Transmission shift selector assembly

1. A transmission shift gate assembly, comprising:

a shift gate having indentations corresponding to shift selections, each indentation having a different radial distance from a pivot;

a spring-loaded retractable plunger linearly slidable in a radial direction to vary the distance from the pivot within only one of the indentations, said sliding producing a greater distance of the indentation from the pivot that admits a pawl pin into the indentation, and a lesser distance of the indentation that restricts the pawl pin from the indentation.

2. The shift gate assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first indentation corresponding to a first shift selection;

a second indentation corresponding to a second shift selection and positioned aft of the first indentation; and

a third indentation corresponding to a third shift selection and positioned aft of the first and second indentation, the third indentation is configured to have a variable distance, defining a restriction distance and a reception distance.

3. The shift gate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the restriction distance is less than the reception distance in order to mitigate overshoot of the second indentation in a first direction.

4. The shift gate assembly of claim 3 , wherein the reception distance is within 25% of the distance of the first indentation.

5. The shift gate assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second indentation includes a chamfered edge to guide the pawl pin.

6. The shift gate assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement surface adjacent to the indentation having a variable distance, the reinforcement surface restricting pivoting movement of the pawl.

7. A transmission shift selector, comprising:

a shift lever pivotable about a pivot;

a shift gate having indentations, each indentation having a different distance from the pivot;

a pawl pin that pivots with the shift lever and is selectively linearly movable relative to the shift lever;

a spring-loaded retractable plunger linearly slidable in a radial direction to vary the distance from the pivot within only one of the indentations, said sliding producing a greater distance of the indentation from the pivot that admits the pivoting pawl pin into the indentation and a lesser distance of the indentation that restricts the pawl pin from the indentation.

8. The shift selector of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of indentations includes:

a first indentation corresponding to a first shift selection;

a second indentation corresponding to a second shift selection and positioned aft of the first indentation; and

a third indentation corresponding to a low-manual indentation selection and positioned aft of the first and second indentation;

wherein the third indentation is configured to have a variable distance, defining a restriction distance and a reception distance.

9. The shift selector of claim 8 , wherein the restriction distance is less than the reception distance in order to mitigate overshoot of the second indentation in a first direction.

10. The shift selector of claim 9 , wherein the reception distance is within 25% of the distance of the first indentation.

11. The shift selector of claim 8 , wherein the second indentation corresponds to a drive selection and wherein the third indentation corresponds to a manual selection.

12. The shift selector of claim 8 , wherein the second indentation includes a chamfered edge to guide the pawl pin.

13. The shift selector of claim 7 , further comprising a reinforcement surface adjacent to a second indentation, the reinforcement surface restricting pivoting movement of the pawl.

14. The shift selector of claim 7 , wherein:

a spring attached to the plunger is compressed to admit the pawl pin into the indentation; and

said spring is not compressed to restrict the pawl pin from the indentation.