Shifting fast?
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Joined: Jun 2014
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Shifting fast?
Hi everyone, I have read plenty of posts about similar problems but none that match mine and i am hoping for some insight. I have an 09 with 25 xxx kms and i have been having some problems shifting into 2nd and 3rd gear. In Regards to the shift from 1st to 2nd If i shift very slowly it pops into gear very nicely, but i am talking very slow, like push the clutch in and wait 2 seconds before STARTING the shift slow. And it is slow to the point where taking off from a red light i am just coasting for a few seconds waiting to be able to put it into second, meanwhile being passed by cars 
. It seems if i try to shift any quicker i get a metal on metal feeling coming through the shifter and it is quite unpleasant. With my shift from 2nd into 3rd, I feel a little 'Bump" when coming into gear no matter what i do. I have tried shifting at higher RPM which seems to help a little bit, i have tried shifting slower, quicker, more gently but nothing seems to get rid of it. I think that this may be something to do with synchros because i do not feel the bump what so ever when i down shift into 3rd (rev matched) well i hope i provided enough information for you guys to offer some insight, because the 3rd gear bump is really getting on my nerves, and i also wish i could shift faster to second.
. It seems if i try to shift any quicker i get a metal on metal feeling coming through the shifter and it is quite unpleasant. With my shift from 2nd into 3rd, I feel a little 'Bump" when coming into gear no matter what i do. I have tried shifting at higher RPM which seems to help a little bit, i have tried shifting slower, quicker, more gently but nothing seems to get rid of it. I think that this may be something to do with synchros because i do not feel the bump what so ever when i down shift into 3rd (rev matched) well i hope i provided enough information for you guys to offer some insight, because the 3rd gear bump is really getting on my nerves, and i also wish i could shift faster to second.
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Joined: Apr 2014
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Hi everyone, I have read plenty of posts about similar problems but none that match mine and i am hoping for some insight. I have an 09 with 25 xxx kms and i have been having some problems shifting into 2nd and 3rd gear. In Regards to the shift from 1st to 2nd If i shift very slowly it pops into gear very nicely, but i am talking very slow, like push the clutch in and wait 2 seconds before STARTING the shift slow. And it is slow to the point where taking off from a red light i am just coasting for a few seconds waiting to be able to put it into second, meanwhile being passed by cars . It seems if i try to shift any quicker i get a metal on metal feeling coming through the shifter and it is quite unpleasant. With my shift from 2nd into 3rd, I feel a little 'Bump" when coming into gear no matter what i do. I have tried shifting at higher RPM which seems to help a little bit, i have tried shifting slower, quicker, more gently but nothing seems to get rid of it. I think that this may be something to do with synchros because i do not feel the bump what so ever when i down shift into 3rd (rev matched) well i hope i provided enough information for you guys to offer some insight, because the 3rd gear bump is really getting on my nerves, and i also wish i could shift faster to second.
. It seems if i try to shift any quicker i get a metal on metal feeling coming through the shifter and it is quite unpleasant. With my shift from 2nd into 3rd, I feel a little 'Bump" when coming into gear no matter what i do. I have tried shifting at higher RPM which seems to help a little bit, i have tried shifting slower, quicker, more gently but nothing seems to get rid of it. I think that this may be something to do with synchros because i do not feel the bump what so ever when i down shift into 3rd (rev matched) well i hope i provided enough information for you guys to offer some insight, because the 3rd gear bump is really getting on my nerves, and i also wish i could shift faster to second.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 351
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Change fluid is good once a year for me. Third gear is the one that's most problematic during shifting up. In neutral the lever is in in middle of pattern straight up from that is third. When moving out of second let hand off shifter and rest in neutral for a second then move shifter straight up. This can be done with one or two fingers pushing the shifter up. I rev match with a quick blip and I double clutch by habit. I can shift at any rpm with no issues you really can't be too lazy with this car but don't have to be forceful. I never have had downshifting notches. If I am really moving thru gears fast I don't always double clutch but I am shifting at 9k rpm at that point.
Good luck and happy s ing.
Good luck and happy s ing.
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 51
From: South East Queensland Oz.
I suggest you get a mate, with a stop watch to time your first to second gear change some time. if you really do have to wait 2 seconds, get the thing looked at. I know it can feel like seconds, but it is probably only a few tenths of a second you are required to wait to pull second.
This is exactly the same problem, only less so that all the Honda S models have had. Not just Hondas either, most high revving engines have it to some extent. You should have tried the old Jags in the 60s, it was count to 5 before pulling second, if you revved them out in first. I raced a Morgan +4 in the early 60s, with the same gearbox as those jags, & that delay felt like a week off the grid.
These high revving engines have very little power at low revs. Honda fit a reasonably heavy flywheel to improve drivability in heavy stop start traffic. Without this many average drivers would be regularly stalling at take off from standstill. Believe me the glorious S600, & S800 were much worse than the S2000 at this, they were really slow. The S600 revved to 11,000, & with only a 4 speed box, the gap first to second was huge. That change really required patience to avoid a crunch.
The secret is to not rev the thing right out in first gear. Try pulling second at around 6,000 in first. There is very little loss of acceleration in second as a result of the lower revs, & you won't have that delay, waiting for that heavy flywheel to spin down during the change.
Great to see you using mechanical sympathy, & not just crashing through into second as many do. Your S will reward you long term for driving it with in its minor mechanical limits.
This is exactly the same problem, only less so that all the Honda S models have had. Not just Hondas either, most high revving engines have it to some extent. You should have tried the old Jags in the 60s, it was count to 5 before pulling second, if you revved them out in first. I raced a Morgan +4 in the early 60s, with the same gearbox as those jags, & that delay felt like a week off the grid.
These high revving engines have very little power at low revs. Honda fit a reasonably heavy flywheel to improve drivability in heavy stop start traffic. Without this many average drivers would be regularly stalling at take off from standstill. Believe me the glorious S600, & S800 were much worse than the S2000 at this, they were really slow. The S600 revved to 11,000, & with only a 4 speed box, the gap first to second was huge. That change really required patience to avoid a crunch.
The secret is to not rev the thing right out in first gear. Try pulling second at around 6,000 in first. There is very little loss of acceleration in second as a result of the lower revs, & you won't have that delay, waiting for that heavy flywheel to spin down during the change.
Great to see you using mechanical sympathy, & not just crashing through into second as many do. Your S will reward you long term for driving it with in its minor mechanical limits.
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,074
Likes: 36
From: TheHorrorHouse
I suggest you get a mate, with a stop watch to time your first to second gear change some time. if you really do have to wait 2 seconds, get the thing looked at. I know it can feel like seconds, but it is probably only a few tenths of a second you are required to wait to pull second.
This is exactly the same problem, only less so that all the Honda S models have had. Not just Hondas either, most high revving engines have it to some extent. You should have tried the old Jags in the 60s, it was count to 5 before pulling second, if you revved them out in first. I raced a Morgan +4 in the early 60s, with the same gearbox as those jags, & that delay felt like a week off the grid.
These high revving engines have very little power at low revs. Honda fit a reasonably heavy flywheel to improve drivability in heavy stop start traffic. Without this many average drivers would be regularly stalling at take off from standstill. Believe me the glorious S600, & S800 were much worse than the S2000 at this, they were really slow. The S600 revved to 11,000, & with only a 4 speed box, the gap first to second was huge. That change really required patience to avoid a crunch.
The secret is to not rev the thing right out in first gear. Try pulling second at around 6,000 in first. There is very little loss of acceleration in second as a result of the lower revs, & you won't have that delay, waiting for that heavy flywheel to spin down during the change.
Great to see you using mechanical sympathy, & not just crashing through into second as many do. Your S will reward you long term for driving it with in its minor mechanical limits.
This is exactly the same problem, only less so that all the Honda S models have had. Not just Hondas either, most high revving engines have it to some extent. You should have tried the old Jags in the 60s, it was count to 5 before pulling second, if you revved them out in first. I raced a Morgan +4 in the early 60s, with the same gearbox as those jags, & that delay felt like a week off the grid.
These high revving engines have very little power at low revs. Honda fit a reasonably heavy flywheel to improve drivability in heavy stop start traffic. Without this many average drivers would be regularly stalling at take off from standstill. Believe me the glorious S600, & S800 were much worse than the S2000 at this, they were really slow. The S600 revved to 11,000, & with only a 4 speed box, the gap first to second was huge. That change really required patience to avoid a crunch.
The secret is to not rev the thing right out in first gear. Try pulling second at around 6,000 in first. There is very little loss of acceleration in second as a result of the lower revs, & you won't have that delay, waiting for that heavy flywheel to spin down during the change.
Great to see you using mechanical sympathy, & not just crashing through into second as many do. Your S will reward you long term for driving it with in its minor mechanical limits.
I thought the s600 was a stock 9,000 redline. Correct me with facts if I'm wrong. Cheers
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 51
From: South East Queensland Oz.
The S600 was 11,000 as delivered in Oz. I was racing a Lotus Formula 2 open wheeler at the time my lady had the 600. The Lotus revved to 9,000, & I found it amazing that a road car could rev higher.
I was also amazed at how close to driving an open wheeler racing car the little S600 felt on the road. That also made the slow gear change worse for me. Feeling so like it made me subconsciously expect to have the instant gear change of the Lotus in the S.
I'm not sure what the 800 rev limit was now, it may have been 9,000. I don't have anything to relate it's performance to, so the memory has gone.
I was also amazed at how close to driving an open wheeler racing car the little S600 felt on the road. That also made the slow gear change worse for me. Feeling so like it made me subconsciously expect to have the instant gear change of the Lotus in the S.
I'm not sure what the 800 rev limit was now, it may have been 9,000. I don't have anything to relate it's performance to, so the memory has gone.
