Hi, I've received so much help on this forum I thought I'd throw this out there. When shifting from 3rd to 4th on a slightly curving road, I am having trouble pulling the shifter straight back; I often put it into 6th instead of 4th.

This is because the car is not aligned straight ahead and it is hard pulling the shifter straight back.

I know this is not good for the synros. Any advice out there about what to do if you have to shift from 3rd to 4th on a slightly curving road, how to make sure you are pulling straight back?

 

hmm... i frankly, have never run into the problem of shifting 4 to 6 or any gear due to the curvature of the road.

ultimately, you're still "straight" ahead in the vehicle...

could it be the way you're trying to pull the shifter?
keiichi tsuchiya style? where he doesn't really grab it, but places a flat hand, fingers facing away? lol.

 

just pull the shifter straight back... You shouldn't have trouble doing this on a street.

On a local track there is a shift from 2nd to 3rd thats pretty tough because the G's have you right up against the door bracing yourself.

If you really have problems shifting, get a shift knob that sits lower so shifting is just a flick of the wrist.

 

I don't understand your post...

The G's are pulling the car?

Are you asking when the car is turning to the right, your body leans to the left and when you shift down to 4th it goes into 6th?

 

Yeah, its the speed that you are doing the curve at, that is making you support your body by pushing against the shifter with you hand. this additional push is making you miss shift.......

tighten your seatbelt, move your seat up and only move your hand to the shifter when you shift (otherwise, keep your hands on the wheel)

these will help a little....

 

Try using just 2 or 3 fingers and let the shifter do the work. By that i mean let the shifter float to the center and do not try to force it to go straight back. Instead let the shifter keep itself in the center and use minimal force to pull the shifter back into 4th. It sounds like you are trying to force the shifter where to go rather than let it go naturally. I hope that makes sence. In essence, just relax a bit and dont force it. It sounds liek you are trying to angry shift or something.

-Ian

 

it's really not that hard.

Pull straight back for 4th
pull back and towards yourself for 2nd
and pull back and away from yourself for 6th.

repeat the above steps for 1st, 3rd and 5th.

 

maybe its just your body that's not aligned straight relative to the car because of G's?

sounds like a personal problem

 

Good thought. I think I am tensing up, knowing I am in middle of a curve.

 

he may be new to a manual transmission, maybe a cg lock might help him stay in the correct position as to not get his body misaligned to the car. I hope we dont hear about a blown motor because of him trying to shift from 5th to 4th and going into second. That would really suck.

-Ian