MGW Shifter Question
01-07-2008, 09:39 PM
#1
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 103
MGW Shifter Question
I just installed the MGW shifter in my '06 GT and really like it (firm, solid, well constructed, etc.) butmine does have a distinct 'notch' between 1st & 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. Is this the normal 'feel' for this unit? I have mine adjusted at 5 turns out(out of 10). Would I reduce the notchy feel if I was only at 3 or 4 turns out? (or less??)I'm asking because i 'hate' crawling back under the car (again) to readjust it again (I'm not a small guy and even with a large floorjack there isn't alot of room under there!!)
thanks
dan
thanks
dan
01-07-2008, 09:46 PM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Anaheim, California
Posts: 4,205
RE: MGW Shifter Question
Dan,
Like all shifters, the MGW will lose some of the notchiness with a few weeks of use. I have mine set at about 8 or 9 turns out, and yes, there is some notchiness as you noted, but not too bad. One other thing that you may want to try, is adjusting the height of the shift handle inside the car. The higher you set it, the more leverage you have, thereby reducing the perception of notchiness....
Give it a few weeks and try that height adjustment.
Hope it helps,
Mike
Like all shifters, the MGW will lose some of the notchiness with a few weeks of use. I have mine set at about 8 or 9 turns out, and yes, there is some notchiness as you noted, but not too bad. One other thing that you may want to try, is adjusting the height of the shift handle inside the car. The higher you set it, the more leverage you have, thereby reducing the perception of notchiness....
Give it a few weeks and try that height adjustment.
Hope it helps,
Mike
01-07-2008, 10:32 PM
#3
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brandon, FL
Posts: 1,214
RE: MGW Shifter Question
I just put my mgw in this week too. I like it, but also noticed its notchy and a bit stiff. Like I have to fight it to put it in 1st and 2nd gear. I set mine to 10 turns. Hopefully it will loosen up after a few weeks.
01-08-2008, 04:35 PM
#5
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 628
RE: MGW Shifter Question
Dan, like mlcrycc said the higher you raise the shifter handle the smoother it becomes. I've had the Hurst pistol grip attached to mine since I installed it and it was smooth as silk. I just installed the new MGW black ball shifter stalk and ball which is considerably shorter than the pistol grip I had and it does make it more notchy but distinctly shorter throw. When shifting into 2nd with the MGW you need to consciously pull toward you with some pressure because of the spring but once you get use to that its great. The new ball from MGW is top knotch quality. I contacted George at MGW and hopefully they'll make a pistol grip for their shifter in the future.
01-08-2008, 04:44 PM
#6
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Pacific Palisades, CA
Posts: 1,834
RE: MGW Shifter Question
is anyone else having this problem? sometimes shifting from 2nd to 3rd, the shifter spins and i have to re-adjust it to keep it centered, it's kind of annoying. especially with my ocd..haha. just wanted to know if everyone's stock shifter spins like the unholy cryptkeeper. thanks
01-08-2008, 08:19 PM
#7
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Harrisburg PA
Posts: 1,778
RE: MGW Shifter Question
+1 "notchy" is normal and it will break in a bit with use. I'm assuming you did your research and thus should have knownthis would be the case. Every post I see about the MGW says its "notchy" or "precise" or "positive" and requires more effort than stock. One thing that I learned (from a fellow member) is to rotate the **** slightly. By this I mean: take the shift boot off. Then, if you were to look straight down on the shifter from above, loosen the allen heads of the bracket on the shift shaft side (not on the shift **** side), rotate the **** slightly counter-clockwise (like the long hand of a clock, you are pivoting about the center, i.e. the shifter's shaft). Tighten it back down. For me this made a nice difference, it made it easier to get into 2nd without having to pull so strongly to the left while shifting.
01-08-2008, 08:34 PM
#8
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 4,897
RE: MGW Shifter Question
Man,,, you MGW users don't know what "notchy" is 
. I had a Hurst and switched to MGW. Mine is9 turns out. I'd heard that 12 turns out is max, but on the included install cd it said 10 max (for safety reasons I assume). The throw is about the same as hurst (maybe even shorter) and it's smoooooth compared to the hurst.
I can see your concern going from stock, but it's nowhere near the hurst where your hand feels like its connected to the shift linkage.
. I had a Hurst and switched to MGW. Mine is9 turns out. I'd heard that 12 turns out is max, but on the included install cd it said 10 max (for safety reasons I assume). The throw is about the same as hurst (maybe even shorter) and it's smoooooth compared to the hurst.I can see your concern going from stock, but it's nowhere near the hurst where your hand feels like its connected to the shift linkage.
01-08-2008, 08:38 PM
#9
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 4,897
RE: MGW Shifter Question
ORIGINAL: Argonaut
+1 "notchy" is normal and it will break in a bit with use. I'm assuming you did your research and thus should have knownthis would be the case. Every post I see about the MGW says its "notchy" or "precise" or "positive" and requires more effort than stock. One thing that I learned (from a fellow member) is to rotate the **** slightly. By this I mean: take the shift boot off. Then, if you were to look straight down on the shifter from above, loosen the allen heads of the bracket on the shift shaft side (not on the shift **** side), rotate the **** slightly counter-clockwise (like the long hand of a clock, you are pivoting about the center, i.e. the shifter's shaft). Tighten it back down. For me this made a nice difference, it made it easier to get into 2nd without having to pull so strongly to the left while shifting.
+1 "notchy" is normal and it will break in a bit with use. I'm assuming you did your research and thus should have knownthis would be the case. Every post I see about the MGW says its "notchy" or "precise" or "positive" and requires more effort than stock. One thing that I learned (from a fellow member) is to rotate the **** slightly. By this I mean: take the shift boot off. Then, if you were to look straight down on the shifter from above, loosen the allen heads of the bracket on the shift shaft side (not on the shift **** side), rotate the **** slightly counter-clockwise (like the long hand of a clock, you are pivoting about the center, i.e. the shifter's shaft). Tighten it back down. For me this made a nice difference, it made it easier to get into 2nd without having to pull so strongly to the left while shifting.
I also aligned the bottom of the shift handle with the bottom of the bracket for optimum height/more leverage.
01-08-2008, 09:06 PM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: S.burbs Chicago
Posts: 4,793
RE: MGW Shifter Question
You wont even notice anything other than the shorter, precise shifts after driving with it for a few weeks.
Im still on the origional bushings/springs that they sent out day one. shortest throw, shortest height, would not have it any other way.
Im still on the origional bushings/springs that they sent out day one. shortest throw, shortest height, would not have it any other way.