Anyone have a Techart short shifter ? Review wanted pls

Hi, I'm trying to decide if the above is the right option for me. A brief test drive in a car with this shortshift made me feel that it was harder to judge if I was selecting 3rd or 5th and then also 2nd or 4th gears. Perhaps the gear lever wasn't centering itself when back in neutral so as to provide a mental reference point for which way the stick needs to be moved ?? ( I could just be imagining this last bit due to just a mainly motorway and A road drive and also being new to the car. If they are indeed this difficult, then would probably stick with a normal shifter setup Your thoughts pls on this short shifter Thanks

Hi Jess, Many here go for the "Alex" Solution. Alex (please correct me if I am wrong) re engineers a Chinese made short shift, and replaces the poorly made parts with high quality "in house" items that he makes. Improving both "feel" and durability. I am based in St Albans just North of London (M1/M25 Junction), you are welcome to come and have a Drive and see of this solution more matches your expectation. The throw is substantially shorted and more direct. It feels odd a first, but, now used to it, I am convinced that it is the best mod. that I have made to the car in my 6 years. Paul

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I had the Techart short shifter - it was horrible. Got rid of ot and never even bothered reselling it - straight in the bin. Get a 997ssk or gt3.2 lever and job done.

Please elaborate on why you didn't like it. Would you say my experience above was representative regarding ease of gear selection, or did yours Centre itself when in neutral ? Thanks

As long as you use an alignment tool (for your model) it will find neutral with no problem same for gear selection, I've an 2003 green alignment tool if you need it 👍

Yes that's correct. I replace the bearings with custom made specialist material bearings and modify existing moving parts for razor sharp accuracy. See more here: http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=127355

I have not had a Techart shifter but have had standard 997.1, ebay short shift and now 997.1 OEM short shift, out of the three I am sticking with the oem ssk as its not as short as the ebay ones which I found clunky and hard to engage gears when cold, the standard is too long which i guess is why you want to change, the oem ssk feels about half way between the other two and to make it have an even better i have added billet shifter bushes. A lot of people do go for ebay / Alex's kits but for me the throw was just not enough and when driving the change felt slower even though shorter as I found myself going out then in gear rather than one motion, where as the 997.1 oem ssk just feels smoother and more usable while not being sloppy. It will come down to personal preference of how short you want it and you also need to consider the gt3 shifter as well which has a different throw again.

Why do you need an alignment tool? Just curious as I've heard of people fitting them without an alignment tool. Genuine question

You can fit the ebay style one without alignment tool, however i use it to find the correct neutral position. Never had any clunking or missed gears, so £15 well spent in my opinion, also if I put the original back in I can reset that one 👍

Do consider the Function First Performance upgrade with a 997 SSK. Already had the 997 SSK for a number of years , I wanted something better. Metal bushings in the GT3 shifter was considered, but the throws became longer. The function first solution replaces the plastic bushings in the 997 SSK with ball bearings. So you maintain the factory short throws. Whilst there also replaced the cable ends with their aluminum and derlin bits (dont think you can do this on a 996). Very happy, feels like shifting through an open gate metal shifter. New meaning to rifle bolt lock. Anyone driving around with a newish 997 SSK shifter- this definitely takes it up to the next level.

Gear selection was very vague, quick shifting was hit and miss.... shifts were notch, and just unpleasant. Don't recall any self centring issues but I recall very well that I couldn't wait to get it out.

A Techart SSK was the first thing that i had done to mine after i bought it nearly 15 years and 60,000 miles ago. It was installed by OPC Hatfield when it was in for a checkover. set on 30% reduction since the standard one is 'laughably' long Never had any problems with it - still sweet in action and very pleased with it HTH :thumb:

Just to close this off... I got this on the car and am pleased to say that its nothing like my initial impression. It is actually easy to select the gears needed and has a comfortably shorter throw for each change than the stock item. There is no hesitation going into any gears regardless of cold start or not. Finally, It does Centre as per normal between 3rd and 4th. Strange that it gets mixed reviews :dont know: