Why the Rob Knob Works

[Ken Dobyns <kend@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

Since I don't (yet) have a Rob Knob, I am just speculating on the 
improvements that are being seen. I suspect the impression that shifting 
is both smoother and easier is a result of the brain's tendancy to be 
sensitive to the CHANGES in force required during the shifting process 
rather than to the absolute forces required. As the shift is taking 
place, the internal transmission parts are being engaged / disengaged 
throughout the shift. Each of these individual processes results in a 
change to the force required to move the lever. These changes in force 
are felt through the hand and interpreted by the brain as "notchiness." 
By increasing the mass of the shift lever, the momentum of the lever 
itself dampens the changes in force perceived by the hand. The process is 
the same one used by the flywheel. The impulse forces generated by the 
individual cylinder firings are dampened by the momentum of the flywheel 
resulting in a smoother delivery of power to the driveline.

Hope this helps,

Ken Dobyns
Portland, OR
98 M3 (my ride)
83 320i (my daughter's ride)
97 Odyssey (my wife's ride)

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