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[Z06] Missed 3rd (strange)?
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Williamstown NJ
Missed 3rd (strange)?
I finally tried to wind my 03Z out abit now that I am pretty used to it. I consider myself a pretty good driver, but have only had about a dozen or so passes at the track in the past. I have had much more experience than that tohugh 
. However, I notice a couple of times now, when shifting really hard to 3rd, I ended up between 3rd, and 5th somewhere. The shifter did go up in there, but nothing grabbing at all as if I had the clutch pedal in. Anyone ever have this happen, I am sure I will become more familiar with it, but should the shifter even go up in there? Thanks!
Example of where I ended up wiht the shifter (x marks the spot)
1 3x5 R
2 4 6
. However, I notice a couple of times now, when shifting really hard to 3rd, I ended up between 3rd, and 5th somewhere. The shifter did go up in there, but nothing grabbing at all as if I had the clutch pedal in. Anyone ever have this happen, I am sure I will become more familiar with it, but should the shifter even go up in there? Thanks!Example of where I ended up wiht the shifter (x marks the spot)
1 3x5 R
2 4 6
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
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From: Central Florida
To solve this problem: How to Improve Your Shifting
Ranger
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 89
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From: Williamstown NJ
Should the shifter of have been abl ot be pushed up in that area anywhere, and the car act like it is in neutral though? It seemed like it went into third, but would not move. But when taking it out of gear, and putting it back in 3rd, it seemed to be off to the right just a little bit. I understand the excitement factor, and am not going to say it is the first time I have ever missed a gear, but I have never seen the shifter seem to go into a gear (or at least near it) fully forward on the shifter, and then be able to just rev the engine as if I were in neutral.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Central Florida
^^^ You definitely missed the 3d gear shift gate by causing the shifter to move laterally, wide to the right.
Had you entered the shift gate correctly, when you executed clutch-out, the shifter would have either
(1) remained in gear or
(2) violently kicked the shifter back toward you if it were not fully seated.
Neither (1) nor (2) occurred, based on your description.
Therefore, the explanation is you did not enter 3d, but missed it wide to the right.
Again, this is a very common problem. Keeping your thumb off the shifter and pushing the shifter with the heal of the hand straight toward the radio is the prescription for accurate 2-3 shifts. Drills to embed that position and motion will permanently enable fast, accurate shifts to 3d and every other gear too.
Ranger
Had you entered the shift gate correctly, when you executed clutch-out, the shifter would have either
(1) remained in gear or
(2) violently kicked the shifter back toward you if it were not fully seated.
Neither (1) nor (2) occurred, based on your description.
Therefore, the explanation is you did not enter 3d, but missed it wide to the right.
Again, this is a very common problem. Keeping your thumb off the shifter and pushing the shifter with the heal of the hand straight toward the radio is the prescription for accurate 2-3 shifts. Drills to embed that position and motion will permanently enable fast, accurate shifts to 3d and every other gear too.
Ranger
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
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From: Central Florida
Solution entails Taking Care of Your Clutch.
Ranger
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
I had the same problem when I bought my 03 Z new. Did my hole shot, hit second and no problem, then missed third almost felt like the shifter hit a wall. After doing this for about the third time in short period of time I was feeling real sick. Did some research and found out I was'nt the only one having this problem. Bought a new Hurst shifter installed it and hav'nt had a problem since. The difference between the stock shifter and the Hurst are incredible. The stock shifter has this big rubber isolator at the end of the shaft which I think causes the problem. The best thing about changing the shifter out is you do every thing from in side the cabin. Thought I'd share this information with you. HAPPY SHIFTING!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Texas Hill Country
I had an 01 Z28 that felt like it was getting jammed between 3rd and 5th when powershifting. It took two hands to pull it out of wherever it was. Installed a Pro50 shifter and cured it. The stock shifter just sucks is all. Upgrade.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
578 passes in three Z06s, all with the stock shifters and zero tranny issues. How to Improve Your Shifting
Ranger
Ranger
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
A Hurst shifter is spring loaded so it is almost impossible to miss the 2nd to 3rd shift.
You have to be deliberate in going from 1st to 2nd, but it automatically goes from 2nd to 3rd.
You have to be deliberate in going from 1st to 2nd, but it automatically goes from 2nd to 3rd.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
578 passes in three Z06s, all with the stock shifters and zero tranny issues. How to Improve Your Shifting
Ranger
Ranger
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Performance-focused driving is like any sport. No one gets good without proper technique and practice to set muscle memory.
Many actions in sports become harder when the speed of execution is increased. Shifting gears is a good example of that. Most owners have no trouble shifting gears until they first begin to shoot for max acceleration. Fast action can yield errors.
The simple, direct approach is to adopt the hand position the prevents pronation of the wrist during fast movements. It is the pronation that guides the shifter wide of the gear gates.
So, some practice with a neutral hand position that blocks pronation will prevent the missed shifts.
To use a another sports analogy, a golf pro will look at your grip and swing mechanics for adjustments, not immediately prescribe a new set of clubs.
Ranger
Many actions in sports become harder when the speed of execution is increased. Shifting gears is a good example of that. Most owners have no trouble shifting gears until they first begin to shoot for max acceleration. Fast action can yield errors.
The simple, direct approach is to adopt the hand position the prevents pronation of the wrist during fast movements. It is the pronation that guides the shifter wide of the gear gates.
So, some practice with a neutral hand position that blocks pronation will prevent the missed shifts.
To use a another sports analogy, a golf pro will look at your grip and swing mechanics for adjustments, not immediately prescribe a new set of clubs.
Ranger
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Bad example, IMO. Golf is much more intricate and complex than shifting a car. Besides, what would you consider a stock set of golf clubs? What would you consider the "right" way to swing a club when every player has their own style? What about different clubs for different situations and different swings for different situations? Etc. What happens when people are shifting properly and just have faulty equipment? What happens when the clutch sticks with spotless fluid? Is there really no room for reality? Sometimes equipment other than mass produced lowest bidder parts are useful. Please make room for that idea. Just a little room. Then let us have fun with our hobby instead of breaking everything down to pronation and supination of our carpal row.... Just a thought. Seriously, no offense. All your helpful links are appreciated. But there's more out there.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Bad example, IMO. Golf is much more intricate and complex than shifting a car. Besides, what would you consider a stock set of golf clubs? What would you consider the "right" way to swing a club when every player has their own style? What about different clubs for different situations and different swings for different situations? Etc. What happens when people are shifting properly and just have faulty equipment? What happens when the clutch sticks with spotless fluid? Is there really no room for reality? Sometimes equipment other than mass produced lowest bidder parts are useful. Please make room for that idea. Just a little room. Then let us have fun with our hobby instead of breaking everything down to pronation and supination of our carpal row.... Just a thought. Seriously, no offense. All your helpful links are appreciated. But there's more out there.
Ranger
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Always better to try free first.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
Bad example, IMO. Golf is much more intricate and complex than shifting a car. Besides, what would you consider a stock set of golf clubs? What would you consider the "right" way to swing a club when every player has their own style? What about different clubs for different situations and different swings for different situations? Etc. What happens when people are shifting properly and just have faulty equipment? What happens when the clutch sticks with spotless fluid? Is there really no room for reality? Sometimes equipment other than mass produced lowest bidder parts are useful. Please make room for that idea. Just a little room. Then let us have fun with our hobby instead of breaking everything down to pronation and supination of our carpal row.... Just a thought. Seriously, no offense. All your helpful links are appreciated. But there's more out there.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
I've been very fortunate in my sports life to have good coaches that specialize in solid fundamentals. They often found I needed to make small adjustment to my technique.
Instead of fighting those suggestions, I tried them and practiced using the adjusted movements. And, not surprisingly, my level of performance improved, sometimes dramatically, as a consequence.
In performance driving, some owners fiercely resist any change in their driving technique. Instead they quickly gravitate to buying replacement hardware. Easy to rationalize that an issue must be the fault of the car or a part rather than driver technique.
But, of course, changing out parts doesn't always bring the anticipated result. And owners who ignore the central role of technique usually don't manage to improve very much.
Ranger
P.S. I'm a self-taught, decent tennis player. A tennis-pro watched me rallying with my hitting partner. The pro gave me an unsolicited tip to adjust my grip slightly for better top-spin on my backhand. He was right. And with 20-minutes of practice to embed the adjustment, I solved a shot problem that had diminished my game for two years.
Tennis is a complicated sport. But small adjustments to hand position can solve some issues. Just like they can in shifting gears.
Instead of fighting those suggestions, I tried them and practiced using the adjusted movements. And, not surprisingly, my level of performance improved, sometimes dramatically, as a consequence.
In performance driving, some owners fiercely resist any change in their driving technique. Instead they quickly gravitate to buying replacement hardware. Easy to rationalize that an issue must be the fault of the car or a part rather than driver technique.
But, of course, changing out parts doesn't always bring the anticipated result. And owners who ignore the central role of technique usually don't manage to improve very much.
Ranger
P.S. I'm a self-taught, decent tennis player. A tennis-pro watched me rallying with my hitting partner. The pro gave me an unsolicited tip to adjust my grip slightly for better top-spin on my backhand. He was right. And with 20-minutes of practice to embed the adjustment, I solved a shot problem that had diminished my game for two years.
Tennis is a complicated sport. But small adjustments to hand position can solve some issues. Just like they can in shifting gears.
Last edited by Ranger; Aug 10, 2007 at 01:20 PM.