| Author | Message | ||
| Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member Username: Dapper Post Number: 385 Registered: 4-2002 |
'hard mechanical feel' some people will excuse almost anything..ha so many differing opinions on what could actually be exactly the same shift feel...good job we're all different | ||
| Chris A. (Asianbond)
Junior Member Username: Asianbond Post Number: 98 Registered: 5-2002 |
Once warmed up, my 348 tranny shifts extremely sweet without any complaints. Either your synchros are bad, not warmed up, or just don't understand that it's design to have a hard mechanical feel to it, it's not your sister's honda. | ||
| Justin Randall Kenyon (Kenyon)
New member Username: Kenyon Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2002 |
Scotty, Its then same for me. I have a late 1994 348 spider and I have no problems with shifting through any of the gears from cold. I have been using Castrol Syntrax 75-90 a synthetic based gear/diff oil. No problems. When the car is warm and I take it through the gears, I only have to flick the gear lever quickly and it falls into the gate position I want, its like having quick shift, anyway something like that. Is it a problem only with older 348's ? I do not know. I do know that each car is made individual. I have been told while I was in Italy that some Ferrari models are faster then the other same models, because they are all hand built. Is it true maybe.... | ||
| Scotty (Pzerowaster)
New member Username: Pzerowaster Post Number: 46 Registered: 10-2002 |
It's weird, I'm just browsing this thread, and I don't have any shifting problems with my 348. It does take a little extra tug on the shifter 1-2 when the ambient temp is low and the car is cold, but other than that, it shifts and clutches great. And the 3rd to 2nd downshift that someone said was almost impossible on these cars? I don't understand, it's a straight shot. I don't even think about it. The 2nd to 1st downshift you gotta go thru the gate, but still. I'm not trying to bust anyone's onions, but maybe I'm just lucky and mine works well? Hmmm, maybe so. I can snap off shifts at redline without a peep all day long. 7000 miles worth this summer. Maybe It's because I used to drive an '81 Kenworth with a 10 speed road ranger back in the day. Find 'em and grind 'em!  | ||
| Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member Username: Dapper Post Number: 384 Registered: 4-2002 |
sorry, meant "...impossible to get 2nd when cold" Too early in the morning I guess! | ||
| Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member Username: Dapper Post Number: 383 Registered: 4-2002 |
Mines nearly new in terms of mileage and its as described by most, impossible to get 2nd (if you dont want to risk damage). Not too bad when warm - for a Ferrari, but terrible if compared to just about any more modern high volume production car. I still believe its generally down to poor design. Yes in some cases this will be excaccerbated by worn components and/or poor adjustment. From what I've read in this and other related threads about gearbox lubricants, it seems you are just as likely to make matters worse than better, especially with Mobil 1. Like others, I just accept it as an idiosyncracy of the design...period. | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Intermediate Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 1205 Registered: 1-2001 |
Lou -- In the TR WSM they describe an axial measurement to determine the wear on the syncro ring cone areas -- but it seems they left out the specs for "X" in Fig 16 and "Y" in Fig 17 (and I don't know if your Mondial T is exactly the same or not):  I'll email a jpeg of the whole section to you just for reference. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Junior Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 61 Registered: 9-2002 |
I've driven lots of 348's and they all seem to be a hard shifting car going into second. I would suggest not to try to addjust the shifter unless you want to spend a full day at it!!(personal experiance it will drive you batty) Trying to gear down from 3rd to 2nd is almost an impossibility on these cars. I think it's because of the push/pull cable system thats used. Why ferrari went back to it on the 360 is beyoned me. Although the 360 is a very nice shifting car. | ||
| Lou Menditto (Lmenditt)
New member Username: Lmenditt Post Number: 8 Registered: 8-2001 |
How does one measure the wear on a synchro? I have mine apart (due to a bad bearing that necessitated other gearbox repairs). The synchos don't seem to be worn but I'd like to know how to measure the tolerance so I can replace them before I put the gearbox back together. By the way, I didn't have any gear engagement problems beforehand, other than the standard 2nd gear warmup issue ('90 Mondial T). Thanks in advance. | ||
| Rexrcr (Rexrcr)
New member Username: Rexrcr Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2002 |
"You cannot adjust this clutch." Yes, bleeding the hydraulics helps in many cases, BUT, Yes, the cluch can be adjusted for what the manual calls "set-up height". I've done it. In both dual and single disc clutches. It will change the disengagement characteristics. But what most of you are experiencing is partly built-in reluctance of the design, and mostly worn synchro. Second is the most-used and therefor most-abused. In some cases, reducing friction by utilizing slipery synthetics can exacerbate the condition, though Ferrari recomends the synthetic Agip gear oil. | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Intermediate Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 1201 Registered: 1-2001 |
Why not try ordering online? http://www.ritegear.com/SWEPCO/201.htm No experience/affiliation -- just came up searching on "Swepco 201". | ||
| Craig (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 17 Registered: 9-2002 |
hey guys, my trans is a fresh rebuild from tillack so i know everything has been ajusted right, ive called several places including P dealer and nobody has swepco 201, does anybody have a source in southern cal? | ||
| john beaucher (Spider348)
New member Username: Spider348 Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hello, New to Ferrarichat. Recommended by a fellow Ferrari owner and Ferrarichat member. My 348 spider is a bit difficult to shift into 2nd cold. As stated by other 348 owners, once warm, no issues. As a point of reference, I did have a problem with excessive limited slip differential chatter. Switched to Redline GL5 gearbox lube, not the Redline GL4 transmission lube. The GL5 product is very similar to the Ferrari recommended Agip GL5 gearbox lube. Differential chatter eliminated. Shift quality appears the same or slightly improved. Redline products deffinitely improved shift quality in my former 308. Debating between the Swepco 201 product or the Mobil 1 with the GM Corvette limited slip friction modifier. I had poor results with the Mobil 1 in my P-930. Swepco 201 worked wonders in that car. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 586 Registered: 4-2002 |
As a follow-up: Mobil 1 made cold shift into 2nd totally impossible, but everything seemed to work fine after an extended warm-up. RedLine allows cold shifts with some difficulty, but do-able. Then it goes thru an intermediate stage when the car isn't totally warmed up where shifting gives a slight 'crunch' in most gears. When warm, shifting in butter smooth, and somewhat easier than with Mobil 1. This is, of course, with my gearbox, and I'm sure yours will be different. I'm just giving an example of what different oils can do. | ||
| Noelrp (Noelrp)
Junior Member Username: Noelrp Post Number: 124 Registered: 8-2001 |
I went from Swepco 201 to Mobil1 based on what I've read on this forum. I didnt feel any improvement. In fact, warm-up is longer. Also, Mobil 1 leaks in my car. I am going to change back to Swepco. You can get Swepco 201 at a P-dealer for $40/gallon. BTW, Ferrari of SF recommends Swepco as well. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 583 Registered: 4-2002 |
Gene & Craig: Experiment with oils. I went from Mobil 1 to a mixture of RedLine products. Completely changes the gearbox feel/shifting. Not sure which I like better..... These boxes all seem to be different, so what feels right in one isn't necessarily what works best in another. Also commonly used is Swepco. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 685 Registered: 8-2002 |
Gene, Have you had your syncro's checked? That could be the cause of the grinding at high speed. M | ||
| Gene Agatep (Gagatep)
Junior Member Username: Gagatep Post Number: 99 Registered: 8-2002 |
so far 2nd gear has been a b**** for mine i don't use second for a good 15 minutes starting from cold - I shift 1 to 3 until all gauges show good running temp i'm already doing heal and toe but i can't downshift fast from 3rd to 2nd it would have that small grind before it goes in or i have to down shift way before a curve slowly then no grind at all 4th to 3rd no problem quick shift with heal/toe are these everyone's symptoms???? | ||
| Dave Penhale (Dapper)
Member Username: Dapper Post Number: 372 Registered: 4-2002 |
Craig if you do the suggested and there is a marked difference I'd like to hear your views...mine current view is that the design is just v'poor but I could be swayed on that. | ||
| billy bob (Fatbillybob)
Junior Member Username: Fatbillybob Post Number: 74 Registered: 8-2002 |
You cannot adjust this clutch. 1) Bleed the clutch 2) switch gearbox oils. Amazingly those two items help. 3)Adjust shifter cables. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1910 Registered: 9-2001 |
may need a clutch adjustment | ||
| Craig (Beachbum)
New member Username: Beachbum Post Number: 16 Registered: 9-2002 |
while im having the time of my life driving my new baby around, handles like a dream, lots of power and all the porsche guys look at you with envy even after the car warms up the shifting takes a little getting used to, when im sitting at a light and it doesnt want to go into gear i let the clutch out a little then push it back in and try again, i bit of double clutching helps going through the gears to, in a past post someone mentioned using mobile 1 with an additive in the trans, any opinions about this, is it safe? any advice is much appreciated |