It has been a while since I owned a manual and I have a question about shoring on the GP. Maybe I am being paranoid after installing the Berger short clutch stopper.

Anyway, when shifting from first to second (example) should it feel like it drops straight into gear, or feel like a 2 position detent. Like when I shift I feel resistance, then it drops into place.

There is no grinding or anything, and it seems to be fine. But other times it feels smooth and drops right in. I am still under warranty and I am just wondering if the is an issue or a sign of the clutch going. The car has 14,000 miles, and maybe 400 are mine.

 

At 14k miles, I would doubt that your clutch is going (I know, there are post about clutches going prior to this, but that's not the norm). However, if you say you didn't notice this until after installing the clutch stopper, so I would suspect that is your problem. I would get rid of that and see if you still have the problem goes away without it there. The clutch may not be fully disengaging and the syncros are fighting the clutch to get the gears engaged.

If you are under warranty and think you have a clutch/transmission problem, the addition of the clutch stopper might just void your ability to get any work done on MINI's dime. Just sayin'...

 

Thanks. I wasn't sure if the stopper was an issue, as I have no problem starting, so I assumed things were fine. I will remove and see if I notice that it goes away. Then maybe try again with less spacers.

 

I find that if I start moving the shifter just a fraction earlier as I push the clutch in, things go a bit more smoothly. Changing timing in this fashion helps.

 

I removed the stopper and drove it, and the shifting feels the same. Inside the car it seems I can "hear" things mesh into place.

Since the shifting felt similar, I put the spacer short clutch back in, but with only 2 spacers this time.

As for your last comment, I am not sure that I understand. Are you saying you start shifting before you push in the clutch?

 

Sorry, it is somewhat difficult to describe.

I think that most people push the clutch in to the floor and then move the shift lever.

What I do is to have the gear change done just as the clutch pedal hits the floor. I also use a "flick of the wrist" versus a "ham-fisted" movement - "ham-fisted" seems to result in what you describe. So my shift movement starts after I start moving the pedal and is very quick. However, I am not sure how this "timing" changes with the spacer you have.

But a question first - does this "issue" go away once the transmission is warmed up? When I had the Quaife put in, the fluid was changed. Now, the transmission is stiff when it is cold and I have to be really careful until it warms up.

Hope this helps.

 

Driving today I paid close attention to how I was shifting. I use a light touch on the shifter and I shift in a 1 - 2 fashion. 1 - out of the lower gear and 2 - into the next gear. I have an imperceptible pause in neutral. Most what I am feeling is the detent for each gear. Once the transmission is well warmed up this becomes more of a single motion.

 

Thanks Eddie. I did some more searching and reading today. I think what I am describing is what people are calling "notchy" shifting, and is apparently common.

I will continue to work on my technique as you describe as well.