MGW X-Spec stiffness adjustment

[MontiCristo]

Hello all, I have tried to research this prior to posting this, but haven't been successful. Please forgive me If there are forums / threads that have touched on the topic already.

I just had the MGW X-spec standard installed and it is fantastic, but it's pretty darn stiff. I am curious if in fact it can be adjusted to "soften" the stiffness a little bit. I have reached out to MGW directly and am waiting their response. If anyone has any information on how to go about adjusting the stiffness, please send over to me. Thanks

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[Roadsign]

It will loosen up with use. I don't recall there being any adjustment but I installed it several years ago.

 

[DM_BK]

Everything I read points to it being built this way on purpose, and it should become "less stiff" with use, as parts will wear and tolerances loosen.

 

[SHOdaddy68]

I concur with the previous statements. I actually didn't like mine very much at first. I don't drive my car much and it took a while, but the more I use it, the better it gets.

 

[Mkiiisrael]

I didn't like the initial stiffness either, I found getting their weighted shirt knob helped a ton

 

[geep81]

I was told by my installer that there is no adjustment to the MGW.

I've had mine about a year and it has definitely broken in some.

 

[MontiCristo]

I'm a little discouraged, it is far too stiff for enjoyable daily driving. I was substantially quicker in the stock shifter because it required less force. MGW should manufacture these so that adjustments can be made. Overall, I suppose I will wait until it breaks in some. While we are on the subject and in the event that it doesn't soften, is there another transmission mounted shifter that isn't a stiff as a board that can be installed?

 

[geep81]

My understanding is if it had adjustments that you could make it would be more like the stock one with extra stuff to cause issues like grinding and lockout.

The beauty of the MGW is its simplicity.

My take is your issues are more to do with the MT-82 characteristics than the MGW.
Changing shifters will only help with some things, others would require more involved transmission work.

Mine does always require a bit of a push to go in, I believe that is due to not having assists and arms like the stock shifter does to make pulling and pushing easier.

This isn't the MGW's fault, this is how the transmission is, and probably why Ford needed that complicated stock shifter to make it feel decent for the average buyer.

Perhaps a heavier weight shifter would help you out.

Keep using it and it will definitely get better, if you think about it you are creating new "grooves" in the mechanism that never touched before do to different angles from the stock shifter pushing it around.

 

[MontiCristo]

My understanding is if it had adjustments that you could make it would be more like the stock one with extra stuff to cause issues like grinding and lockout.

The beauty of the MGW is its simplicity.

My take is your issues are more to do with the MT-82 characteristics than the MGW.
Changing shifters will only help with some things, others would require more involved transmission work.

Mine does always require a bit of a push to go in, I believe that is due to not having assists and arms like the stock shifter does to make pulling and pushing easier.

This isn't the MGW's fault, this is how the transmission is, and probably why Ford needed that complicated stock shifter to make it feel decent for the average buyer.

Perhaps a heavier weight shifter would help you out.

I already have a billwtworkz weighted shift knob. I appreciate your feedback but it’s not the transmission at all, it’s the stiffness of the shifter, plain and simple. It’s stiffer than a board and requires a lot of force to shift, it just isn’t comfortable for daily driving. Perhaps that’s what I get for getting the X-Spec, but honestly I thought the throws would be the change not the stiffness.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

Are you using the cue ball shifter that MGW sells? It's really light, under 100 grams. Switch to their "gripper" with the heavier stainless steel inserts, it really makes it easier to shift and the loss of feel is minimal . If you're using the stock black/chrome shift knob that came with the car, definitely junk that in favor of the gripper as well.

It's not gonna break in so much as you getting more used to it. That thing is a really solid chunk of metal

ALL short shifters will increase effort in shifts, no getting around it unless you install longer shift knobs which will completely defeat the purpose

 

[MontiCristo]

Are you using the cue ball shifter that MGW sells? It's really light, under 100 grams. Switch to their "gripper" with the heavier stainless steel inserts, it really makes it easier to shift and the loss of feel is minimal .

It's not gonna break in so much as you getting more used to it. That thing is a really solid chunk of metal

As I said above I have a weighted shift knob from Bullitworkz.
That has no bearing on the stiffness of the mgw

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

As I said above I have a weighted shift knob from Bullitworkz.
That has no bearing on the stiffness of the mgw

Sorry i missed that.

It definitely has a bearing, if you don't like how stiff it is now, you REALLY wouldn't have liked it with a lighter shift knob.

Give it more time to get used to it. If after a few weeks you still hate it unfortunately it might not be a mod for you.

 

[MontiCristo]

Sorry i missed that.

It definitely has a bearing, if you don't like how stiff it is now, you REALLY wouldn't have liked it with a lighter shift knob.

Give it more time to get used to it. If after a few weeks you still hate it unfortunately it might not be a mod for you.

No worries brother
Yea I’ll give it some time
All all the after market shifters this stiff?

 

[SHOdaddy68]

Honestly, mine was so different from the factory shifter that I didn't care for it at first. It was a bit stiff but not like what you are experiencing. Who installed the shifter? Could possibly be a little bound up due to improper installation? Might be able to access it from the console by removing the shifter boot & trim and pack it with some grease or other lubricant?

 

[John S]

I didn't notice any unusual "stiffness" on my MGW shifter prior to attaching it to the transmission. Was there noticeable resistance in the movements prior to installation?

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