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Reasonably priced short shifter

Stevearcade

Stevearcade

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2003 Accord CM2
Alright guys, I stumbled upon a completed listing on eBay for a Honda Accord/TSX short shifter that seemed reasonably priced. So I googled its name and it came up with this:

Cosmo Racing Short Shifter

So I did a little googling and read this thread on Drive Accord forum. Page 2 has a guy fitting it to his 7th gen Accord with success.

What are your thoughts guys? I'm seriously tempted. But before I go any further I'd like to know how it actually fits? I can't find instructions or an install video. I'm sure I could fit it, but would like to know before I go any further.
 
Did the Girls on the page help you steve with your choice ;) It seems a good buy, would import tax apply? As regards fitting it, I will have a look
 
this might give you an idea as to installing it. This is a Subaru but the principle applies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrDlrxcn7dk
 
Well I've googled some more and found some reviews that slate them. Not in Hondas mind. Comments like "it was light weight, felt cheap, broke on install" etc... But all those who've fitted say it's really good.

But also there's a note on their website that people have been selling knock off ones on eBay, so I'm not sure what to make of it all :unsure: .

Import tax is (or at least was the last time I imported anything) 20% of declared value, so we're talking £5 on the tax front ;) .
 
here is a another one, but this is full the full change

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0nKB-yGnAU
 
Cheers for the vid man. I've seen shifter install like this before. What I'm confused with is the product I've found looks like it goes somewhere else in the ***embly of the gear shifter. I can't find an exploded diagram on Lings of the gear lever mech either :rolleyes: .
 
Ok, I just popped out in the car and before I set off, I popped the gear surround off and had a fondle around ;) . I've just knocked up a simple diagram to explain things. The part we're concerning ourselves here is the bit in red. By changing its length you will change its characteristics.

ShortShiftDiagram.jpg


Someone in that thread I linked above mentioned it didn't change the height of the gear knob. This is good. I don't like it when a gear knob is skimming the surround :lol: . So I guess it all comes down to the position of the mounting bolt holes for the connector rods (where the sky blue bit bolts onto the red bit in my picture). By altering this, I guess the overall throw of the stick will change. Anyway, now I know what I'm actually talking about here, I feel a bit more confident about the matter. Will do some more research though before I commit to buy.
 
By the looks of it Steve this should fit and also should fit mine as well.Have a look on the TXS forums there might be some reviews from across the water.
 
There is Brett. I was just looking. Is it safe to ***ume that if it fits a CL9 TSX it will fit a CL9 Accord.

I've also read a few people referring to them as a cheap version of this. CT Engineering stuff seems to review well and for the relatively small increase in purchase price, it might be worth the peace of mind in ordering one of these. I've emailed them to check if it fits the UK/JDM spec CL9.

I've found an installation guide for the CT version. It seems to just lengthen the bottom half of the shifter, thus engaging the gears with less movement. Sounds spot on to me. The question is, CT or Cosmo?
 
Stevearcade said:
There is Brett. I was just looking. Is it safe to ***ume that if it fits a CL9 TSX it will fit a CL9 Accord.

I've also read a few people referring to them as a cheap version of this. CT Engineering stuff seems to review well and for the relatively small increase in purchase price, it might be worth the peace of mind in ordering one of these. I've emailed them to check if it fits the UK/JDM spec CL9.
Click to expand...
Steve im not 100% but im sure the mark 1 TXS is the same as our 7th gen CL9.The mark 2 TXS is like my car the 2.4 8th gen.
I think the only difference is the V6 TXS but will probably share most things as the 2.4.
The best person to ask to be 100% is OZ.Also i took the chance with my full camber kit for the mark 2 TXS.I haven't fitted them as yet so fingers crossed.
 
Well I've been googling the original Cosmo one I linked and over 8 pages of google searching "Cosmos Racing Short Shifter" I find lots of people saying how awesome it is and what great value for money it is. I find lots of people saying it's too cheap to be true and knock off of more expensive products. But it seems it's made from Stainless Steel and does the trick.

The only thing is, I'm torn between bagging a potential bargain or listening to brand-washed snobs?
 
Be sure that these kits dont preload the gear linkages, as this is what alot do.

Are you sure you cant change gear quicker by just moving you hand quicker? Because thats free lol.
 
93 accord said:
Be sure that these kits dont preload the gear linkages, as this is what alot do.
Click to expand...

Could you please explain what this is? The last thing I want is a gear box rebuild :unsure: .

Edit: Never mind, I've just been googling. The short shifter doesn't actually change anything in terms of the what the gear box receives as all you're doing is changing a pivot point and thus changing the length of movement required on the user end to change gear. If anything, with a shorter through aren't you actually putting less pressure on the selectors as there's less of a lever effect from having a shorter gear stick? I dunno?

Anyway, it would seem that not taking the time to re-learn your gearbox/clutch timing and slamming gear changes on the red line all the time once the shifter is fitted is considered a common cause of gear box issues following short shifter installs, not the short shifter itself.
 
If you go for a drive, say in 3rd gear, hold a steady part throttle, pull back on the gear stick slightly, now lift off, can you feel the difference? (You might even be able to slot it into neutral without clutch if the revs are right) now step back on part throttle again feel the gearstick preload back up, should visably move too. This is the play that alot of short shifters remove to shorten the throw. All its doing its stressing the syncros. Dont worry to much its not going to damage you gearbox instantly, youll find though that the gear cables with stretch quicker than they would, and the effect of the short shifter will diminish.

Normally im all for mods, hate standard cars lol, but from seeing the results from the Porsche's, having fitted them, then returning them to stock seems crazy for racing, but the cables stretched, and gears started to not engage.
 
Cheers Marcus, that's very sound reasoning actually. Food for thought.
 
Ok an update on yesterday's discussions.

I emailed both CT Engineering and Cosmo Racing. Both have got back to me. Their shifters will fit the 7th gen Accords, which is good. Cosmo's shipping was more than the shifter though :unsure: . CT's shipping to the UK on the other hand was $16.95. This means that Cosmo actually works almost as much as CT delivered to the UK even though their shifter is almost half the price of the CT shifter.

CT are Honda/Acura specialists and have a good reputation, make their products in their own factory in America and explained to me about the construction of the device including the raw materials.

Cosmo have their stuff made in Taiwan and have pictures of Asian chicks all over their website :unsure: .

I think I'm sold on the CT engineering... :lol: . Might add this to my Christmas list and keep you updated on this when I get round to sorting it.

:)
 
I looked at this ages ago, mainly out of curiosity, and this guy AWOC seemed to have the optimum solution (with a small reduction in gearstick height though). I don't know if they're still available but it's a quality piece of kit

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2919714

I never bought one, but if I had the spare cash...
 
There is another much cheaper approach - fit a different gearknob. The OE one is surprisingly tall, and on mine I've got a simple small aluminium ball with a thread in it.

My brother made it when he was an apprentice so it's been in a few of my cars, and although the gaitor clip is now visible (plus your hand touches it now and then if I'm honest), it has shortened the throw. Oh and it's cold to touch on early winter mornings!
 
benw123 said:
There is another much cheaper approach - fit a different gearknob. The OE one is surprisingly tall, and on mine I've got a simple small aluminium ball with a thread in it.

My brother made it when he was an apprentice so it's been in a few of my cars, and although the gaitor clip is now visible (plus your hand touches it now and then if I'm honest), it has shortened the throw. Oh and it's cold to touch on early winter mornings!
Click to expand...

I had a metal Razo gearknob in my Accord, was too cold to touch in the winter and too hot to touch in the summer after being in direct sun :lol: the weight of the gearknob made the throw so much nicer though :wub: weighted gearknobs ftw!!
 
I was looking at some £20 aluminium DC5/FD2 style Type-R gear knobs on the bay. Might ask santa for one ;) .
 
I've been looking at those too, I've lost my Razo whilst stripping the Accord :( I love the gunmetal ones with a red diagram on top :wub: I think my Prelude and Accord both deserve a treat :D
 
I've wanted a short shifter for my accord ever since I bought it and it seems nuts that you can't buy one in the UK. Watching the install video made me realise how lazy I've become though. I watched it and just thought...nah I'll just put up the the granny shifter.

Anyone want to fit it for me if I order one? ;)
 
Where are you?
 
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