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MG MGF Technical - Quickshift

I was just reading a thread over on the Elise BBS when I came across the following.

"I have a quick shift and don't particularly like it. It depends if you like a heavier gear change.

The real improvement is replacing the squidgy bushes in the linkage mechanism back at the gearbox. I'd suggest that you do this first then think about the quick shift."

Could someone elaberate if this is applicable to the F and provide pictures or a diagram.

Cheers
Steve Ratledge

"and provide pictures or a diagram" of the squidgy bushes.

Sorry, must type sloooower
Steve Ratledge

Yes and no Steve.

Yes, because much of the improvement is wrought by the replacement of those squidgy bushes with proper rose-joints. No because 80+% of the perceived improvement is actually through shortening of the gear lever on the F ;o)

Also, we in the F community are blessed with more quick-shift options than those in the Elise camp (bizzarre I know - but true). Mike Satur's kit is completely different - and represents a whole sale replacement of the gear lever yokes. Not tried the latest version, but even the 'prototypes' are excellent. Techspeed offer the other option, whereby the standard yokes are kept, a reprofiled counter weight fitted (so the change weight is maintained) and the linkages rose-jointed. So none are *THAT* much heavier than standard...

Probably best to try out the options Steve. The next time we meet up, your welcome to try the TS option fitted to my car.
Rob Bell

As Rob said, because 80+% of the perceived improvement is actually through shortening of the gear lever on the F

I tried the cheap method - get a MOMO knob from Halfords, cut the threaded section from the top of the gear lever, put the new knob on and get a perceptably improved gear change.

BTW I have driven a car with a MS Slick Shift and the cheap method is NOT an alternative. But cut & try and then go for the proper solution when you have approx £200 + fitting available.
JohnP

Rob,

How would you describe the TS quickshift on a day to day basis? as I was considering it when visiting TS in a couple of weeks. As far as I know, only PaulW in Glasgow has one and he suggested it was a bit heavy or not for Girls, so Rosie didn't like the sound of it :o(

Any thoughts?

P.S. sorry hijacked thread :o(
Les Piggot

Les, I am not sure why Paul has found it so heavy - frankly the change weight is really not that dramatically different.

If you compare the weight of a Mk1 MGF gearshift to that in a MY2000 MGF, then you are in the right ball park as to the change in weight - certainly on all the cars that I've experienced.

The only thing that really increases the effort involved in changing gear is the reduced leverage through shortening of the gear lever (the TS system is still counterweighted).

Shame we're not geographically closer Les, otherwise you could have tried mine. :o/
Rob Bell

Les,

I can only echo Rob and say that I can't imagine why Paul's should be heavy. I've noticed no difference in weight between TechSpeed's shifts and standard shifts - just a more positive feel. I've tried several in addition to my own. The main objective of TS at the time they introduced their slickshift was to rose joint the linkage as they had seen so many of the OEM linkage fail. I suspect that the better quality feel is just through it being well adjusted (as TS don't sell kits - they always fit themselves) and the shorter stick (as Rob's indicated - possibly a large part of the feel factor).
Dave Livingstone

This thread was discussed between 21/09/2004 and 22/09/2004

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