jfw432

I can start off smooth as silk but when I hit 2nd every time and often 3rd it jolts me so much that my right foot actually starts pumping the gas which makes it that much worse.
It just feels like the clutch pedal has about half and inch of effective travel. The effective clutch is way up at the top but by the time I've hit the effective area on the clutch I'm through it.
If I jump in a normal car I can usually shift it as smooth as an automatic but not the S...What gives? I feel like a noob that can't drive a stick when people are with me.

feistyS2K

practice. practice. practice. I have the same problem any time I get into my truck. Every car's clutch engagement point is different. It's certainly different between sport clutches and non-sport. It took me a few months to get used to my S and even now I still screw it uponce in a while. Don't get frustrated, it'll make it worse. Just relax and practice.

good luck and congrats on your S!

b00stn

As you mentioned, the clutch engages/disengages at the top of the pedal. This just takes getting used to.

Something else that I think alot of people dont understand about the S2000 when the first start driving one is the flywheel is pretty light from the factory. This means revs go up quickly, but also down quickly. How does that relate to you shifting smoothly?

If you have any background with a manual transmission, especially outside a sports car, you are used to shifting slow to get smooth shifts. You have to shift quickly with the S2000. If you try to shift slowly, the light flywheel is going to cause your revs to drop below the ideal rpm range for the beginning of the next gear.

If you watch you tach, you have about 1000-1200 rpms to complete the shift. If you get the clutch in, shift, and back out in that time frame you will have smooth gear engagements. And dont worry about the shifting fast hurting your tranny. The car was designed that way. But at the same time, dont try forcing the car into gear before the clutch is engaged.

Also, I think the recommended shift point is usually around 4500 rpms (you will have to check the manual on this.)

This has worked for me. Just takes practice and getting used to the car.

willinathen

Patience grasshoppa....

Good shifting will come to those who wait.

Willinate

ATOice

You will learn and the engage point is critical to the smoothness.

thetz99

tighten your throttle cable

jfw432

haha. Alright thanks guys. I got the Voodoo shift knob a few days ago and I plan to try the Amsoil tranny fluid to smooth out the notchiness. Maybe with the two of those I can "confidently" shift quicker.

Now that you mention it though, I think back realize that I do shift slower from 1st to 2nd. Not sure if it's a by product of getting kicked around or just force of habit but I'll try to work on it.

pcs2ki2

yea i just got a stage 2 clutch put in its an act and i feel like a noob at it too and i had the stock one down it lasted 95k its a daily driver

millertown15

What does tightening your throttle cable have to do with clutch engagement??? lol

feistyS2K

whew....it wasn't just me