so with the cold-start altered cam overlap as well.

[YoungFlight]

That happens to me too. This is my first mt car and I've had the car for about 3 weeks so that could be the reason why. I sometimes jerk from 4th to 5th too but I think I just need a lot more practice.

[strat61caster]

30k miles, gets smoother all the time.

Biggest improvement was after doing HPDEs... Also changing fluid is reported to help, will do it when I take care of the other 30k service items in two or three weeks.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

30k miles, gets smoother all the time.

17K miles here, and I was just remarking this week how much looser the shifter feels now and how much smoother it shifts.

I'd like to be able to take credit for that, but I can't figure out a way to attribute it to my awesome skills.

[Manic]

I had a ton of issues getting 1st to 2nd to feel smooth. So much so that I eventually just started starting in 2nd. I had done plenty of research as to the pro's and con's of it... the pro's primarily being that it's a bit easier for casual daily driving and a bit 'smoother'. However eventually the con's of extra wear on the clutch and the risk of engine lugging if done improperly ultimately got me using 1st again.

I think the big holdup I had was how low of a 1st gear it is. Pushing 4.5-5k RPM and only going 18-19 mph felt off to me. The noise probably made me hesitant as well. Now I'm just used to it. Once you find your sweet spot for shifting into 2nd (and recognize that you'll inevitably have to slip it a bit more than other gears) made it a lot easier. I feel a lot more comfortable just casually driving around town. I used to be worried that the extra time it took me to get me into 2nd made me look really slow compared to all the autos around, but it was just a complex I had to get over. The more comfortable you get, the faster and smoother that shift becomes.

A lot of people in a similar thread suggested shifting at around 3.5-4k as they believed that was the closest overlap. I've been trying lately to not pay attention to the tach as much and instead go off of sound and feel. When I do check, I'm generally shifting at around 4.5-5k.

[Manic]

Originally Posted by rawrmatty

Off topic though have you ever felt going into first gear from Neutral being kinda clunky at times ? then it goes in smooth at times also ? I've noticed this when I stop and do my start offs at times.

I believe that's just the transmission trying to slow down the synchros and what not as you're moving into 1st. When in neutral with the clutch out, the transmission is still spinning, so when you clutch-in and put into first, the synchros are trying to slow down everything to match the fact that the wheels aren't moving. If you hold the clutch in for a little bit before easing the shifter into 1st, it should help with all the clunking since it'll give the transmission some time to spin down.

[xxBrun0xx]

Big issue is your clutch. It's adjusted way too high from the factory and it has a return spring that results in ZERO feel. I had a tough time shifting smoothly until I did both of these things. Shifts like butter now. Both are completely reversible and only take about 10 minutes each.

Clutch height: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040
Helper spring: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35621

[Manic]

Originally Posted by xxBrun0xx

Big issue is your clutch. It's adjusted way too high from the factory and it has a return spring that results in ZERO feel. I had a tough time shifting smoothly until I did both of these things. Shifts like butter now. Both are completely reversible and only take about 10 minutes each.

Clutch height: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040
Helper spring: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35621

I considered doing the clutch height adjustment a while back. Even attempted it but was eventually stopped by a bad back (only way I could get under there was to basically lie upside-down in my seat). After a couple thousand miles, I just got used to it. This is the first manual car I've owned; first car I've ever driven (for a week or so) however was '67 Beetle. So I didn't really have any predispositions for clutch feel.

If anything, I find the accelerator to be the most maddening pedal because it just has no feel to me and is also a bit too skinny/short for me to heel toe with.

[wheelhaus]

OP, are you referring to a notchy feeling when the stick slips into 2nd, or are you referring to a lurch/lunge from a sloppy shift?

[Chad86]

Originally Posted by wheelhaus

OP, are you referring to a notchy feeling when the stick slips into 2nd, or are you referring to a lurch/lunge from a sloppy shift?

I'm referring to unsmooth shifting when letting out the clutch after shifting into 2nd. All other gears transition fine. Practice seems to make it better, although I have been driving standard for over ten years now...

[xxBrun0xx]

Another issue with smooth shifting in the lower gears is the stock throttle mapping, which is exponential, not linear. A stage 1 flash will make the throttle mapping a lot more intuitive. For those who prefer to stay stock, just knowing that the throttle mapping isn't linear is a big help!

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Manic

If anything, I find the accelerator to be the most maddening pedal because it just has no feel to me and is also a bit too skinny/short for me to heel toe with.

That's one of the first things I fixed on mine. The Cusco pedal is the size the accelerator should have been from the factory.