For those of you that have the MT-82 transmission and have had the lockout problems, have you found a solution for it? I need to do something. I can't have any real fun in my car because of the unpredictability of when I'll be able to shift and I'll be locked out of a gear at the track not be able to get into 3rd. It's starting to annoy me beyond belief.

So anyways, rant over. First, have you taken the car in for the TSB and did that help? And secondly, I'm thinking of buying a short shifter. Any thoughts on this one or if it has helped with lockouts?

http://www.americanmuscle.com/hurst-...fter-1112.html

 

Actually...I may go with the barton bracket too. ****...I can just visualize that stupid cheap rubber on the stock bracket moving and causing lock outs!

 

I just picked up a 2012 Brembo GT and I'll be getting the Barton as well..

 

What's locking you out of 3rd from 2nd? Skipshift enabling? If that's the case, you're not getting locked out of 2nd from 1st? What rpm are you shifting at? Skipshift only enables at low rpm. Can be driven around (run up rpm > ~ 2000, maybe even less, before shifting) or defeated either by unplugging or electronically eliminating with one of the aftermarket tunes.

However, by the statement "the unpredictability of when I'll be able to shift and I'll be locked out of a gear at the track not be able to get into 3rd" makes me believe you're well up above the skipshift enable rpm and there's nothing 'locking you out' of 3rd unless you've a problematic transmission, dorked up skipshift enable or...you need to consider improving your shifting technique.

I don't have any problems whatsoever with the stock shifter or the transmission. I think they're both pretty darn sweet. Just rolled over 21K miles, all for pleasure in the 1 yr, 1 month and 1 week I've now owned this car. (I live w/in 5 minutes of work and also drive a 4wd Ranger).

This 6 speed has narrow gates and a strong centering spring. Combine that with how it's mounted (the transmission housing doesn't extend all the way back to it's mounting point, I'd guess weight considerations) the drive train torque twist, the adrenelin of hard acceleration and driver unfamiliarity and you'll miss shifts.

You'll be doing yourself, your shifter and your transmission a big favor if you understand all this and not only allow the strong centering spring to work for you when shifting to/within the inside pair of gates (3 and 4), but also counter it appropriately when shifting to/within either outside pairs of gates (1 and 2 or 5 and 6...for example, down shifting from 6 to 3 when you want 5 can be exciting). Miss a lot, miss hard, try to force it and bad things may result. Also, at least in my case, clutch pedal all the way to the floor.

2-->3, I use an open grip (basically the heel of my hand) to simply push the shifter forward. Barely pause if at all at center...spring takes me where I need to be, every time. I don't try to shift up and over and 'find' 3rd. Never miss a shift this way.

3-->4. I pull back with an open grip. Everything's still twisting under torque and I'm still real juiced. If I grab ahold of the shifter I'll have a tendency to pull it towards my body and miss 4th.

4-->5 takes a little finesse shifting quickly and under duress.

From what I've read, since the beginning the good racing drivers have always understood that the shifter is the weak link between driver and car and is not to be manhandled.

 

dafreeze...I hate to rehash the MT-82 issue butthis problem is real for some cars. If yours doesn't have this problem then you don't have the problem and consider yourself lucky. But from your comment about "what you've read" implies that maybe you don't really push your car that hard which may be another reason you've never seen it? This problem is very real for some people.

Basically I never encounter this problem in everyday driving. I understand how small the gates are. This problem only rears it ugly head when trying to shift over a certain RPM. I don't force anything. I've tried every form of shifting to make sure 100% it has nothing to do with how my shifting. Trust me...it doesn't. I've seen this problem since basically day 1 in the car the first time I did a hard shift and thought "wow...I need to get used to this manual". But that wasn't the case. I've had the car for 2 years. I've also driven manuals my entire life since I was 14 driving a 5 speed field truck around my yard. I'm 36 now. I've never not owned a manual and I've also never experienced anything like how this car locks out.

This issue isn't about my driving. If this bracket works, my theory is that the vibration at higher RPM's causes that bushing mount to move. Notice how the Barton one from the video is designed to move forward and backwards on accelerating and braking but keeping it aligned. My hope is that is the issue and it's not related to the clutch plate or sychros.

 

I installed steeda tri-ax and steeda bracket and shifting problems are a thing of the past

 

Burke,

You are not alone!! Thanks for the feedback .

Best Regards,

TJ

 

Db, I hear and feel for you. Wish you nothing but resolution and satisfaction. Did not mean to imply you don't necessarily know how to shift this transmission and asked a few pointed questions to clarify.

The way you wrote I wasn't positive whether you were in that camp, but acknowledged you may not be with my 'problematic transmission' phrase above.

Have talked with many who don't let the centering spring work for them and also counter it appropriately. These observations/suggestions were very helpful to them.

Hate to see folks having problems that prevent them from enjoying these cars to the fullest extent. The 'from what I've read' statement I included was specifically that, as I'm not a professional driver. However although I've yet to get it on a track, I drive the snot out of this car.

Like you, I've a lot of time with manual transmissions. I'm a month shy of 53, and have driven them predominantly since I was 15, but this MT-82's characteristics are different from any of them.

Again, nothing but the best of luck to you and all who do experience issues. I'll be very interested in hearing how you proceed and your results.

 

I kept the stock shifter but added the Steeda bracket on Tuesday (7/3). I dont have a large sample size of testing yet but immediately after the install I took the car for a quick test drive. Under a pretty high load of RPMs, not only was I able to successfully speed shift from 2nd to 3rd but was also able to get a decent chirp out of the tires. I'll stop short of saying it's fixed for certain (need to drive it more) but it's definitely better than it was.

 

Next get the Steeda Tri-Ax and you will really notice a positive difference!!

Let me know if you are looking to upgrade and I can price it out for you.

Best Regards,

TJ

 

I think I learned this lesson the first time I tried to go 6 to 5.

I've only driven mine not even 100 miles, but missed the 5 to 6 several times (5 to 4 instead). That's pretty exciting, too... even in just 'regular' driving. Don't remember ever mis-shifting the 5-speed. I guess it takes some getting used to the 6.