When I got my car it had a short shift kit in it already. I believe the owner said it's the mazdatrix kit. It's incredibly short, about the shortest any shifter can get to literally, it moves about an inch from 1st to 2nd. My problem is that the linkage makes a lot of noise upon acceleration. It SOUNDS like gears grinding, but that's just what it sounds like. I'm thinking it's the linkage hitting something. My friend has an rx7 with the same problem, but a different short shift kit. Also, neither of our shifters return to the center in neutral, they just float around wherever until you put it in gear. I'm new to short shifters.

My question is, are these common problems? And is there a common solution for them?

 

The fact that your shifter does not return has nothing to do with how short the throw is...you're probably missing one, or both, of the return springs.
A stock shifter would do the very same thing in those circumstances.

A short shifter also does not modify the linkage at all- all the changes are to how the linkage is moved- so any grinding or abnormal noise is just that, abnormal, i.e., shouldn't be happening.

I'd pull the shifter out, check the oil level in the case and look at the bushings.

 

Are you sure it's not the rattle?

 

That's exactly what I think it is, the rattle. I have been searching and there's no fix for it?? I came across this thread https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=rattle. I am going to try what the one guy describes there, because I can live with some rattle, but the way this thing goes on and on and on is too much. Might be a week or two before I get around to it though since the car can't run without a motor in it. Thank you.

 

Is there a video some where or a sound clip of this rattle?

In my NA S4 I made my own short shifter. I bought a 6" piece of aluminum, I think the outer diameter was 2". Machined it down to 1" OD x 2" height plus about 1" of thread to accept the stock Rx7 shift ***. Drilled the other end out to accept the little stub sticking out after removing the stock shifter and drilled a set screw. Wrapped the stub with electrical tape, slapped the new shift rod on, tightened the set screw and BAM! short shifting with no rattle.

 

Come to think of it now, my short shifter rattled BAD before I changed the shift ****. I went from the Rx8 **** to a 2" powdercoated steel ball, and it's GONE...



I can actually make these in whatever color if anyone's interested

 

one of my short shifters rattles (c's), the other one (mazdatrix) doesn't.

that's not really a short (throw) shifter. sure, the lever itself is shorter...but the pivot point is still the same distance.

 

^ True, but it certainly feels better than stock or an actual short shift kit.

My old 86 NA with short shift and momo shift *** sticking off the stub: Worst
My Vert with stock shift: ok
My TII with short shift and stock height lever: Better
My 88 NA with stock shift and custom made short lever: Best