Installed my Pettit short throw shifter today, but could not get the **** to thread on. Is that normal? I didn't see any mention that a new **** would be required, bit a shorter one could be used to further reduce the throw.

 

That's not normal.

 

Yeah, not normal at all. I have a Pettit Short Throw and have had the OEM **** on it and currently have the OEM Spirit-R **** on it. No issues at all.

Maybe snap a pic of the threads on the shifter?

I assume you are talking about your OEM ****, right? Not some aftermarket? (even if so, if it threaded on before, it should thread on again).

-M

 

Shifter before install:


Shifter threads height after install:


Tried to measure where the threads start in the **** **** by feeling w/ screwdriver:


removing the leather does not make a difference

 

IIRC my OEM **** didn't want to tighten completely. It would hit the "shoulder" of the shaft which was machined out at a sharper angle. That kept the ring on the shift boot higher and it interfered. Moved to an RX8 ****.

 

Yep. I removed the ring off my shift boot. It's been so long ago though that I don't remember if I ever used the stock **** on my Pettit shifter or not.

 

I tried installing the **** on the shifter without the leather boot on the shifter, still nothing.

 

They are (should be) the same thread which you can check visually.

 

The threads themselves aren't the problem. The problem is the the shaft that has the threads on them is too short (1.5" long before the shoulder) for the stock **** to screw onto which start at ~1.65" inside the ****. The bottom of the **** hits the shoulder of the shaft before the threads meet each other. If I took a hacksaw and cut off some of the bottom of the **** it would work, but that would be stupid.

Hope that clarifies the problem.

 

Can you bore out your shift **** to get more clearance so the threads engage?

 

Before busting out the hacksaw, I'd recommend returning it to them and purchasing a unit that fits, like the Mazdatrix piece

 

ok...I was confused...only real option outside of hacksaw is to return it or find way to increase threads on the ****.

 

talked to pettit racing. They said that the shifter should work with the stock ****, otherwise the threads in my shift **** are worn out (since they are plastic and 19 yrs old).

 

That looks like a stock shifter that has been cut down and rethreaded.

A real short shifter changes the pivot point by raising the shifter, not just lowering the ****.

 

I'll double check tonight. I'll pull the shifter out and take a side by side pic.

 

Did you have to install the above additional parts? If not then the pivot point is the same

 

I didn't install the 3 spacers in the picture. If it's just a cut stock shifter then I'm returning it....I could've done that myself.

 

Here's a mention of the "updated" shifter Pettit was selling (I'm saying 'was' as I'm not sure if that's what you got):

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/pettit-racing-new-short-shifter-review-826609/

My old picture is in that thread. Granted, I attempted to use a striped towel to help with dimensions but that doesn't help when the stripes aren't level. DOH!

 

Banzai, what shifter is this?

I am extremely tired of messing with my Gotham shifter. I have modified it to work better (i.e. not have a ton of play), but it still doesn't work like I believe it should.

EDIT: Nevermind...I just figured out it is the Mazdatrix short shifter from the watermark...

 

hey guys, I pulled the pettit shifter out last night and put my stock one back in. I forgot to take pictures but the pettit design is still just a factory shift with a cut shaft.

 

Sorry to here that. I have their old design which is a good piece.....at least I've been happy with it over the years. But if it's now simply a cut version that doesn't speak well for the company IMHO.

 

This is an excellent opportunity to get a fancy shift ****. Don't pass it up!

And never metal finish! Way too hot for me in the summer. I had a big fat Razo chrome job, and you could've fried an egg on it after letting it sit in the sun.

 

I'm returning the pettit shifter so I don't HAVE to buy a new ****. I do want a new shift **** since mine is torn up, but I know I want one that is black leather w/ red stitching (to go along w/ steering wheel). I think I'm gonna switch to the mazdatrix shifter.