Gearbox Boffins - UNITE! - Potential R3 Short Shifter?

[Dr. FrankenRex]

Hello clever people!

I know that the Axial Flow short shifter is interchangeable between the R3 and NC MX5... So this got me thinking...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/143172798749

Is there any reason this wouldn't work...?

[Nickp47]

[Dr. FrankenRex]

My sentimelons EXACTLY.

I'm half a mind to buy it at that price and see

[Nickp47]

Do it!

[Dr. FrankenRex]

Josh at RR said that he believes them to be identical apart from the bell-housing, so isn't sure of a reason it *wouldn't* work... lol

[Eddie_r32]

Issues I can think of is gearbox position, if the r3 box sits lower the mountings may not work/shaft be too long etc etc

[warpc0il]

I took the obvious approach and asked the seller.

How much credence we give the answer depends on if it's just a Yes/No/Probably, or more detailed.

[Scartlead]

Looks like there is a series 2 shifter now. I've emailed Richard, to see out of curiosity if he'll do a group buy type discount. Maybe a S1/2 GB?

https://www.axialflow.com/products.htm#s2

[Goobie]

I have a axialflow shifter, Rotary Revs stocks them. Not a huge price item either, so not sure what the drama is as have seen in another thread about it but yet to comment.

Things changed since I bought mine?

[Goobie]

Right, I see, R3 stocked, other not so. Also noticed listed for MX5 too, explain the thread purpose.

Scrap all that, straight cut dog box is where it’s at! Who wants my shirt Shifter?.............

[Ray888]

Im looking for a short shifter too, apart from Axial flow there seems to be no other option, if this one works then thats a good alternative - test it out Dan!

[Dr. FrankenRex]

Right O chaps.

Spoke with Josh up at RR (who are the distributor in the UK for Pettit items) and he said that they actually have a couple R3 shifters in stock if people are interested.

I've driven the Axial Flow myself and wasn't a fan, hence looking for other options. It was too tall (physically. The knob sat higher than on the stock shifter) and didn't feel all that much shorter for it.

Dave - I didn't see the point in contacting the seller as they will (more than likely) come back with "It's for the NC MX5". Didn't see the point in wasting their time...

[Nickp47]

Thanks for info Dan, for me it was the low price of the MX-5 unit that would make me jump on it. At £275 for the Pettit I am happy to buy it at a later date.

[Dr. FrankenRex]

I'd be lying if I said that wasn't part of my thinking...

[warpc0il]

Dave - I didn't see the point in contacting the seller as they will (more than likely) come back with "It's for the NC MX5". Didn't see the point in wasting their time...

I got a response from the seller, which basically translates to "we don't know mate" - which wasn't really a surprise but there was no harm in asking.

He might have said "We've already tried it in an R3 and it worked great (or did work at all)"

They're located in Bristol so, if we had a member in the Bristol area with an R3, the next obvious question would be...

"Would you like to try and find out?..."

[HypoThermia]

I fitted one of the R3 short shifters from Axial Flow many years ago. It picked up a bit too much vibration at the higher RPM for my liking, with a very loud bzzzz.

Rather than go back to the stock gear stick, I had the spring mount removed from the pivot, and used that to damp the vibration. Destroyed the original shifter in the process.

I've attached pics of the stock shifter and the Axial part (circa 2012). Thought I'd put up a fitting guide - can't find it now though