MSP Shifter in my Protege5 = RAD!!!

[blizzard]

I just got my MSP shifter into my Protege5 this afternoon. I know quite a few people have done this already, but man, it's awesome! It REALLY shortens things up down there (wow, I don't think you'd want to hear that from your girlfriend hey?!?!)

Here's a bunch of pics. Sorry, the quality isn't too good I had to use a Point-and-Shoot style, not my better one. Let me know if you want a how-to. There's so many out there I didn't think it'd be necessary, but I'll do it if anyone wants.

Any how, I love it...

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/1.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/2.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/3.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/4.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/5.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/6.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/7.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/8.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/9.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/10.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/11.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/14.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/15.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/16.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/17.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/18.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/19.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/20.jpg

http://www.chris-lane.ca/images/shifter/21.jpg

[MP5_509]

DANG! Whatd that run you.

[txrxs]

Yeah the MSP shifter in my MSP is RAD...looks nice man...MP5_509 i'm gonna be getting rid of mine here real soon, i can PM ya when i get rid of it if you want.

[Mad Hatter]

that's a lot of pics, you should warn 56k users. BTW, looks great!

[viVid]

Yeah, feel sorry for the 56k folks! But damn that's short... can you still shift? :)

[Pretzellogic]

Looks good.
Yeah, feel sorry for the 56k folks! But damn that's short... can you still shift? :)
You think that's short, try the Kartboy shifter.

[blizzard]

that's a lot of pics, you should warn 56k users. BTW, looks great!

(mswerd) Edited the title!!

DANG! Whatd that run you.

The shifter cost $40 from Hookedup240 on here. He's the man 'cuz he sent it with another set of bushings, and also a tube of grease!!!

Then I bought the shift knob from my local Mazda dealer because it was on sale there, and it worked out being cheaper than through ebay or any where else (you can get them regularly on ebay for $45+shipping)!

Actually, the shifter really cost me $80 because I bought one from someone else, but when the postal service delivered it, it was empty!!! The padded envelope had been ripped open on one side by someone, and the contents had been removed. We're not talking about an accident, this would have been deliberate! So I called USPS, and and the lady there said, "Oh, no, your package has been opened, and someone has stolen the contents!" So I said, "No shit." Long pause, then she said, "Is there anything else I can help you with?" WTF?!?!?! I told her it had to be one of their employees, but she gave me some song and dance about finger printing everyone who touched the package wouldn't get us anywhere, (blah) (none of which I had mentioned...). Any how, long story short, I had to buy 2 shifters to get one!!!

It was worth it. I love the new feel, and I love the fact that it's a factory part, it makes me all warm inside :D .

[viVid]

No insurance? That sucks... it's hard enough getting your money back from the post office when you DO buy insurance :)

So how much shorter is the MSP shifter than the B&M... cuz mine dwarfs that one!

[EviLMaN]

No insurance? That sucks... it's hard enough getting your money back from the post office when you DO buy insurance :)

So how much shorter is the MSP shifter than the B&M... cuz mine dwarfs that one!

i think the kart boy is the shortest (ill get better pics tommrow but here are some of my kartboy SS)

http://www.msprotege.com/members/EviLMaN/ss/img_0012.jpg


http://www.msprotege.com/members/EviLMaN/ss/img_0007.jpg


http://www.msprotege.com/members/EviLMaN/ss/img_0006.jpg

[uclap5]

tubular?

[PR5hokie]

One quick thing that I was noticing. It appears that the MSP shifter while shorter in overall length than the P5 shifter, is the same length when comparing the distance of the "pivot ball" to the undercar linkage. Clearly this is going to shorten your throw some, but you could have essentially achieved this by doing the cheap "cut a few inches off the shifter" mod. I have installed the B&M on my ride and when comparing the B&M to the Kartboy, not only is the overall length shorter than stock but the under car linkage portion is longer contributing to the shortened throw. Perhaps the above picture angle is misleading but is this what I'm seeing? Is the MSP "short shift" literally just a shortened P5 shift stick? Is what I'm saying making any sense? Just curiousity on my end. Bottomline the install looks great and I'm glad that you're happy with it.~Matt

[cable43]

so blizzard,
your a bike mechanic too!???

[Gbourdon]

Damn, makes me wish I got the KB SS threaded for that knob so I didnt have to switch it out. Oh well. Enjoy!

[Rickman]

Makes perfect sense to me. Is there an advantage to having the extra space between the ball and the linkage?

One quick thing that I was noticing. It appears that the MSP shifter while shorter in overall length than the P5 shifter, is the same length when comparing the distance of the "pivot ball" to the undercar linkage. Clearly this is going to shorten your throw some, but you could have essentially achieved this by doing the cheap "cut a few inches off the shifter" mod. I have installed the B&M on my ride and when comparing the B&M to the Kartboy, not only is the overall length shorter than stock but the under car linkage portion is longer contributing to the shortened throw. Perhaps the above picture angle is misleading but is this what I'm seeing? Is the MSP "short shift" literally just a shortened P5 shift stick? Is what I'm saying making any sense? Just curiousity on my end. Bottomline the install looks great and I'm glad that you're happy with it.~Matt

[Pesty]

Makes perfect sense to me. Is there an advantage to having the extra space between the ball and the linkage?

Yes, it shortens the throw by increasing the distance the linkage travels. Essentially, the longer the shaft is from the ball to the linkage, the shorter the movement at the knob needs to be to change gears. The travel on my TWM from first to second is 3 inches at most. I can shift with two fingers without moving my hand at all. The disadvantage is that you have less leverage, thus it takes a little bit more effort... hence the reason most ss manufactures sell weighted shift knobs.

[blizzard]

To those who were asking about the ball to linkage distance, it is most definitely the same. I am pleased with that for several reasons. Firstly, because of the decresed length of the shifter ABOVE the ball, the shift-effort is going to increase any way. By keeping the lower distance the same, atleast it doesn't go up two fold.

To illustrate this, think about a teeter-todder in the playground. If you are on the end of one side, and there is a fat kid at the end of the other side, how easy is it for you to go up and down (in this case the fat kid's the linkage, and you are your hand trying to shift)? It's not easy for you to make the fatso move. Now move the fat kid really close to the center of the teeter-todder. It's now really easy for you to make hime move!! This is exactly the same as with a shifter. If the distance below the ball INCREASES, it requires more force ABOVE the ball to make it move.

HOWEVER, to make the part below the ball move the same horizontal distance, takes LESS movement above the ball. If you were to keep the same length above the ball, and only increase the distance below, this would, in fact, shorten the throw above, while making is harder to shift. By further decreasing the distance ABOVE the ball short shifters decrease the amount of torque above the ball, and thus you effort has to go up even more!

The other reason is that I don't have to install any spacers or anything to move the heat shield away from the body. This is a MAZDA part, and that makes me super happy. So for me, I still have my stock Protege5 one that I can put back in when I sell the car, and I have a REAL Mazda short shifter from an MSP. I never considered cutting mine, that wouldn't have made me happy (just my opinion, as I know there are lots who do it (cool) ).

so blizzard,
your a bike mechanic too!???

No, I manage a bike shop, and am opening another one in a few months. No wrenching here (although we all cut our teeth pulling old shitty CCM's and stuff apart then rebuilding them... you gotta pay your dues :D ).

[Velocifero]

looks good, i get my twm ss here pretty soon, its been in shipping for like 2 weeks. cant wait to put it in.

[Protege52003]

looks very nice....i should see if i can get one. would like that!

[Groza187]

Looks good but get a smaller boot.

[blizzard]

Looks good but get a smaller boot.

(mswerd) I am ordering a leather one from shaundarbie as soon as he starts making them again!! I can't wait...

Cheers.

[shaundarbie]

Hey, that's me! :) Nice shifter...I have an MSP shifter in my 626. I had to tweak a few things to get it to fit, but I LOVE it. Here's a pic with a short boot made for my 626 and my Mazda 6/3 knob:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/325000-325999/325843_89_full.jpg

Definately hit me up for a shorter boot. I'll be ready to take more orders next week.

[blizzard]

Definately hit me up for a shorter boot. I'll be ready to take more orders next week.

What I would like is an EXACT copy of the stock one, except the same size as the one in your car... in leather!!! So I'd like it without the extra stitching if that is possible. I don't want anyone to know it's not stock except me!!!

Thanks Shaun! (cool)

[MP5_509]

Yeah the MSP shifter in my MSP is RAD...looks nice man...MP5_509 i'm gonna be getting rid of mine here real soon, i can PM ya when i get rid of it if you want.

Thatd be ill...if my car was a manual (yupnope) im have second thoughts on my auto. But i couldnt pass up the price and i wanted the p5 bad.

[blizzard]

Definately hit me up for a shorter boot. I'll be ready to take more orders next week.

Hey Shaun,

This picture you have in your sig:

http://www.chris-lane.ca/mspyellowboot.jpg

Is that on a stock MSP shifter, or a shorter one?

Also, is there any way that you can make a single seam one? So it's exactly the same as my stock Protege5 one, just shorter and leather. That would be my first choice!

Talk to you soon!!

[shaundarbie]

I'll see what I can do. I'll have to start from scratch, but I was thinking about doing it anyway. Did you want the one seam w/colored stitching? Also, I could do the four seam with black stitching, which would look smooth w/o looking too aftermarkety (is that a word? :)).

Either way, it'll still be the same price. While there's fewer seams to do, it will require a complete redesign.

About the boot in that pic, I think he has a different shifter. In fact, I'm sure of it, because he's the one who traded me his stock MSP shifter! :)

[blizzard]

I'll see what I can do. I'll have to start from scratch, but I was thinking about doing it anyway. Did you want the one seam w/colored stitching? Also, I could do the four seam with black stitching, which would look smooth w/o looking too aftermarkety (is that a word? :)).

Either way, it'll still be the same price. While there's fewer seams to do, it will require a complete redesign.

About the boot in that pic, I think he has a different shifter. In fact, I'm sure of it, because he's the one who traded me his stock MSP shifter! :)

Oh man I am being so indecisive!!! I think, what I'd really like is just like the stock one im my car only shorter and in leather! So one seam, with stitching on the inside (if you know what I mean!!).

That's the way I want to go! I will pay extra if it's custom, I don't mind. Let me know what you think is fair!

Thanks a lot.

[creednet69]

Very nice setup!

[MsProtege]

One quick thing that I was noticing. It appears that the MSP shifter while shorter in overall length than the P5 shifter, is the same length when comparing the distance of the "pivot ball" to the undercar linkage. Clearly this is going to shorten your throw some, but you could have essentially achieved this by doing the cheap "cut a few inches off the shifter" mod. I have installed the B&M on my ride and when comparing the B&M to the Kartboy, not only is the overall length shorter than stock but the under car linkage portion is longer contributing to the shortened throw. Perhaps the above picture angle is misleading but is this what I'm seeing? Is the MSP "short shift" literally just a shortened P5 shift stick? Is what I'm saying making any sense? Just curiousity on my end. Bottomline the install looks great and I'm glad that you're happy with it.~Matt


Your right Dude, the Kart boy is shorter for 2 reasons 1 the lenth from the pivot ball to the shift knob is shorter, and the lenth from the pivot ball down to the link its longer, bolth give controbutions, the shorter height will result in a shorter travel distance of your shift knob, and being longer from the pivot ball down, will increase the distance traveled of the link point between the shifter and the gears in relative to the distance traveled by the shift knob (less travel distance above the pivot ball will result in more travell under the pivot point, getting the shiter into the gear faster). This will result in faster shorter throws. The MSP shifter is simply a shortened stock stick.

[MsProtege]

Dude was rigth (no quote) the Kart boy brings the pivot point more twords the center of the shaft, when the MSP shifter keeps it at the same place. The kart bow will be easyer to shift as the weight transfer is more ballanced (the titer toter example should point this out perfectly) the MSP is the same so with a shoter bar its will certainly take more force to shift.

[Noxide]

Looks good.

You think that's short, try the Kartboy shifter.
Heck yea, i am in love with my kartboy!

[rx7mazda]

All the pictures are comming up broken. I really wish I could see them because I was thinking about buying the MSP shifter for my P5. I guess it is a direct fit, no bushings or anything needed to make it work?

Also, about how much of the shift % do you think is reduced for the stock vs MSP vs a B&M or Kartboy?

[JOMO]

Heck yea, i am in love with my kartboy!


Kartboy rulz.

[blizzard]

All the pictures are comming up broken. I really wish I could see them because I was thinking about buying the MSP shifter for my P5. I guess it is a direct fit, no bushings or anything needed to make it work?

Also, about how much of the shift % do you think is reduced for the stock vs MSP vs a B&M or Kartboy?

Hey, the pics should be fixed momentarily.

I cannot put is as a percentage reduced throw or anything because it has been so long since I have felt a stock one!!! It's is just WAY better!!! Sorry not very technical. I just chose the MSP one because it is cheap (you should be able to get one around here for $40 or so) and also because I have a big this for OEM parts!!!

Cheers!

[rx7mazda]

Okay, pictures work now, thank you for fixing them. So a couple questions that were unanswered, will the factory P5 knob fit the MSP threads and do you need to buy a bushing or anything extra to make it fit. Thanks :)