Short Shifter

[mz3~Power]

hey guys i just installed the short shifter that i got from rick at g16. now i know that the shifter is supposed to be stiffer... but the spring that pulls the knob back to center doesn't pull it all the way...it pulls it back but not enough so i have to move it the rest of the way. What i want to know is this normal? i noticed form the group buy page that nobody posted this issues so am i the only one? and the spring makes a click noise when you pull it left to go into 1st but not when you pull it right to go into 5th.

thanks guys,

[Donutz]

Doesn't sound normal. Mine is just fine. Are you sure that you put the springs back in properly? Did you lube everything up? Also, did you push the cables back into the brackets?


EDIT: Looking at the TWM manual, does the spring that is coiled up on the side of the shifter look like it does on pages 4 and 8? On pg 4 you can see it from the back, and on pg 8 from the front.

http://www.twmperformance.com/manuals/Mazda%203%20Manual.pdf

[Donutz]

nvm

[mz3~Power]

yeah i put the cables back in ... like when i wiggle the shifter left to right if i pull it right it comes back fine. It's when i pull it left it comes back but not all the way. i lubed up stuff and i took off the boot to look at it while i move it and it looks like the spring wants to come off track but doesn't and thats whats causing it to not come back ...was it easy for everyone else to get the spring back on it took me forever.

[mz3~Power]

oh damn i think i put the spring in wrong cause it doesn't look like the one on page 7.... i put the bottom part of the spring under the black plastic right under the knob that the top piece sits on

[Donutz]

Nah, of all the steps that took me the longest, easily 10 - 15 minutes. I finally figured out that it was easier to install the shifter by putting the cups on last (gives you more room to move the shifter around to get the spring on). It is possible that you just need to work it in and because it's cold it may be giving you grief. I never had that problem though (installed mine in October).

[Donutz]

oh damn i think i put the spring in wrong cause it doesn't look like the one on page 7.... i put the bottom part of the spring under the black plastic right under the knob that the top piece sits on

It gets twisted around really easily. Sounds like that might be the cause.

[mz3~Power]

so the spring is supposed to touch the metal part of the shifter. like in page 7... not the plastic part that i have it latched on to? or does yours look different

[Donutz]

Mine looks just like the pic beside step 18 on page 8. I can't picture what you have yours attached to. Can you post a pic?

[mz3~Power]

i just ran out now ... and it looks somewhat like that. its hard to explain and maybe ill get a pic up tomorrow... but on step 18 if you look right below where both parts on the spring is connected...there is pink grease on a black plastic piece that has a groove going up and one under it going down .... both parts of the spring on mine rest on these grooves but also touch the shifter...sorry im trying to be as clear as possible

[Donutz]

I know what you are talking about; is the spring installed around the shifter like it is in the pic? And is the spring crossed like on pg 4?

[mz3~Power]

yea its crossed like in page 4 but its isnt wrapped around the shifter like in step 18 it rests more on these plastic grooves... is your spring above the grooves like in step 18??

[Donutz]

The spring is spread open so it is on the top and bottom of the groove.

[mz3~Power]

so then its like mine. but when i move it to the left the top part of the spring rubs against the shifter... was i supposed to grease that part? cause it will wear it down if it is always rubbing and would that cause it to now pull back to the center if it isnt greased?

[Billabang]

What brand is your shifter

I had the same issue w/ a TechRacing...

[mz3~Power]

What brand is your shifter

I had the same issue w/ a TechRacing...

yea i have tech racing .... did it cause any damage?

[1flycdnM3]

I got dizzy reading this thread, but it does sound like you did it right, the spring is a B!TCH to get around the shifter (not sure if i did it the hard way or not).... but it DOES have to attach to the shifter on the TWM, so i am assuming all of them should be manufactured the same way. Hopefully you got this fixed over the weekend, keep us updated!

[mz3~Power]

i got the spring on the shifter part, the only think im concerned about is that when you wiggle the shifter in neutral ( left to right ) you hear a clicking noise. so i took off the boot to see what it was and its the spring moving when i pull it left toward me ... it looks like its going to come off... but doesn't ... then falls back into place and makes the clock noise...the clicking is caused by it not coming straight down into the grove , it rubs the whole way down... so im not sure if that is how its supposed to be ...

[mz3~Power]

i guess i wore in the spring or shifter...cause the noise went away so im happy again lol thanks guys for the advice

[Default User]

It's just one of those things that we don't pay much attention to "before" the install.
I'm glad it's working out.

I've been wanting to get one of his SS for 3 months now, but something keeps coming up.
How do you like it?

[stevenma188]

Definitely a worthwhile investment. So worth it.

[mz3~Power]

oh yea i love the ss .... def makes the shifting feel better... you wont be able to go back to regular hight once you get used to the short height...it just feels perfect :P

[Default User]

Does anybody have experience with the SS that G16 sells compared to another manufacturer Shifter?
Wondering if the "you-get-what-you-pay-for" rule applies to short shifters

[Donutz]

^^ I don't have any exposure to 'other' shifters, but I think 'you get what you pay for' definitely comes into play. The G16 shifter is missing some washers, and the shaft is straight, so it is situated closer to the passenger vs. say TWM which sits center in the console. That said, for $80-$85 the G16 is a steal and does the job very well. Aside from the esthetics I'm extremely pleased with mine and I'd recommend it to anyone.

[stevenma188]

I'm also using the G16 SS, and it works well. I bought some washers from Canadian Tire for $3 (for all 4).

[active3s]

ok...i notice this topic and wanted to get some input...what you call Short Shifter And a short throw shifter?......I though a Short Shifter like theh TWS one was just that...a cut of the top with out mesing with the hight/distance form each cable link...compared to factory one..Unlike the MAZDASPEED one that I got I notice the diference on the cable links being more apart and still dont have to do as much travel to engage gears..used on my 05 and now on my 07......
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx164/active3s/DSCF0005.jpg
http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx164/active3s/DSCF3196.jpg