Forge Short Shift Kit - Group Buy

[kaanage]

Sorry leegil, that happens not to be the case - you can ask the UK seller or the local distributor, John, if you like. The SRS-II is a rebadged Alientech PowerGate S, just like my Viezu V-Switch, and it gets locked to the car when you do the original ECU download.

John or DNA Tuning in the UK can reset it but they would only do it if you are on-selling the unit. Once this has been done and another car downloaded, you would not be able to use the SRS-II to reflash your car.

See Alientech - Powergate II

[leegil]

Thanks for clarifying. I thought it could but I am obviously mistaken. Never tried (as I only have 1 tune). Just thought it could be copied through like a USB key. I do know that I can have more than one tune to store on it but was not sure that it was locked to my car.

[kaanage]

No prob - I just wouldn't want you to make a promise to someone that you couldn't fulfill.
As for ACT, short shifting Polos, check with Blitzen or Smead - I believe they are also Capitalist Territorians and have the Forge short shifter.

[leegil]

Yeah, Blitzen is helping me out on Wednesday. Once I learn how to do it, and if I have the correct tools in my arsenal, then more than happy to help others out as well.

[kaanage]

I would still advise you to heat the original shifter up with a heat gun until it is uncomfotable to touch to loosen it off from the splines (then use a garden glove to pull it off). The battery cage is trickiest part but Blitzen will show you the trick in getting it off.

[Blitzen]

I just took the air filter box out... This gives heaps of swinging room.

[noone]

You can do it without moving either, disconnecting the 2 SAI hoses gives enough access (visibility is poor tho).

[leegil]

This is why I sought assistance...sounds like three different approaches. Simplicity is the key for me I cannot even recognise the bits you are talking about. Thank heavens for a good community.

[Smead]

I just took the air filter box out... This gives heaps of swinging room.

Yeah Airbox is the way to do it. Also removed my PD 160 intake for a little extra room

[leegil]

Here's the update:

42DD was installed with Blitzen's help. First attempt went very bad as we did not mark the rod and this led to the H-pattern moving towards the bottom right (barely got into 5th gear). Once I worked out what was the cause and how to rectify it, we took another go a few days later with full success. Moral of the story...mark the rod before you remove the plastic jaws to insert the bushings. Note that markings on the rod are not threads, but circular grooves as markers and grip for the jaws. Special thanks to Blitzen and also Greg Roles for being 'on call' for the second rectification if required (was not required). If you do stuff up the rod length, it is easier to have 2 persons working on it (one adjusting and other moving the lever in the car to tell you if there is improvement -saves in/out of the car).

The short shifter was an absolute pain. Blitzen and myself could not remove it off the car spline. We had no leverage without removing the battery box (which we did not do). Ultimately I took it to Canberra VW Centre (CVWC) to install when they were doing the minor service and replacing the radiator. Damn radiator cores leaking by 70K km is ridiculous (my '95 Hyundai Excel went 160K km without issue). Back to the story, they had the leverage on either side of the shifter to apply force and 'wiggle' it off. Good work by Dean at CVWC.

The feel:
-42DD by itself was very direct and removed a lot of the 'rubber bounce' of OEM shifter. Shifting effort was just the same (no additional effort).
-Short shifter makes it a little more effort but also 'notchier'. The shortest setting is to my satsfaction, although I would have preferred to go even shorter if possible .

It all feels good now.

[Greg Roles]

I think Blitzen was the problem just quietly Leegil...

[kaanage]

The short shifter was an absolute pain. Blitzen and myself could not remove it off the car spline. We had no leverage without removing the battery box (which we did not do). Ultimately I took it to Canberra VW Centre (CVWC) to install when they were doing the minor service and replacing the radiator. Damn radiator cores leaking by 70K km is ridiculous (my '95 Hyundai Excel went 160K km without issue). Back to the story, they had the leverage on either side of the shifter to apply force and 'wiggle' it off.

Did you try heating it like I suggested??

[Blitzen]

I think Blitzen was the problem just quietly Leegil...

Hahaha... Thanks for that vote of confidence Greg!! Seriously though, once we worked out that the bush holders weren't screw ins, it took us less than 5min to adjust to the right position... As I had never pulled the bush holder/cable end off the shifting cables, I didn't realize it was going to be a as much of a problem as it turned out to be... That, and I have passion fingers!!

[Blitzen]

Did you try heating it like I suggested??

I didn't have the equipment to be able to do that... Also, I didn't want to burn his car, or my apartment block to the ground either!!

The stock shifter would move about 1mm up on the splines, and just stop. I tried DWF, WD-40, leverage, mechanical persuasion, reasoning with it, and good old swearing at it, but it just wouldn't move any further than that 1mm up on the splines shaft, and we tried for a good 2hrs, which really pissed me off, as my short shifter took literally 20min to fit... It just pulled straight off!!

I'm glad he is happy with the result though, as I'm sure he was going to be... And I thank him for putting up with my rather colorful language too!! I'm glad I could help out, and I'm sorry that I couldn't get the short shifter fitted on the first try.

[kaanage]

A heat gun won't burn a car if aimed at a metal part and stresses the components much less than levering or even a puller.

I removed a wheel bearing from one of my GP bike's wheels without using a heat gun once - it was brutal and then I remembered the heat gun immediately afterwards when I went about inserting the replacement bearing.

I'd forgotten it again when I went to remove my stock shifter until going through my own bout of levering, pulling, WD-40, Penetrene, swearing with not a trace of movement... That's why I recommended it here as the shifter then came straight off after a couple of minutes of thorough heating.

I then dug out some anti-seize to coat the splines before installing the short-shifter rather than use the red grease supplied by Forge.