Short Shifters

GeminiCoupe · Post by **GeminiCoupe** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:27 pm

This is a pretty popular topic on Hotgemini at the moment, and it just got me wondering if it could be applied to the Piazza.

In the gemini the rod is lengthened and a spacer is added to the quadrant box to create a short shifter. In theory, if you lengthened that point in any shift mechanism it should create a shorter shifter.

Anyone got pictures of the Piazza one for me? The one in my one is sloppy, so while its out i may aswell modify it.

Nick-

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:19 am

Using the spacer method would probably give a shorter throw side to side but won't do anything for forward/back movement.
Should be easier with the Piazza though. It has the gear stick with the pivot ball just have to add some extra length to the bit under the pivot ball which attaches to the linkage that goes to the actual shifter bit on the box. Will probably interfere with the rubber boot though.

This is what I mean

But then I can see that reducing the amount of side to side movement, because it wont rotate the linkage rod as much now. That could be overcome by spacing the quadrant box up and lengthening the lever in there.

Rodeobob · Post by **Rodeobob** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:25 am

lol. Thats if the rubber boot is still attached Bugle. Mines hangin out all over the joint.

GeminiCoupe · Post by **GeminiCoupe** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:37 am

The Piazza shifter i had a while back didnt have the rubber boot either. In hindsight i probably shouldnt have got rid of that...who was i to know id actually end up buying a Piazza back then. Anyhow..

So let me get this straight. To get the short shifter working I would have to lengthen the bit under the pivot ball. Now, if ive read that diagram correctly the pivot ball is inbetween points 16 and 17 right? To lengthen it, id be lengthening the section under the pivot ball, which would be just above point 16 right?

I think ill definately have a stab at this because i just remembered now my Piazza comes with a spare gearbox and shifter

Nick-

Bugle · Post by **Bugle** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:05 pm

lol the boot on mine was hanging down half of it disappeared from rubbing on the tailshaft. Made a vinyl replacement..

Yeah have to lengthen that bit. Just so that the linkage to the quadrant box will move futher for the same amount of rotation on the pivot ball.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:14 am

stupid question, but couldnt you just grind off the thread part (29) where the shifter knobs screws on by like 4-5 cms?? to make it shorter

brendan · Post by **brendan** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:00 am

all i did to make my short shifter is un screw the gear extension bit and then put my gear knob onto the next part of the shaft down, works fine but my gearbox it old and worn so it can be a bitch to get gears when it is cold

GeminiCoupe · Post by **GeminiCoupe** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:43 am

Cutting off the thread [29] wouldnt actually change the gearshifts throw. Modifying it where i mentioned early changes the mechanism movement - think of it like leverage, where longer pole = less effort. With the shifter, this would make less movement from the stick to change gear.

Nick-