Fwiw, the car definitely gets notchy after some miles are on it. I've driven new and used, and with different numbers of miles, and it seems to be how the car breaks in - notchiness increases even with proper shifting, grease, etc...

A new S has what I'd call a rifle-bolt smoothness to it. My S with 8 years and ~75k mi has what I consider notch, but Billman stated it is fine. Notchiness isn't necesarrily bad as its a characteristic of the direct-mechanical linkage, but some people have valid issues, and some people make a bigger deal out of normal behvior.

 

Frankly, I've never understood that. Synchros are for assisting with rev match, which is relative to the speeds between two gears, so how exactly does absolute rpm effect smoothness of the synchros?

 

I also find that shifting above 4k helps with the "notchiness", in the AM on a cold motor I take it really easy on the car and shift at about 2500 rpms for about 2-3 miles till the car somewhat warms up, I am just anal tho.

 

My 2-3 shift is very notchy but im pretty sure my synchros are shot on that gear. Weird thing is my 4-3 downshift is perfect every time. I can only feel my gears grind only from 2-3 if i try and shift it even at normal speed. Normally i take it out of second then hesitate then then go third. Mine most likely needs a rebuild.

 

105K 8 years old. Track days. Regular honda tranny fluid, and one shifter re-grease 20k ago. Shifts smoothly unless really cold or I rush it.

My understanding is that the gearing profile and syncros were both optimized for high speed, high rpm shifting. As most tranny designs never see 8-9k inputs from the motor. I'm sure there is reading you can do via google.

It might be for this reason why I find clutch-less driving difficult below about 4k so I never do it anymore.

 

Probably better to go to the 4k when cold. But gently.

Doesn't seem logical. I'd expect your 1st to be going before your 3rd unless you were going between 2-3-4-3-2 all day. If 4th pulls smoothly in you're getting a bad shift from 2nd to 3rd.

 

Iv only had the car for a few months and its been like that since i bought it. The previous owner said he had a honda dealer and also a performance shop look at it. He said the dealer said its normal and the shop said the 3rd gear synchros are going. I even talked to the shop and then told me themselves the synchros were going. It is weird that third would go. And even weirder to me that it downshifts fine but doesnt upshift fine.

 

My understanding is that the gearing profile and syncros were both optimized for high speed, high rpm shifting. As most tranny designs never see 8-9k inputs from the motor. I'm sure there is reading you can do via google.

It might be for this reason why I find clutch-less driving difficult below about 4k so I never do it anymore.
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The relative difference in speed is around 1k rpm between changes, regardless of the rpm. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'd love it explained to me exactly how a shift from 6k to 5k differs from a shift from 9k to 8k to a synchro. I assume there's more kinetic energy to deal with, but I'm not sure.

 

My understanding is that the gearing profile and syncros were both optimized for high speed, high rpm shifting. As most tranny designs never see 8-9k inputs from the motor. I'm sure there is reading you can do via google.

It might be for this reason why I find clutch-less driving difficult below about 4k so I never do it anymore.
[/quote]

The relative difference in speed is around 1k rpm between changes, regardless of the rpm. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'd love it explained to me exactly how a shift from 6k to 5k differs from a shift from 9k to 8k to a synchro. I assume there's more kinetic energy to deal with, but I'm not sure.
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I will see what I can dig up. I do believe it was teeth and syncro related.

 

My understanding is that the gearing profile and syncros were both optimized for high speed, high rpm shifting. As most tranny designs never see 8-9k inputs from the motor. I'm sure there is reading you can do via google.

It might be for this reason why I find clutch-less driving difficult below about 4k so I never do it anymore.
[/quote]

The relative difference in speed is around 1k rpm between changes, regardless of the rpm. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'd love it explained to me exactly how a shift from 6k to 5k differs from a shift from 9k to 8k to a synchro. I assume there's more kinetic energy to deal with, but I'm not sure.
[/quote]

I will see what I can dig up. I do believe it was teeth and syncro related.