Geartronics - Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will the Geartronics products work with my gearbox?

A. If it is a sequential manual transmission, almost certainly. Our products are
currently in use on gearboxes from all the major motorsport gearbox manufacturers
and most applications can be catered for 'off the shelf'. Our products will NOT work
with conventional 'H' pattern gearboxes of the type fitted to virtually all road cars.

Q. How does the Geartronics display work?

A. Sequential gearboxes contain a cam drum or barrel as part of the selector
mechanism. The action of the gearstick rotates this drum to a unique position
corresponding to the selected gear. The sensor of the Geartronics display unit
measures this position and allows the control unit to calculate which gear is selected
and display accordingly.

Q. What type of gear position sensor is used?

A. The commonest sensor is a special potentiometer (variable resistor) which is able
to continuously rotate through 360 degrees. We can supply sensors, usually from
stock, from Penny & Giles, Active Sensors or Novotechnik. Although not cheap, you
can be assured of the highest accuracy & reliability. Occasionally we have seen a
linear, plunger type, potentiometer used, particularly on Hewland gearboxes.

Q. I have seen other gear indicator displays offered for sale which connect to the
speedometer & tachometer. Is this not a cheaper and better system?

A. Absolutely not! This type of display is based on there being a fixed ratio between
road speed & engine speed. Whilst it might work under some conditions, the times
when you REALLY need to know what gear you're in, this type of display will let you
down. It will not work at all when the clutch is disengaged and will not work reliably at
low vehicle speeds. The Geartronics unit measures the absolute position of the
selector barrel within the gearbox and will always give an instant and accurate
indication of the selected gear.

Q. Will I find the high intensity display distracting when I drive my car at night?

A. No, because the Geartronics display incorporates a light sensor which
automatically adjusts the display brightness to match the ambient light conditions.

Q. Does the Geartronics unit display all the gears, including reverse?

A. In most cases, yes, but depending upon the type of gearbox you have it may not
be possible to display reverse. However, because a proper 'alpha-numeric' display is
used the Neutral and Reverse positions (where applicable) are correctly displayed
instead of showing a 'dash' or lower case 'n' for neutral. Additionally, a 12v output is
provided when neutral or reverse is selected.

Q. Does the Geartronics display work with motorcycle engined vehicles?

A. Because the majority of motorcycle gearboxes do not have provision for a gear
position potentiometer, the unit will not work with most motorcycles. However, fuel
injected Suzuki sport bikes such as the GSXR & Hayabusa do have a sensor fitted
and the Geartronics unit is being used successfully on these motorbikes and
numerous kit-cars fitted with the Suzuki Hayabusa engine & gearbox.

Q. Is the Geartronics display system easy to install?

A. Yes. All that is required are for connections to be made to the 12v ignition supply
and chassis ground. The connections to the potentiometer are made using the high
quality wiring harness supplied, which uses environmentally sealed automotive
connectors or OEM connectors on the Suzuki version. Additionally, the unit is fully
reverse polarity protected and cannot be damaged by incorrect wiring of the power
supply. We usually make wiring looms to customer specification to further ease the
installation.

Q. Can the Flatshift system be fitted to my road car?

A. Extremely unlikely - all the Geartronics products are intended for off-road racing
purposes only.

Q. I am still using carburettors and don't have an engine management system, can I
still use the Flatshift system.

A. Yes! The Geartronics Flatshift is capable of interrupting the ignition coil power
feed to produce the desired spark cut.

Q. Will flat-shifting damage my gearbox or engine?

A. When the system is set up correctly, gearbox wear can actually be reduced. The
flatshift system uses closed-loop control electronics, meaning that there is no
possibility that the engine power will be resumed before the gear has been fully
engaged. However, all else being equal, changing gear without using the clutch puts
greater shock loadings through the gearbox - please read our disclaimer.

Q. Can the Geartronics paddleshift system be fitted to any sequential gearbox.

A. The paddleshift system will work with most, but not all, sequential gearboxes.
However, the system is unsuitable for use with motorcycle gearboxes. Our
experience allows us to evaluate any potential gearbox installation and decide if
paddleshift is likely to be successful. In some cases your gearbox may simply be
incapable of accepting semi-auto shifting. Please contact us for more information.

Q. Is the Geartronics paddleshift system supplied as a universal kit?

A. No, every installation is unique and attempting to fit an off-the-shelf kit is very likely
to result in dissapointment and can lead to serious gearbox damage! Geartronics will
evaluate all installations and decide on the best course of action to achieve a
satisfactory result.

Q. Can the Geartronics paddleshift system damage my engine or gearbox?

A. When correctly installed & set up, a good semi-auto shift can actually reduce
gearbox wear. Additionally, the Geartronics GCU has highly sophisticated control
strategies that considerably reduce the chances of gearbox damage. By taking away
the possibility of human error, every gearshift is executed with precision and the
chances of 'missing a gear' are virtually eliminated. Please read our disclaimer for
more information.

Q. Why should I choose the Geartronics paddleshift system over other kits on the
market?

A. In simple terms; quality, functionality & reliability. Geartronics have invested
thousands of Pounds in the development of the system. We believe our control
strategy is one of the most sophisticated on the market. Additionally, we prefer not to
use off-the-shelf components or adapted parts that are not specifically intended for
motorsport use. The Geartronics paddleshift system is not a toy, our philosophy is
that if you are going to fit something to your race car, it has to make it quicker,
otherwise there is no point in fitting it in the first place!

Q. How much does the Geartronics paddleshift system cost?

A. Because every system tends to be unique it's generally not possible to quote an
exact price. However, as a very rough guide; a basic system will cost in the order of
�2000, this will allow 'flat' upshifting but requires use of the clutch for down-shifts. A
system with throttle blipper for clutchless down-shifts is approximately �2500. A full
specification system including military specification wiring harness & 'Aeroquip'
plumbing will cost approximately �4000. We can also offer automatic up-shifting and
pre-selected down-shifts (high-end systems only) for an additional �350.