14 replies to this topic

[M700FGT]

So today I finally fitted my Mini Sport Quick shift to my 1997 Cooper MPI.

 

Total ball ache to get the pins out, but finally got it all resembled and everything seemed fine.

 

Gears 1-4 seem ok, definitely a shorter through which is good as I have a habit of hitting my leg normally with the shifter.

 

Then I tested reverse..... Couldn't get the gear in. I knew it wasn't a clutch issue as the clutch is only 900 miles old. The Mini Sport instructions say if reverse is a problem, shorten the spring slightly under the collar. I did that but it wasn't enough. So I took more off, bit at a time until the lever lifted u/p enough. The problem was it now lifted so much it jumps above the pin and the lever just spins around.

 

At this point I was getting a little annoyed having been so careful taking off a bit at a time. So I added a washer below the spring effectively adding a ring back on the spring. This worked at stopping the lever lifting too high, but still didn't allow easy access.

 

So them I though maybe the it might work better once the oil was warmed up. This certainly made a difference as I managed to get the car into reverse gear. I put everything back together and took it to the end of my road.

 

1-4 was fine, but its a hell of a fight to get it into reverse. I can honestly see that keeping this shifter will end up killing my linkage. The worst part is, with the mini sport version you have to cut the old lever to reuse parts!!!!

 

So now what hell do I do. I can't go back to the original and im wishing I had not fitted this kit.There are mentions online of some people shortening the lever at the bottom, but this could go the same way as the spring did.

 

Reviews for this kit are a bit marmite, but its so much cheaper then the KAD version and I don't do allot of miles, so I thought it was worth a go.......... I wish I hadn't now. 

[Spider]

I'm not sure why the instruction would say to shorten the spring, the correct fit is to shorten the gearstick, the very end of it that goes in to the shifter housing.

 

Before doing that though, I'd suggest removing (or even just loosening well off) the bottom plate of the shifter housing and checking all gears can be selected, if that's fine, then the stick is simply too long to get in top of the reverse lock out ramp that's welded to the bottom plate.

 

If all gears can't be selected, then further investigation is needed to see what's fouling and where.

 

If all you've done is shorten the spring, get a new, stock one and fit that.

 

I use the Mini Spares version of these and while they are not a perfect kit and some need the odd tweak, once sorted, I love them

[nicklouse]

No comment. Binned two KAD versions.

[M700FGT]

I'm not sure why the instruction would say to shorten the spring, the correct fit is to shorten the gearstick, the very end of it that goes in to the shifter housing.

 

Before doing that though, I'd suggest removing (or even just loosening well off) the bottom plate of the shifter housing and checking all gears can be selected, if that's fine, then the stick is simply too long to get in top of the reverse lock out ramp that's welded to the bottom plate.

 

If all gears can't be selected, then further investigation is needed to see what's fouling and where.

 

If all you've done is shorten the spring, get a new, stock one and fit that.

 

I use the Mini Spares version of these and while they are not a perfect kit and some need the odd tweak, once sorted, I love them

 

You can't buy a stock spring anymore as they no longer make the stock levers. I did look for a spring but couldn't find one anywhere. so even if i do find anything under the plate, the spring is possibly going to an issue. I actually searched online for advice about this and noticed that you had posted about these before, and how you have needed to modify them. It makes me laugh that companies produce such crap products for Mini's, if it was any other make of car people just wouldn't accept it. 

 

 

 

No comment. Binned two KAD versions.

 

 

Why are the KAD version also bad? I have heard allot of positive feedback about them, and they do see to be more reliable then the Mini Sport and Mini Spares versions. Were they the older versions you had, before the collar lift reverse? 

 

 

 

So my options:

 

A: Try to make the Mini Sport Version work with a doggy spring.

 

B: Try and locate a standard lever - found one of ebay so far for £60.

 

C: Buy the KAD Quick Shifter £109.66 - https://kentautodeve...-rod-gear-stick

 

D: Buy the KAD Standard Shifter £90.00 - https://kentautodeve...-rod-gear-stick

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•  MINI_STICK_480x480.png   98.66K   0 downloads
•  Gear_Stick_-_ROD_1_480x480.jpg   7.14K   0 downloads

[burchy35]

In my experience these quick shifts are more trouble than they are worth.
I also chucked a kad one which is supposed to be the best of the bunch. I tried it for a good couple of months. Sometimes it worked and other times I couldn't get a gear which no fun on the track. Refitted the original and no missed gears since.
Good luck and I hope you have better luck than me.

[M700FGT]

In my experience these quick shifts are more trouble than they are worth.
I also chucked a kad one which is supposed to be the best of the bunch. I tried it for a good couple of months. Sometimes it worked and other times I couldn't get a gear which no fun on the track. Refitted the original and no missed gears since.
Good luck and I hope you have better luck than me.

 

Thanks for the reply. It's so hard to know what to down you are in this position.

 

Ive modified plenty of cars in my time, but now I'm older, a little wiser and have a family and house, cost unfortunately becomes a factor. My wife (then girlfriend) has still never forgiven me for swapping my lights on a MK4 Golf 3 times just because i didn't like them (and i could afford it).

 

Whatever happens i need a new stick. Im swaying towards the KAD standard shift, as it retains the original throw, adds the collar lift and looks a little nicer.

 

Has away one has any experience with the standard KAD shifter?

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•  MINI_STICK_480x480.png   98.66K   0 downloads

[Spider]

For the spring, maybe try a hardware store, the spring isn't really anything special and you'd only need something close. All it does is keep the bigger ball seated in the socket of the housing, but allows you to be able to lift to select Reverse.

 

 

I have read many who have had issues with these shifters of various brands. I can see how they can be troublesome.

 

When I've fitted all mine, I perhaps should have included that I did them all on the bench and with nearly all, they have been fitted up to an overhauled shifter, with good or new rods, rebushed, and a good or new yoke (or eye). The shifter housing also needs to be on good (and preferably firm) mounts. I think fitting them up to a worn shifter could bring troubles, resulting in making it tight to find gates etc.

 

I know I've mentioned it previously, but I really like them and find if everything is good, they have a better feel than the Remote Shift.

[DeadSquare]

For the spring, maybe try a hardware store, the spring isn't really anything special and you'd only need something close. All it does is keep the bigger ball seated in the socket of the housing, but allows you to be able to lift to select Reverse.

 

 

I have read many who have had issues with these shifters of various brands. I can see how they can be troublesome.

 

When I've fitted all mine, I perhaps should have included that I did them all on the bench and with nearly all, they have been fitted up to an overhauled shifter, with good or new rods, rebushed, and a good or new yoke (or eye). The shifter housing also needs to be on good (and preferably firm) mounts. I think fitting them up to a worn shifter could bring troubles, resulting in making it tight to find gates etc.

 

I know I've mentioned it previously, but I really like them and find if everything is good, they have a better feel than the Remote Shift.

 

I think that you have probably hit the nail.

 

These should be a complete kit, not an adaption using some of your old parts.

 

One wouldn't expect to buy a gas flowed cylinder head, and then fit your own old guides and valves.

[1314cc]

I've had a KAD quickshift since 1996 with no problems. Guess they dont make things like they used to!

[jaysmini1983]

I think it luck sometimes, i have a chepa £35 off ebay. works perfrect on my old and new gearbox. 1st can be tricky but the rest perfect

[MiniMadRacer]

I was never a massive fan of the "remote" shift, I always felt it was aptly named as there was a "remote" chance you might find the gear you are looking for ...

[nicklouse]

I was never a massive fan of the "remote" shift, I always felt it was aptly named as there was a "remote" chance you might find the gear you are looking for ...

Depends on the condition.

Never had issues with mine wether in the front of the car. (Mini and Cox)

Standard shift.

Edited by nicklouse, 31 July 2019 - 02:27 PM.

[MiniMadRacer]

True mine was always "abused" if I am honest and all those "knuckles" prob did need replacement but back then I was skint, and re used everything long after it was probably past its best but still serviceable.. I pretty much used the Rod box in everything, and used to fit the metro version which was slightly longer so I could put the stick nearer to me in the car

[Spider]

I was never a massive fan of the "remote" shift, I always felt it was aptly named as there was a "remote" chance you might find the gear you are looking for ...

 

Apart from parts being NLA for them these days, just about every shift issue with these was internal of the gearbox, which meant, pulling the engine , removing the gearbox and stripping it to the last nut,,,,,

 

With Rod shift, there's so fewer parts involved and all those that will give shift issues are external.

[M700FGT]

Finally an update on this............ I know its taken a while 

 

I went ahead and brought the KAD standard shifter. The quality is amazing and the finish is really nice.

 

Was a bit of an arse to fit though. They give you the spring, but you have to take shaft apart to fit the original mini collar and washer. However they don't fit!

 

Used a step drill to widen the collar which was easy enough, but the washer a pain and had to be done with a Dremel. I have hundreds of washers, but not a single one was thin enough or wide enough, so i had to use the original.

 

Once that was all done fitting took just a few mins. Unlike the rubbish from Mini Sport, this shifter worked perfectly first time, and the lift for reverse is a real game changer. 

 

All in all the KAD shift was very good, but i was a little disappointed that i had to reuse old parts considering the price. Apart from that, i would highly recommend it.