[Tigers] Short v Long Shifters

[Thomas Witt]

Larry,
  You left out #7, the size (data right?) of the individual, their body 
strength and the preferences of their individual motion coordination. 
Unfortunately those are so varied that I'm sure the data for each and every 
individual would be different.  On the technical factors I can agree there 
is a basis for data and comparison.  But that is just one shifter to 
another.  The end result most are looking for here is, "how it feels to 
drive (shift)."  By whatever means that is achieved (technically), is likely 
indifferent to most. They just want the car to shift in a way they prefer. 
Not all of us measure our life experiences with a slide rule.  And, please 
don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for those who do know how to use a slide 
rule.  There are time when your use of it here has been greatly appreciated.

Tom


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Mayfield" <drmayf at mayfco.com>
To: "Tiger List" <tigers at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 7:47 AM
Subject: [Tigers] Short v Long Shifters


>I am sitting here a bit bleary eyed over the plethora of anecdotal comments
> on short v long sifters.  In my lifetime, I have found that any discussion
> without evidence or data is worth camel spit, lol.  At least a good 
> diagram
> of what is being discussed is paramount: we used to call them free body
> diagrams intended to provide a common ground for discussion. A good set of
> definitions helps the discussion along as well.  As does the comparison of
> other shifters thrown into the mix.
>
> So, a set of rules to aid this discussion perhaps?
> 1. No other transmissions or cars with different transmission included. 
> Adds
> no value to the discussion.  Newer and modern manual transmission shifting
> functions differently. They have the benefit of about 50 years of
> development to fall back on.  Plus how good you feel in shifting your
> Bimmer, or Scooby or tractor does not have much importance in the
> discussion.  Stick to the thread, please.
>
> 2. Our old transmissions have the shifting fork movement applied by a 
> lever
> on the shifter shaft (generally), The length of that small lever is a 
> direct
> relation to how far it has to move to engage the synchro rings.
>
> 3. The length of the shifter lever below the fulcrum pin in the shifter
> assembly is a function of how far it needs to be moved to get the shift
> forks to move to engage the synchros.  If that design has a set of 
> levers
> on the shifter mechanism the same length as the shift fork levers then it
> will take a lot of rotation to engage. If the shifter mechanism levers are
> longer then they only have to move a short distance.
>
> 4. The length of the operator shift lever is a direct function of the 
> length
> of the other levers in the  system.  The shorter the operator lever, the
> shorter the Throw. Long lever, longer Throw.  Longer lever also means that
> the gate movement of the lever is longer as well.
>
> Danger, anecdotal  comment: In my 55 plus years of driving, Throw of the
> transmission shifting has always meant how far the shift lever ball, that
> thing that fits the driver's hand, has to move.
>
> 5. In any technical, not feel good, discussion, please use real data: 
> crawl
> under the car, measure the different lever lengths make direct comparisons
> and then comment please...
>
> 6. If ya want opinions of anything, just remember that opinions are like
> noses, everyone has one and they are all different and the meaning behind
> every one is vast.
>
> Off soapbox now...
>
> larry