TSW Sequential Shifter Mod

Discussion in 'Hardware Building/Buying/Usage Advice' started by GTFREAK, Sep 20, 2012.

  1. GTFREAK

    GTFREAK Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2011
    Messages:
    340
    Likes Received:
    5
    While this forum says it's for "technical support", I figured this is the best place for this.

    This is a mod that I built myself (rather obvious by looking at the pictures) and was quite cheap to make. The result is a much better feel than the stock shifter. This mod will give you that "notch" feel as if you are putting the shifter into a gear instead of a smooth push and pull that the stock shifter gives you. It probably cost me no more than $12-$15 altogether.

    While this mod is a bit primitive, the feel is quite good seeing as it's a very cheap modification. It also doesn't take very long to accomplish.

    Here's what you need (what I used):

    1) 1/16th inch thick sheet metal
    2) 3 inch long spring
    3) 1 ball bearing
    4) 1 metal tube (can be purchased at any hardware store)*
    5) 2 "U-shaped" clamps
    6) 1 small "L" bracket
    7) a couple of small nuts and bolts (and lock washers if you really want them)

    That's it. I'm sure that some of you might even have these things lying around your house. If not, any hardware store will have most if not all of these things.

    Below are some images of what it looks like and I even posted a video to show you the finished product. Although, it's a bit hard to show you a "feel". You really have to feel it for yourself to get the full effect.

    This project took about an hour and a half from start to finish. I had some trouble getting the three holes in the sheet metal just right so that the ball bearing would slide into them at the right distances. This is crucial in order to get the proper feel.

    You need to make sure that the middle hole is the largest of the three. This ensures that it takes effort to move the shifter out of it's "neutral" position and into one of the holes for shifting up or down. Also, the spring must be of decent strength in order to get the proper feel as well. You also need to make sure that one end of the metal tube (that houses the spring) is closed on one end. This should be obvious, but just in case it wasn't clear I figured I would explain it. I managed to pull this off by using a nut that was just a bit larger than the hole and using a hammer to force it into the tube at one end. It worked out perfectly.

    Here's a few shots of the finished product. Keep in mind that this truly is a primitive setup. However, the end result is what's important. The overall design is actually quite good. You could actually make an all aluminum housing for the spring that clamps on to the shifter and make a very nice aluminum plate that fits onto the shifter housing with the holes pre-drilled out. Perhaps I'll come up with something like this later. For now, this feels and works great!

    http://lh.rs/pgi73bxiti1C

    http://lh.rs/cIfOAuL5XJ6R

    http://lh.rs/K2DnpUZUyANh

    http://lh.rs/jtNZJvFwngKR

    http://lh.rs/mth4jJtS29NP

    Here's the vid.

     
  2. VLA

    VLA Registered

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2011
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    1
    That is a great Idea. Been looking for a while a gadget that can give that cog feel and figured it would be a ball bearing style thing, hence was looking at a lot of door hardrware as they have ball bearings embedded. Your idea is most welcome as I can build on this. I know of someone and hoping his idea will come to life as I believe it will be a serious seq shifter, but until then always on the hunt for that special shifter. Many seq shifters on the market but unfortunatley none really are what I'm looking for and yet I would bet If someone would go that extra 10 yards to create that cog feel shifter it would be a top seller as I would be the first one and brag big time about it.

    Anyone want to build me one...I'm ready to talk turkey. Just like this one
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT7U0iO82g8&feature=related
     
  3. GTFREAK

    GTFREAK Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2011
    Messages:
    340
    Likes Received:
    5
    I find it fascinating that there are all types of sequential gear boxes out there. For example, in Grand-Am racing the gear boxes are sequential, but you don't have to lift off the gas to up-shift and you don't have to heal-and-toe as far as I know. Same goes for ALMS I believe. The heal-and-toe part I'm not 100% sure about, but some cars have an auto-blip just like in the Sim that allows you to downshift without having to blip the gas to keep the revs up.

    I'm always after the more realistic feel when it comes to Sim racing, so I try to mod things when I can and if I feel I can achieve something better that what came stock.

    No offense to TSW, they make a great shifter, but it lacks that "notchy" feeling as if the shifter was going into an actual gear.
     
  4. GTClub_wajdi

    GTClub_wajdi Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    Messages:
    3,238
    Likes Received:
    572
    I have the DSD pro-sequenzial shifter and it has that "notchy"feeling that you looking for!
     
  5. GTFREAK

    GTFREAK Registered

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2011
    Messages:
    340
    Likes Received:
    5
    Yes, I've seen that shifter and the price is very reasonable. However, I already have this TSW and I really like the feel now. I think I'll stick with it.

    I might even improve upon this mod if I can find the materials.
     

Share This Page