Really fine top-down weather in the East. I took advantage of it and did the two mods listed in the header to my '04. Other than the clip hassle (solved by my 16-year old son with my cheap, made in Pakistan dental picks) and a bit of trouble getting the ball end of the clutch slave back in its socket, everything went well.

So I took it out for a test drive, took it real easy at first, got it warmed up and when it was clear everything was working I decided to do the acid test--a red-line shift from first to second, a move that always caused painful clutch slippage in the past. Well I make the shift real clean but get the same slippage--RPM's don't drop after the shift for a couple of seconds, just like before.

But wait, what is that slight fish tail in the rear and what is that tire smoke in my mirror? The slippage was due to my rear tires, not my clutch. I have never broken the rear wheels loose on a 1 - 2 shift with summer tires in dry conditions since I bought the car. And I only have 3k on my RE050's.

Now that is the way things are supposed to be!

Anyone want to buy my NIB 03 clutch cylinder I bought from HANDA before I knew about the 04 mod? Cheap?

What a great mod! Thanks to those who discovered the mod and posted the instructions!!!

Tim

 

I have never felt my clutch slip in a readline shift from first to second, or any other shift. in my 05. I release the throttle when I clutch and shift, and reapply the gas as I release the clutch in the higher gear. Do you only encounter the slip when you hold the throttle near readline during the up-shift or am I missing something?
Thanks in advance.

 

Is the clutch mod only on the newer s2000's or can I also do it on my 01'?

 

Yeah, I release the throttle too when I shift at redline, just an old habit since I learned to drive way before the days of rev limiters. There is a hydraulic delay built into the 04-05 clutch slave cylinder that many of us find annoying. It delays full engagement of the clutch to protect the differential, apparently, from those who like to dump the clutch on launches. Since I know how to drive a clutch I resented and could clearly feel the delay. If it does not bother you don't make any changes, it is a bit of a pain to modify. It involves either replacing the 04-05 slave cylinder with an 03 version, or taking apart the 04-05 cylinder to remove the delay (which is what I did).

There are a number of posts on the issue in this forum and in the under the hood forum.

Tim

 

No, only the 04 --05 cars have the delay. Basically the mod makes the 04 - 05 cars just like the pre-04 years.

Tim

 

I haven't ever felt it either, but I think that's mostly because the clutch feel is not very good with the delay valve. I know it has happened, because I've smelled burning clutch ... the clutch smell on a brand new car really puzzled me until I read about the delay valve and its effects.

Tim, can you feel the engagement point better with the mod?

 

Yes I can, it is much more like a "normal" clutch. I let my son drive it (after all he is the one that got the clip out!) and he found it easier to start out from 1st. I did not notice that, but clutch engagement is much more positive and precise when shifting, in fact you have to be more precise in your clutch work when upshifting or downshifting as there is less give from the delay. As I stated earlier, I like that.

Also, the clutch engagement is nearer the floor.

Tim

 

i did not detect a slip in the clutch before 13,000 miles or so, soon after the delay valve was apparent and become quite annoying. anyone who has a 04 and up should do this mod.

 

I wonder if this gives the stealerships an excuse to say that it voids warranty.

 

I'm sure it would if you had a differential failure after the mod. You could always put the parts back in the slave cylinder if you needed and blame the failure on the .