Q. Why should I choose a Geartronics paddleshift system over other kits on the market?
A. Because our system actually works as advertised! With Geartronics you get the best quality, functionality, reliability & service. We believe our control strategy is one of the most sophisticated on the market. Additionally, we design & manufacture all our own parts, including the GCU. So if you need support, we can give you the answer you need immediately, rather than having to wait for a 3rd party supplier. We also write all our own software, and can respond to feature requests usually within days rather than months.
Q. Why do Geartronics make such an effort to publish detailed technical information?
A. The gearshift industry is being saturated with misinformation, half-truths and, sometimes, blatant lies. We see part of our mission to educate our customers, not bullshit them into parting with their money! Many of our rival's websites contain little or no technical information about how their product works. In our view, this is either because some of them have insufficient knowledge of the subject, or they simply don't want you to find out just how crude their systems are.
Q. Why use a compressed air shifter in preference to a simpler electric solenoid?
A. Air actuators provide the degree of mechanical compliance that is essential to protect the gearbox selector mechanism from damage that can be caused by aggressive 12v solenoids. The force provided by our air actuator is adjustable by means of a pressure regulator to suit the mechanical requirements of the gearbox.
By contrast, electric solenoids are not adjustable for force, and the high inertia of the solenoid armature can impose damaging shock loads on the gearbox selector mechanism. Also, the very high electric current requirements of a solenoid can put extreme demands on the vehicle electrical system. Furthermore, large solenoids can cause electromagnetic interference that may adversely affect other systems on the vehicle, such as the engine management system.
We strongly suggest that you read this document for a more detailed explanation.Q. Does the air compressor sap engine power?
A. Absolutely not! This is a patently ridiculous untruth, perpetrated by some of our competitors in a desperate bid to make their solenoids sound better! Examine the facts: Our compressor draws 13 Amps (intermittently) from the electrical system, this is just 180 Watts - about the same as a pair of headlights. In other words, less than one quarter of one horsepower. To claim that this is power sapping is either a deliberate attempt to mislead, a complete lack of understanding, or both.
Q. Surely it can't be that difficult to design a paddleshift to push and pull a gear lever?
A. If only it were that simple! Semi-auto gear shift is far more complicated than simply operating the lever. To make an upshift we must cut the engine at precisely the right moment and for exactly the correct duration for every shift, it's simply not good enough to rely on fixed timers that remain the same for all shifts. Relying on fixed timers will almost certainly result in missed shifts and probably lead to gearbox dog damage. Downshifts are even more complex. It's not, as most of our competitors seem to think, just a matter of pushing the lever and blipping the throttle. For smooth, reliable, and non-damaging downshifts it's necessary to very carefully control the engine speed during the shift. This can only be achieved by constant monitoring of the tacho pulses and gearbox position sensor, then controlling the engine speed by the application of throttle blipping and engine cutting. We invite you to do a bit of Googling and find out which paddleshift systems monitor the gear position sensor. It's also a good idea to search internet forums to find out what other people's experience has been of the system you are thinking of purchasing...
Q. I am contemplating fitting a solenoid shift system, is this not a more simple and reliable option?
A. Absolutely not. We are aware of only one solenoid based system (manufactured by Zytek Engineering) that works reliably enough to be used in professional motorsport. The Zytek system does not use 12v solenoids and their GCU stores the required electrical energy in order to make the shifts. The majority of the 'cheap' solenoid systems on the market have no electronic sophistication and are little more than simple timer devices. As well as these crude control methods, 12v solenoids themselves have many and serious disadvantages, as can be seen here
Q. Can the Geartronics paddleshift system be fitted to any sequential gearbox?
A. Our paddleshift system will work with most, but not all, sequential gearboxes that have provision for a barrel position sensor. Our experience allows us to evaluate any potential gearbox installation and decide if paddleshift is suitable for your application. In some cases your gearbox may simply be incapable of accepting semi-auto shifting. Rest assured, if we can't do it then no-one else can!
Q. Can the paddleshift system be fitted to motorcycle gearboxes?
A. Some, but not all. We have developed systems to work with the Suzuki GSXR1000, Hayabusa and Honda Fireblade gearboxes, but only after making the appropriate modification to the gearbox in order to fit a barrel position sensor. There are several systems on the market that are advertised to work on any motorcycle gearbox, but these do not use any form of gearbox monitoring and are nothing more than simple timer devices. We would advise you to think very carefully before fitting one of these systems as the crude control methods they employ may result in serious gearbox damage.
Q. Why is it essential to use a gear position sensor for the paddleshift system?
A. There are basically two approaches to paddleshift operation: closed-loop & open-loop. Open loop is an unintelligent method that does not use feedback sensors to monitor the shift. Open-loop simply relies on fixed duration timers for the various shift events. Closed-loop on the other hand, monitors every gear shift in real-time, and dynamically adjusts the shift operation to suit the prevailing conditions. In simple terms, open-loop operation is considerably less reliable, and more often than not leads to missed shifts and serious gearbox damage. See our full explanation of closed-loop operation 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 disappointment 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. If we deem your gearbox or other aspects of your car to be unsuitable for semi-auto shifting then we will be honest with you. We would prefer not to sell you a system rather than have to explain later why it didn't work as expected!
Q. Does the paddleshift system reliably select neutral?
A. Yes. Regardless of gear ordering on the barrel, we have a strategy to find neutral. Our system uses sophisticated PWM techniques in conjunction with the closed-loop barrel monitoring in order to make half shifts. Half shifts to neutral are found in Sadev, some Hewland and Ricardo gearboxes and all motorcycle gearboxes. In contrast, the crude solenoid systems on the market do not have the sophistication required, and simply rely on the driver 'flicking' the paddle to try to get neutral. Needless to say, this method is very hit & miss.
Q. Can the Geartronics paddleshift system damage my gearbox?
A. When correctly installed & set up, a closed-loop semi-auto shift system will actually reduce gearbox wear. The Geartronics GCU features 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. 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 approximately £2800, this will allow 'flat' up-shifting and (in most cases) clutchless down-shifts. A full specification system including Raychem motorsport wiring harness & 'Aeroquip' plumbing will cost £4000 upwards. We appreciate that our system may be more expensive than some of the solenoid systems offered by our competitors, but you have the choice of either wasting your money on something that doesn't work properly, or spending it wisely on the one that does!
Q. Will the Geartronics products work with my gearbox?
A. If it's a sequential manual transmission, almost certainly. However, our products will NOT work with conventional 'H' pattern gearboxes or automatic gearboxes. Our products are designed exclusively for competition cars and are unsuitable for public road use.
Q. What type of gear position sensor is used?
A. The commonest sensor is a special potentiometer (variable resistor) that is able to continuously rotate through 360°. For the paddleshift system we use a non-contact hall effect sensor for ultimate reliability. We can supply sensors, usually from stock, from Penny & Giles, Active Sensors, Novotechnik or Contelec.
Q. What is Flatshifting?
A. The term 'flatshift' refers to the act of changing gear while keeping the throttle wide open. It is also sometimes referred to as 'shift without lift' or 'flat change'. To be able to flat shift, there needs to be some means of electronically detecting an imminent gear change, and momentarily cutting the engine power to allow the shift to take place. Additionally, on a sequential dog gearbox, the shift is made without using the clutch. Flat shifting is only appropriate for dog engaged gearboxes and not road car type synchromesh units.
Q. Can the Flatshift system be fitted to my road car?
A. Very unlikely - all the Geartronics products are intended for off-road racing purposes only. The flatshift system will only work with dog-engaged sequential manual transmissions.
Q. I am still using carburetors and don't have an engine management system, can I still use the Flatshift system?
A. Yes! The Geartronics ECU's are capable of interrupting the ignition coil power feed to produce the required ignition cut.
Q. Will flat-shifting damage my gearbox or engine?
A. When the system is set up correctly, gearbox wear will actually be reduced. The Geartronics flatshift and paddleshift systems use closed-loop control strategies, meaning that there is no possibility that the engine power will be resumed before the next gear has been fully engaged. However, all else being equal, changing gear without using the clutch generally puts greater shock loadings through the gearbox - please read our disclaimer.
If you have any further questions about our products, please feel free to Contact us via email or phone.