Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

3rd gear on Series I and II are both POS

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 02-22-2014, 10:00 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
thewatcher101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
3rd gear on Series I and II are both POS

3rd gear on my series I went out and I replaced it with a series II tranny, and it is better, but 3rd gear on these trannies just aren't that great. Even with a series II you have to pretty good rev matching and you still have to give it some time before the syncro matches. It kinda of disruptive when you are driving on the track to wait for the syncro to match or else you will be damaging things.
Old 02-22-2014, 10:06 PM
  #2  
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
 
9krpmrx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 33,784
Received 452 Likes on 366 Posts
143,000 miles (20,000 boosted) on a S1 trans and zero synchro issues. Most people I know who have had issues is because they can't drive stick well or they abuse their trans. My S2 trans is going in tomorrow we shall see how it does.
Old 02-22-2014, 11:18 PM
  #3  
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
dannobre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Smallville
Posts: 13,718
Received 334 Likes on 289 Posts
Learn to drive I've driven mine with over 500hp at the track for over 40 hours last year...and for 8 years N.A.
Old 02-24-2014, 10:41 PM
  #4  
Registered
 
MadCat360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
It's pretty easy to say he's a bad driver without offering any actual help.
Old 02-24-2014, 10:44 PM
  #5  
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
dannobre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Smallville
Posts: 13,718
Received 334 Likes on 289 Posts
Help?....He's had 3rd gear go out on 2 transmissions....think that's got anything to do with the way he is shifting the damn thing ?
Old 02-24-2014, 10:52 PM
  #6  
El Jefe
 
yomomspimp06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,833
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
everyone beat me to it...Keep practicing. Maybe this time 3rd will last.
If anything, I can see complaining about 2nd gear. It does seem to be the one that most have issues with.
Old 02-25-2014, 01:26 AM
  #7  
#225 of 1000
iTrader: (7)
 
EricB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Dirty Jerz
Posts: 2,134
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
no issues with me, but mines relatively new at 55k
Old 02-25-2014, 03:22 AM
  #8  
Registered
 
MadCat360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by dannobre
Help?....He's had 3rd gear go out on 2 transmissions....think that's got anything to do with the way he is shifting the damn thing ?
That is not what he said, at all. Read it again.
Old 02-25-2014, 05:47 PM
  #9  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Loki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 7,723
Received 957 Likes on 835 Posts
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
I agree with Dan, in part, on this one and here is why; the third gear shift gate is easy to hard-shift/overshift and when that is done the third gear detent check ball can become dislodged and, once this happens, slow wear of the third gear synchro can take place. This is why RaceRoots offers (offered?) their "Synchro Saver" as it prevented "overshifting". My solution was simply to calm down, shift quickly and gently, and not have any such transmission problems.

A second issue/cause (especially when on the track) is the relatively heavy flywheel which keeps the RPMs up a little too long for the average racer. As such, installing a lightweight flywheel will allow VERY quick shifting.

Totally support this, take a breath and do everything calmly, you'll go faster.
Old 02-25-2014, 09:54 PM
  #10  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
elysium19's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Long Island, NY.
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
sorry but its really silly to generalize. My 3rd gear is one of the few that DOESNT give me any hint of issues. 2 and 4 are the ones that people seem to complain about the most.
Old 02-26-2014, 03:17 AM
  #11  
Registered
 
ken-x8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
...calm down, shift quickly and gently...
Are members of this forum allowed to be calm and gentle?

Ken
Old 02-26-2014, 10:52 PM
  #12  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
thewatcher101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
learning to be calm and quick is how you drive fast.

I am still on my series II tranny the 3rd gear hasn't gone out yet. I just grind sometimes going into 3rd.

I think the problem was identify by Hill, the revs don't build up fast enough and I guess a lighter flywheel is going to be on my wish list.

When I hit the corners and downshift into 3rd. I brake and heel toe, I try to get into gear and I sometimes grind it going in. The only way I've been able to avoid it is to brake and stay a bit longer on the gas and wait for the revs to build. But it totally screws up my brake points and the flow I have into the corners. I find it kinda of disruptive. I know the tranny are sensitive and have always been gentle on the shiftier waiting for the syncros to let the shiftier in with enough pressure.
Old 02-27-2014, 02:21 AM
  #13  
Registered
 
MadCat360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by thewatcher101
learning to be calm and quick is how you drive fast.

I am still on my series II tranny the 3rd gear hasn't gone out yet. I just grind sometimes going into 3rd.

I think the problem was identify by Hill, the revs don't build up fast enough and I guess a lighter flywheel is going to be on my wish list.

When I hit the corners and downshift into 3rd. I brake and heel toe, I try to get into gear and I sometimes grind it going in. The only way I've been able to avoid it is to brake and stay a bit longer on the gas and wait for the revs to build. But it totally screws up my brake points and the flow I have into the corners. I find it kinda of disruptive. I know the tranny are sensitive and have always been gentle on the shiftier waiting for the syncros to let the shiftier in with enough pressure.
The flywheel won't effect the synchros if the clutch is pushed in, nor will the revs, unless your clutch is dragging.
Old 02-27-2014, 02:30 AM
  #14  
Registered
 
OnCam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mine was fine at 55km till i swapped the factory oil out for redline full synthetic MT90 , i then was getting 3rd gear lockout so i took out a quart and added 1x quart of redline MTL for a 50/50 mix as many people recommended . Still get it a bit of lockout but not for as long. no problems shifting after 10 mins or so

Last edited by OnCam; 02-27-2014 at 02:38 AM.
Old 02-27-2014, 10:28 AM
  #15  
Registered
 
niteshade247's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: bluesprings MS
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
My hole trans is POS. (Mostly my falt) need a rebuild or a low milige or both.
Old 02-27-2014, 07:07 PM
  #16  
Registered
 
MadCat360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Incorrect. Simple question to help understand; exactly what are the synchros "synchronizing" as they perform their functions?
The input shaft/layshaft (splined to the gears) and the output shaft (splined to the synchro "dogs") are being synchronized. The synchronizer deals with transmission internals. If the clutch is disengaged (pedal pushed in), the engine revs (by extension the flywheel) should have no effect on the transmission. When the clutch is pushed in, the driven wheels are the only things giving input to the transmission. The synchronizer seeks to bring the gears (and the layshaft) up or down to the wheel speed.

I think we may be having some kind of communication failure here, because I know you're smarter than to suggest that the engine flywheel is still influencing the transmission with the clutch disengaged.
Old 02-28-2014, 02:59 AM
  #17  
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
dannobre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Smallville
Posts: 13,718
Received 334 Likes on 289 Posts
Its the relative difference in speed between the meshing gears that the syncro has to coordinate. The closer they are in speed when you try and shift the less the syncro has to do to match them. When you get off the gas the lighter flywheel will slow down faster and when you get back on it...will speed up quicker. This will change the way the transmission sees the engine
Old 02-28-2014, 05:19 AM
  #18  
Sheep Dog
iTrader: (2)
 
hoosier1104's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Cruising down the street
Posts: 518
Received 19 Likes on 14 Posts
Calm down, clutch completely in, shift, clutch completely out

From time to time I get a little excited and grind. This is because I do not completely engage the clutch, go to shift and grind. Just calm down first. A calm head will always make a better decision.
Old 02-28-2014, 02:51 PM
  #19  
Registered
 
MadCat360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by dannobre
Its the relative difference in speed between the meshing gears that the syncro has to coordinate. The closer they are in speed when you try and shift the less the syncro has to do to match them. When you get off the gas the lighter flywheel will slow down faster and when you get back on it...will speed up quicker. This will change the way the transmission sees the engine
The transmission does not "see" the engine when the clutch is pushed in! That is the purpose of the clutch.

If you have the clutch depressed the speed of rev drop has no influence on how fast the input side of the transmission spins up or down. There are three velocities in the drive line: crank/flywheel/rotors; input shaft/lay shaft/gears (all meshed); output shaft/synchros/drive shaft/wheels (again meshed).

When the clutch is pushed in, the flywheel and crank no longer effect the input shaft or the output shaft or the synchros. If it did, like you're saying, you would not be able to sit at a stop sign in first gear with the clutch in - the car would be direct drive. Disconnecting the clutch from the flywheel is how we are able to change gears and sit stationary in gear.
Old 02-28-2014, 04:35 PM
  #20  
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
dannobre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Smallville
Posts: 13,718
Received 334 Likes on 289 Posts
LOL...I thought we were talking about shifting when driving I am well aware of the way the transmission works
Old 02-28-2014, 06:05 PM
  #21  
Registered
 
MadCat360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by dannobre
LOL...I thought we were talking about shifting when driving
It doesn't matter if you're stationary or rolling.
Old 02-28-2014, 08:53 PM
  #22  
Registered
 
MadCat360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
I am suggesting that a lighter flywheel weight allows for quicker shifting as it allows the synchronizers to do their jobs with less stress when one is trying to shift quickly. Conversely, a heavier flywheel will not allow the engine to "rev-down" as quick so the synchronizers have a little more load placed on them when people try to shift quickly, especially when one is "hamfisted".
So you're talking about the shock load that occurs to the teeth of the synchro and the face of the gear when the clutch is re-engaged after a fast shift? Shouldn't that be dangerous to the teeth of the synchro rather than the cone section that does the synchronizing?


Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Let's try it this way; why am I able to drive my RX-8 from a DEAD STOP, and shift through all 6 gears, while never even touching my clutch pedal?
That's completely different. If the clutch is disengaged, the synchros must do work (unlesss you shift insanely slowly), because you no longer have control of the RPM in the gearbox internals while the flywheel is disconnected. If you double clutch or clutchless shift and manually do the input shaft rev matching, then they do not have to work. Getting the car moving with the starter motor is also completely different than using the clutch. You're creating a complete straw man here. The entire issue revolves around the fact that a normal shift does not have any influence from the flywheel while the clutch is disengaged. Going to a double clutch or clutchless shift completely misses the point.

Last edited by MadCat360; 02-28-2014 at 09:09 PM.
Old 03-01-2014, 05:18 AM
  #23  
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
nycgps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 19,881
Received 32 Likes on 30 Posts
ok, how about just learn how to shift/drive ?

its funny how most people, including those who were/are boosted, track, beat the **** out of their tranny don't have much problems with the said 3rd gear

op might have bad luck, but how about he doesn't know how to drive for **** ?
Old 03-01-2014, 07:47 PM
  #24  
Registered
 
niteshade247's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: bluesprings MS
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
My first gear synchro is shot can't down shift till under 7mph. 2nd,3rd,and 4th are good 5th is a little crunchy around 6500rpm and 6th is about gone at 45mph it sounds like a old truck and don't clear up till about 55mph and wines like hell decelerating from 130mph down to 70mph. But I feel I've done most of the damage as I couldn't shift the car for crap when I first got it.
Old 03-02-2014, 06:14 PM
  #25  
Registered
 
OnCam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sounds normal for 1st gear niteshade..


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: 3rd gear on Series I and II are both POS



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:00 PM.