Damn cheap shifter!

[Theafro]

I made this in a few hours out of a old joystick, and an old icecream tub, :D using a copy of virtual H-shifter. It's not incredible but great fun for free (almost) the most expensive part was the screwdriver, and thats temporary!

[speedfreak227]

how about a picture?

speedfreak227

[Theafro]

how about a picture?

speedfreak227

damn you're quick!, i noticed just after i posted!

[filur]

I must say it does look.. cheap.

[Hyperactive]

Yes, reverse is in "wrong" place ;) heh :D

that's true sim racing spirit, building own controls from ice cream cans :)

[Theafro]

I must say it does look.. cheap. you need to see my car! :pillepall

It's a Dog-leg first, means you have 2nd + 3rd together and 1st (only really used in pit and at start) is out of the way. that's my logic and it seems to be pretty common on RL racers.

I just got back from the first testing session, I love it!, It feels a lot better than it looks, the gate isn't a proper shape yet due to the materials used (ice-cream tub :) ). I'm gonna sort out a proper box for it along with a nice ali H-plate, All can be appropriated for free!

Total cost so far - £6 for joystick

I call that a bargain

It's just sold my mate on LFS with the power of my skint-shifter, he wants one too now! :D:tilt:

[nmanley]

I love it. Should have used a SPOON though. :)

[Matrixi]

Hmm, don't the E30 M3 beemers have the same kind of shift pattern? :) Good job tho, seems like you don't need big bucks to have a shifter :D

[danowat]

I used to have a dog-leg 1st in my old Datsun 160J SSS, ohh the memories!!!.

Anyway, sweet shifter, sorta reminds me of Blue Peter, heres one I made earlier, sticky-back plastic, get a parent to help you, etc, etc LOL.

Dan,

[AndroidXP]

Tape fixes everything.

:thumb:

[richy]

thats excellent hehe :thumb:

im sure if you went down the local breakers yard you could get a gearstick cover (one of those plastic leathery things) and put it over the top??

[Theafro]

Once I've sorted a nice enclusure, I'll prolly just leave it as a nice open H-gate for looks :), a gaiter would look OK but it's not really my style, I like my cars with no frills :D

[immense]

hm something ive been wondering about with all these shifters that uses a joystick, might as well ask here since im thikning about it now . :)
doesnt a joystick usualy return to the center on its own? how does the joystick stay in each gear without returning to the center?
thanks you. :]

[filur]

how does the joystick stay in each gear without returning to the center?

A force-feedback joystick can stay "in gear" by applying constant forces, on a joystick without force-feedback you'd have to engineer it yourself, something like this (http://www.clasohlson.se/images/products/S/hi/A/210136_X_2004-06-29_163552.jpg) perhaps, or magnets, something :)

[immense]

oh i see, so you need a FF shifter to work with that program.
any reccomendations on a cheap FF shifter?

[mrodgers]

I just removed the up/down springs from my nonFF joystick shifter. It has an h-gate and the gates don't allow it to move until I pull it to center. Then the left/right spring is still there allowing the shifter to center. I haven't used it much as the program I used wasn't very good. I have another program (possibly the same one as the orig. poster) that I've now been inspired to try tonight :D (in about 5 minutes).

*Edit: Oh crap, no gameport on this computer. Means I have to install the old soundcard for it. Hmm, do I install or not bother with it?

[BlakjeKaas]

I am trying to make a H-shifter too, together with handbrake and 3rd pedal...
so far, i have almost made the |-|-| thing... (I just do that @ school, got no tools at home too make that coolish).
I make a handbrake with an old wheel.
steps:
I: take the wheel of.
II: do a steel/iron (whatever) instead on it.
III: done.
3rd pedal: I don't know yet... ;)

[TiJay]

Any chance of a how-to and config guide for LFS?

[Theafro]

Since it's such an easy (and satisfying) project, I suppose i'd better knock up a how-to or something. :thumb:

I'm gonna take some pictures once i get going on the proper version, as it's still in the prototype stage, :tilt:

It looks like i'm gonna be able to use the 2 spare axes (throttle/rudder) on the joystick to replace my 'clutch' wheel (it's a pain having 2 wheels knocking about just for one pedal) and adding a handbrake should be easy. I'll prolly just end up building a big box to clamp on to the side of my seat.

Will hopefully have a nice enclosure for it in a few days, i'll sort out a proper how-to for it then.


BTW the software can be found here: http://forum.rscnet.org/showthread.php?t=232514

FF joysticks use this: http://forum.rscnet.org/showthread.php?t=214673