Darn 3rd Gear-Shifting Help!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 54
From: Chandler, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
Darn 3rd Gear-Shifting Help!
Hey everyone, I recently purchased a 2013 Z06 
and I'm having a hard time shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear under hard acceleration. Now granted, I'm old school and used to a 4 speed but is this stock short throw shifter junk or do I just need to get used to it? I guess instead of moving it straight up, I move it over to far and miss the gear, any help is appreciated.
I have seen many other brands of shifters, maybe they work better?
and I'm having a hard time shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear under hard acceleration. Now granted, I'm old school and used to a 4 speed but is this stock short throw shifter junk or do I just need to get used to it? I guess instead of moving it straight up, I move it over to far and miss the gear, any help is appreciated.I have seen many other brands of shifters, maybe they work better?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: La Verne CA
When you shift from 2nd to 3rd, try just pushing the gear lever forward with the palm of your hand. It will center itself into the gate for 3rd gear. If you want an aftermarket shifter, many people go with MGW. Search and you will find a lot of info about them on the forum.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,138
Likes: 171
From: Missouri
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
I almost never miss 3rd. Just push straight up, don't try forcing it, it will find its own way into gear. The open palm technique is silly, and much slower. Practice makes perfect.
Congrats on the Z!
Congrats on the Z!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,062
Likes: 9,825
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
When you shift from 2nd to 3rd, try just pushing the gear lever forward with the palm of your hand. It will center itself into the gate for 3rd gear. If you want an aftermarket shifter, many people go with MGW. Search and you will find a lot of info about them on the forum.
Shifter works fine as long as you don't jam shift it like you would do an old fashioned 4 speed. Place hand on top of shifter, use 2 or 3 finger tips to shift to 2,4 or 6. Use palm of hand to shift to 1, 3 or 5.
2nd to 3rd shift is done by using palm with a very slight pressure to the right. Can be done with mostly hand movement and very little arm movement. Don't aim the shifter unless you want to miss the shift.
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
As said above but you may want to try this ("Ranger" even suggests it, I think). With engine-off, sit in the car and try the 2nd-o-third gear shifting technique outlined above.
(with clutch in) Just push with your palm at a normal speed. Keep increasing the speed just pushing with your palm. Finally, bang it hard. Even tho there is such a thing as rpm pressure that affects shifter compared to engine-off condition, you'll see it works just about every time.
(with clutch in) Just push with your palm at a normal speed. Keep increasing the speed just pushing with your palm. Finally, bang it hard. Even tho there is such a thing as rpm pressure that affects shifter compared to engine-off condition, you'll see it works just about every time.
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Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
geeeeezz.... I never miss the 2-3 power shift and I'm full handing it. It goes in every time and I don't lift off of the throttle either. I guess my early days of drag racing paid off. The only one I have messed up a few times is the 4-5 power shift but I usually don't get that far on the street due to speed.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 54
From: Chandler, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
Thanks everyone for the info, I'm going to work with it for awhile and get used to the new pattern. I also did some research on the MGW shifter, it looks impressive! Would that be a better investment for shifting?
Last edited by Todds427; Jul 15, 2014 at 09:38 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,277
Likes: 8,553
From: Rochester, NY
I would keep working on your shifting. Once that becomes a non issue, than you can decide if the MGW shifter would be a good investment. My opinion is spend your money elsewhere.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
You mention having the problem under "hard acceleration." I'm guessing when going WOT you tense-up trying to make a fast shift with a death grip on the shifter. I suggest you relax and (as others have mentioned) using the palm of your hand gently 'guide' the shifter towards 3rd gear. Don't rush or 'force' the shift...be easy. Give the shifter a 'suggestion' of where to go and it'll find its way. Practice shifting in a smooth, relaxed manner. When you need a fast shift it'll be there when you need it. Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
If you are thinking about the shift you will miss. Anticipation causes stress and stress tightens the muscles. Has to be second nature. Get a routine concerning hand placement on the shifter and trust it. Know your yellow rpm zone when building rpm shift in this one not at the red line. Shifting at the red line will be late.
I learned on a 13 speed trans in the big rig. With 400 rpm spread and pulling a hill you have to grab the next gear dead on or loose your torque and next lower gear. No clutch just unload the trans and move the stick. Thinking about this shift will cause a drop in a gear anyway and maybe more when frustrated. Gotta be second nature. No grinding either with perfect timing. And almost always perfect too with nearly 3 million miles practice.
I will say that when I got my 08 MN6 I too had some trouble with the timing and making smooth shifts. Just takes practice and correct method.
As other have mentioned the palm method works, try it and relax.
This is why on the street our cars are so fast that a lot of information has to be processed concerning your surroundings. This too makes shifting at redline more difficult.
I learned on a 13 speed trans in the big rig. With 400 rpm spread and pulling a hill you have to grab the next gear dead on or loose your torque and next lower gear. No clutch just unload the trans and move the stick. Thinking about this shift will cause a drop in a gear anyway and maybe more when frustrated. Gotta be second nature. No grinding either with perfect timing. And almost always perfect too with nearly 3 million miles practice.
I will say that when I got my 08 MN6 I too had some trouble with the timing and making smooth shifts. Just takes practice and correct method.
As other have mentioned the palm method works, try it and relax.
This is why on the street our cars are so fast that a lot of information has to be processed concerning your surroundings. This too makes shifting at redline more difficult.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,022
Likes: 171
From: Vancouver Island
The MGW is an improvement but it won't cure the problem, at least for me it didn't. It's a shorter throw shifter with a stronger spring to center it on the 3-4 gate. It should improve your shifting speed, plus it feels a lot more positive and precise like high performance equipment should, but the same "palm" technique is useful or you can still blow the 2-3 shift just like with the stock shifter.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 678
Likes: 33
From: Los Angeles California
I started a thread in the drag racing section regarding this
I can shift 2nd to 3rd in anger fine, and most find if "quick" enough, but when I run cars with a dual clutch tranny or even a decent auto tranny, 2nd to 3rd I always fall back due to slowless of shifting.
I'm not sure if my clutch is on its way out (it's not slipping at low RPM in 6th gear), but I sometimes get a nice little grind, either from moving my hand too fast (not clutching in fast enough) or from clutching out too fast before my hand finished moving the lever.
It's pretty frustrating that after 2 years I still can't get this damn shift down. I have owned more than 10 3 pedals performance cars over the past decade and never had a problem shifting very quickly.
Once 2nd gear approaches redline the entire shifter assembly tightens up and it becomes much harder to push the lever into gear. I use the thumb-less grip per the Ranger article, I even sit in the garage and practice shifting with foot work, but it's very different when the car is under load. It feels like the shifter misaligns itself once I get past 5500rpm (I tried it so many times I can remember lol)
I can shift 2nd to 3rd in anger fine, and most find if "quick" enough, but when I run cars with a dual clutch tranny or even a decent auto tranny, 2nd to 3rd I always fall back due to slowless of shifting.
I'm not sure if my clutch is on its way out (it's not slipping at low RPM in 6th gear), but I sometimes get a nice little grind, either from moving my hand too fast (not clutching in fast enough) or from clutching out too fast before my hand finished moving the lever.
It's pretty frustrating that after 2 years I still can't get this damn shift down. I have owned more than 10 3 pedals performance cars over the past decade and never had a problem shifting very quickly.
Once 2nd gear approaches redline the entire shifter assembly tightens up and it becomes much harder to push the lever into gear. I use the thumb-less grip per the Ranger article, I even sit in the garage and practice shifting with foot work, but it's very different when the car is under load. It feels like the shifter misaligns itself once I get past 5500rpm (I tried it so many times I can remember lol)
Last edited by furiousox; Jul 15, 2014 at 06:37 PM.
