Hewland straight cut gears is slick shifting?

 

Slinger,

Yes, a synchro box is always going to have some resistance. A dogbox is the only thing that can shift as fast as your hand can move. The Getrag in the Mini has much more resistance than the box in the Versa when warm and is really "crunchy" until warmed up.

DOC

 

I've had the terrible experience of renting a versa and I don't see how you can even mention it on this forum. It had great acceleration up to 10mph, it was scary going around corners any where near the speed limit, the steering wheel was at a strange uncomfortable angle, I hated the barely adjustable seats, and the interior was cheap and boring. Can't comment on the manual trans as it was an automatic. There are several reasons it only costs $12k.

 

I also ran those Formula Fords, then Formula Dodges and the Formula Mazdas. I always found those Hewlands really vague. I think the "resistence" gives you a much better feel for the gearbox. Yes you shift it fast but you may not know if it is in gear.

 

"Vagueness" is caused by cheap/worn u-joints in the shift linkage. The mil-spec ones that cost about $80 a piece cure that, but that's not what I was taliking about. "Slick" to me means being able to shift cleanly with no resistance as fast as your hand can move. Any synchro box is going to have some resistance.

The 6-speed box in the Versa has extremely short throws, the resistance from the syncros is barely perceptible and it always shifts cleanly, even when cold. My 2010 Justa has 10K on it now and it still balks 1st to 2nd when cold on the first few shifts of the the day and even when hot, there is a lot of resistance from the synchros compared to the Versa.

DOC

 

Doc,

I see your defination of "slick". Just different from mine. The formulas are not mine, just advance race schools so they should be well prepped.

I have not driven the versa stick to really know.

My 08 MCS also seems to balk at 1 and 2 like you mention as well.

 

Used to manage a racing school. I can assure you no school uses $80 a piece mil-spec u-joints. The usual cheapies are sloppy when brand new. Most FFs, etc. use at least two or three, plus rod ends for guides. The slop adds up and it can be almost impossible to tell what gear you are in by feel.

DOC