hi has anyone made an electronic gear change on the cheap using something like to push buttons on the steering wheel and a couple of solenoids. just thinking thaat it will save a lot of messing about with linkage problems thanks adam

dont take this the wrong way mate but if someone cant figure out a linkage gear change which takes a few hours of fine tuning they aint gonna figure an electronic solenoid giggly wiggly stick

I would go for a paddleshift

Hi,

The problem is, as I understand it, getting a solenoid which has a long enough throw and can generate enough force to engage the gears properly.

I think I came across plans in the web a while ago where someone had used Saab starter solenoids and had some success but as has been mentioned - it aint a quick and easy way by what Ive read, sorry!

Geoff

It's possible to DIY but it's sure complicated and it would be much quicker to do a cable or push-rod system.....
The advantage of the pushbutton system would be quick gear shifts but the R+D time would be huge....

Some years ago there was a site detailing such a gearshift system.From what I remember pneumatic actuators and electric solenoid valves were used.Worked quite well apparently.
Unfortunately I lost the book-mark to the site after a computer-crash

Of course, if you can come up with a way to work it with fairly cheap and easy to source parts, then you can stick the plans on here and be a very popular chap.

or what about making your own solenoid actuator. then there not that hard to make and even if you got the casing machined all the parts would only cost you about max £20 prob
and a couple of hours winding your coil
do you think anyone would be intrested in this if i sorted it out

People have tried with solenoids before and it isn't that simple in practice. You need to make sure that the solenoid throw is exactly right so it doesn't put undue load on the selector forks or not quite shift far enough and knacker the dogs, and you also need to work out how to make the solenoid do an accurate half throw so you can reliably select neutral.

[Edited on 18/3/07 by ChrisGamlin]

The really clever way would be to remove the shift drum and put solenoids directly on the selector forks. That way you could jump 2 (or more) gears in a single shift or select neutral from any gear, which would be a benefit at traffic lights. You would also get rid of the iffy shifts between 1st and 2nd.

The hand shift by cable or rod linkage is the simplest. If I were going to use solenoids, I'd go the whole hog as above.