Introducing Geartronics Paddleshift
CLICK HERE to learn some truths that most of our rivals would prefer you not to know about...
BENEFITS
- Faster, more precise gear shifts without use of the clutch, upshifts typically
50-60mS, depending upon gearbox type & engine inertia etc. - Significantly reduced gearbox dog wear.
- Virtually constant power delivery to the driven wheels leading to reduced risk of vehicle instability during shifts. See this data log example.
- Both hands can be kept on the steering wheel at all times.
- Allows you to concentrate on other aspects of car control, leading to reduced lap/stage times.
- Allows you to shift up and down when you want, not when the conditions dictate.
- Eliminates downshift induced over-revs, and includes sophisticated engine & gearbox protection strategies.
- On turbocharged cars, boost is not lost during gear shifts, leading to significantly increased performance.
- Capable of 5 down-shifts in less than 1 second, depending upon gearbox type & engine response.
- Option of fully automatic up-shift and queued down-shift pre-select modes.
FEATURES IN DETAIL
- Uses pneumatic actuation, as favoured by almost all professional race engineers. Unlike electric solenoid systems, pneumatics offers the degree of mechanical compliance which is absolutely essential if you are to avoid gearbox damage. Pneumatic operation offers an economical, versatile & reliable power source and allows the use of very compact gearbox actuators. Click here to compare the features of air, solenoid and hydraulic actuators. As you can clearly see, large & heavy 12v solenoids have no place in any serious paddle shift system.
- Virtually seamless full-throttle up-shifts and clutchless down-shifts using our unique throttle blipper system.
- Extremely sophisticated GCU, featuring fully closed-loop control of the gear shift based on selector barrel position. The majority of aftermarket paddleshift systems are 'open-loop' - essentially pull the paddle, bang the lever and hope for the best! Using open-loop techniques is extremely dubious in such a dynamic application as gear shifting. For a better explanation of why the Geartronics closed-loop system is essential, click here.
- Our GCU takes inputs from the following: gear position sensor, engine tachometer, throttle position sensor, clutch position sensor, pneumatic pressure sensor and paddle switches. All analogue inputs feature 10 bit resolution for greater accuracy.
- Includes safety strategies to prevent the driver from performing potentially dangerous shifts, e.g. attempting a down-shift which would result in the engine exceeding its safe rpm limit. All features are included as standard and can be disabled in software if so desired.
- Intelligent closed-loop engine cut either by digital interface to engine management system or by direct connection to ignition coils (or injectors). No relays are required for the engine cut function and all switching is achieved by solid-state electronics within the GCU.
- Full on-board data logging of the following: gear shift count (up & down into each gear), mis-shift and retry count for each gear, fastest & slowest up & down shift times into each gear, pneumatic pressure, compressor duty cycle & engine/gearbox runtime counter. All logged data can be exported in the form of an Excel spreadsheet.
- Includes gear position indicator and integral 4 stage shift lights, individually configurable up to 16000 rpm.
- System includes: 12v high-duty compressor, purpose designed accumulator, actuator & valve assemblies as required, conventional twin paddle assembly or single 'rally' paddle allowing single-handed operation, Fully programmable closed-loop GCU complete with our proprietary PC setup software, pneumatic throttle blipper assembly, all sensors & fittings, comprehensive installation & setup instructions.
Systems available from approximately £2900 + VAT. Does not include wiring harness, pneumatic hoses or mounting brackets, which can be supplied at extra cost. We do not supply 'generic' looms and expect you to make it fit your specific vehicle.
High-end professional system using autosport wiring harness (spec55 wire, DR25 sleeving, Deutsch AS connectors etc.) & Goodridge hoses, available for approximately £4200 + VAT (includes commissioning fee)
Optional Details and Videos
 |
These are our conventional individual paddles for mounting between the wheel and quick-release boss using our bespoke carbon-fibre brackets. These neat and ultra lightweight assemblies are fitted with carbon fibre flippers and have an extremely positive tactile feel. Weight: 165g. (lighter & stronger than titanium!) |
 |
This is the complete paddle assembly for a 330mm steering wheel, including a carbon fibre bracket to mount to a standard 6 bolt hub. Other brackets can be made to customer specification |
 |
We now have a single paddle available for use in rally cars. Designed to be mounted to the steering column, the paddle remains in the same position, regardless of steering wheel position. No more hitting the wrong paddle when entering or exiting a corner sideways! Please note that we do not supply this unit as a separate item, and it is only available as part of a complete system. |
 |
Our GCU is specifically made for paddleshift operation and is designed and assembled in-house. Geartronics don't use other companies electronics and brand it as our own! The GCU is configured by means of our own user-friendly setup software which allows the calibration of more than 60 user-defined parameters. Complicated? Maybe, but gear shifting involves a very complicated series of events which cannot possibly be controlled by means of unintelligent timer based GCU's. |
 |
This is our standard gearbox actuator. Unlike solenoid based systems, our actuator is small enough to fit within the tight confines of a modern race car. It weighs just 300g as opposed to several kilograms for the equivalent solenoid! Being pneumatic, it maintains a consistent performance across the temperature spectrum, unlike solenoids, which will let you down when they get hot. It provides a shift force of up to 75kg at a maximum operating temperature of 230C. |
 |
The Geartronics remote valve assembly uses direct operating valves for faster response times and reduced susceptibility to dirt ingress. The valve performance allows 5 down-shifts in less than 1 second (depending upon engine response). Valve electrical connections are fully sealed and use Raychem Spec55 wire and DR25 sleeving for ultimate reliability. Weight: 480g. |
 |
The system uses a purpose designed air accumulator so that the compressor only needs to operate intermittently. The accumulator pressure is controlled by the GCU via an extremely accurate pressure transducer. The pressure regulator maintains the shift pressure for consistent shift performance, even during a rapid downshift sequence. The volume of the accumulator allows up to 15 shifts between compressor operations. |
 |
Throttle blipping for clutchless down-shifting is often one of the more challenging aspects of an installation. Every car is different and we need to cater for all eventualities. In the ideal world we would use a small cylinder like this to operate the engine throttles directly. It provides a force of up to 18Kg from a weight of just 75g. |
 |
Our unique in-line throttle blipper assembly enables smooth clutchless down shifts where it's not possible to fit a 'direct acting' blipper. We don't expect you to mount some industrial solenoid contraption to the throttle pedal like some other suppliers do! |
 |
Here is a screenshot of the Geartronics configuration software. All parameters are user definable to ensure that the correct shift strategy is achieved for every installation. It might initially appear complicated, but the reality is that gear shifting is a very complicated business. The GCU features a detailed datalogging system that allows the race engineer to fine tune the system. The GCU also has the ability to perform auto up-shifting and down-shift 'pre-select'. |
| To see the Paddleshift system in action, please Click here to go to the VIDEOS PAGE | |
For all enquiries Click here
or call: 0114 2374102