installing my robotek this saturday

[tmctguer]

i'm going to be installing a robotek unit in my '73 911E this saturday. i realigned my shift coupler several weeks ago to cure a 2nd - 3rd shifting problem i was having. at that time, i also replaced the shift coupler bushings.

this weekend, i'll be adding the robotek, replacing the plasting bushing at the bottom of the gear shift lever, and replacing the bushing that guides the shifter rod towards the shift coupler.

i'll let everyone know how much better (or worse, as the case may be) shifting becomes on my 915.

[mm86911]

Keep us posted - I'm interested in the comparison to stock, short shift kit. . .

[Glasgow 911SC]

Any photos you could take and then post would be great if possible. I am interested in this kit aswell.

[tmctguer]

OK here's the report on my robotek installation.

for history's sake, i experienced a problem at the track shifting between 2nd and 3rd. a few weeks ago, i had replaced my shift coupler bushings and adjusted the coupler. that resolved that problem. however, i was looking to improve shifting even further, if possible. hence i purchased the robotek.

i would have taken photos of the installation process but my digital camera was not cooperating:

1). the installation was extremely easy. it took approx. 30 - 60 minutes in total.

2). while i had the shift mechanism apart, i went ahead and replaced the shifter ball socket and the shift rod bushing. that took 15 minutes of the time.

3). with needle nose pliers, 2 clips are removed that hold a 2 1/2" pin in place. this pin holds the shifter in place.

4). the existing pin is replaced by a robotek-supplied pin that is approx. 4" long. the old clips are replaced and the shifter mechanism now has approx. 1" of the new pin jutting out of the shifter housing.

5). the robotek shift unit (a small metal contraption with a long bolt, spring, and nut) is held against the shifter housing. after aligning the unit with the long pin, and marking 2 holes with a pencil, you drill 2 small holes in the shifter housing.

6). the robotek unit is then bolted in place and the shifter mechanism is then bolted back to the floor.

the results............

the 1st/2nd shift gate is now spring gated like 5th/reverse. it takes a few shifts to get used to. it definitely feels like accidental shifts to 2nd or 1st would only remotely be possible.

1st to 2nd shifting feels a bit "forced". and, when in 1st or 2nd, i get a definite noise that seems to be reverberating via the shift rod into the shifter housing. i'm not sure if this is a result of further adjustments that i need to make on the robotek unit or the shift coupling.

a major improvement is the shift from 2nd to 3rd. it almost feels like a knife cutting through butter. 3rd to 4th also feel very smooth.

so, tomorrow i plan to do another test drive. i will further analyze the unusual noise, too. it is possible that a shift coupling adjustment may eliminate the weird noise.

so jury's still out on the final verdict on whether it was worth $299. i'll probably know more after playing with it 1 more day.

stay tuned............

[tobluforu]

Keep us posted. If that problem persists, give smartracing a call-they will help out. If all works out, you should submit a tech article on this.

[tmctguer]

drove around a bit more today. the noise i am hearing is definitely caused by the pressure on the shifter to be centered around the 3/4 gate while the tranny is engaged in 1st or 2nd gear. sorta like pushing the gearshift lever hard to the right while in gear.

i can almost eliminate the noise in 2nd by pushing the shift lever a little to the left. so there is some friction (in the tranny??) being caused by the spring mechanism as it relates to the shift rod.

the noise is definitely annoying and would not be pleasant to hear in city driving when going through the gears. i'm going to call the MFG on monday about the noise.

if the unit (or shift coupler) can't be adjusted to eliminate the noise, and it can be proven not be causing damage to my tranny, this may be something i put on my car prior to a track event. especially since it is so easy to install.

the only other downside to the unit is if you're not thinking, you can easily do a 1st to 4th shift, instead of a 1st to 2nd due to the tendency of the gearshift lever to move to the 3/4 gate.

more on monday after speaking with the MFG.

[Doug Zielke]

Excellent report!
Now I can spend the $299+ on more models!

[SRT356/911]

The Robotek is a nice looking unit. Hopefully it will fulfill all your desires.
A friend took a small brake spring and hooked it under the base of the shifter, came up to the top of the shell and hooked the other end to a piece of metal attached to front the shell and now the factory short shift always returns to the 3rd gear gate. Only $0.39. Works great too.

[rob911]

I was thinking about a "home-made" robotek.
Is it really as easy as I imagine?

You say your friend did this, will you be trying it?

Rob '84 3.2 cab - random gearbox

[68_912cbb]

Guys:
I was told by Steve Stomski, who makes the Stomski Couplers, that the following 3 to be changed and adjusted to get a true quick shift.

1. Factory Short Shift.
2. Stomski Coupler
3. Robotek

I have changed # 2, it is definitely better than the stock coupler, I will change #1 this week and will update.

Frost on the ground.........

[SRT356/911]

Rob
Most definitely. Drove his car and it was great. Would like to afford the real one, but this is the way to go for me.
The coupler is nice too. Smart Racing's is the way I will go. Have seen both.

[911pcars]

[b]"A friend took a small brake spring and hooked it under the base of the shifter, came up to the top of the shell and hooked the other end to a piece of metal attached to front the shell and now the factory short shift always returns to the 3rd gear gate. Only $0.39. Works great too."]/b]

I've got a mental picture of this modif., but you and your friend will receive the gratitude of 100's if you could post a pic or two of his shifter.

Regards,
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[SRT356/911]

Will see if I can get a picture and post it.

[rob911]

Originally posted by 911pcars
[B]"A friend took a small brake spring and hooked it under the base of the shifter, came up to the top of the shell and hooked the other end to a piece of metal attached to front the shell and now the factory short shift always returns to the 3rd gear gate. Only $0.39. Works great too."]/b]

I've got a mental picture of this modif., but you and your friend will receive the gratitude of 100's if you could post a pic or two of his shifter.

Regards,
Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

Moi aussi,

any more detail would be fantastic. Thanks for the tip

[tmctguer]

i called robotek this morning, and they believe the noise is due to a mis-adjusted shift coupler. they advised me to make a slight change to it and see if the strange noise goes away. as usual, they reported that no one had ever had this problem in the past with the unit.

i will do that this weekend and see what happens.

[ohecht]

Any developments here, either with the elimination of the vibrations with the Robotek or with finding diagrams and a part(s) list for the cheap version?

[SRT356/911]

I have been promised a picture that I can post. Still waiting for it to come.

[tmctguer]

i have been diverted from my robotek adjustment to my oil cooler installation. haven't forgotten........still rumbles.....will adjust in the next few days and report back.

[APKhaos]

Steve,
I'm promoting this back up the post list to remind you that we are all hanging out for your pics of the $3 robotec equivalent. If this really works you will have hundreds of 915 owners owing you...bigtime.

I'm up for trying the mod - just waiting for pics, and any trick setup clues your friend might have. Thanx

[SRT356/911]

Folks
My friend has not been able to get a picture to me, but he did post the following on 12/17.

This post is in regards to the Robotek theads "my friend installed a spring in his shifter holding it against the 3/4 gate for .39 cents. I installed this set up in our '73 targa about 5 years ago. We've been tracking the car for the past 2 years with no problems. I showed this trick to some friends, one of which posted a thread to the Robotek installation. Below is a description of how I did it. Hope it makes sense. I've done this modification with the shifter in the car as well as out.
1. Looking down on the shifter, remove the top nut holding the shift assembly together.
2. Install a small plate approx. 3/4"w x 11/2"l x 1/16" thick. I used a pre-drilled steel strap that is used to hold down the back of a cassette/cd player to the car chassis. It's thin & strong. The right end of the plate goes over the stud and is secured with the top nut (leave loose). The plate should just cut across the left corner of the factory top steel plate.
3. Drill a small hole thru the plate where it cuts across the corner.
4. I used a rear emergency drum spring, that holds the back of the 2 shoes together. It has 2 long legs and the spring is in the middle. Used full length it has slight tension holding the shifter against the 3/4 gate. I cut off about 1/4 of one of the long legs and formed a new hook.
5. Hook the long leg to the bottom of the fork (the retangular piece that holds the gear shift lever in place. Looking down from the top of the housing the spring should be on the outside of the fork resting against the top left side. Pull the spring up and clip it into the hole of the top plate.
6. Move the top plate so the spring is against the housing and tighten the nut.
The length of the spring determines the tension. You may want to make a couple at different lengths until you get the tension you like. The spring does not interfere with the shifter going into 1st. I've used this with the stock throw, Weltmeister short shift, and currently with the factory short shift. In my current set up the spring is taught enough to pull the shifter to the 3/4 gate with no effort from me. Same coming from 5th to 4th.