what happens when you miss a gear?!
- Thread starter hon_n_gem
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Fine if you do it right every time but it takes more consentration to do
I did over 100k in an 04 reg astra diesel and did clutchless gearchanges all the time
My current astra diesel has had the same treatment and it's still fine at 40k on an 07 plate
I did over 100k in an 04 reg astra diesel and did clutchless gearchanges all the time
My current astra diesel has had the same treatment and it's still fine at 40k on an 07 plate
well going up gears is much easier - I think the key might be not putting too much pressure on. As you lift off the throttle the current gear should slip out quite easily, then as the revs die away push it towards the next gear and at just the right engine speed (might be 500rpm lower for example) it should slip nicely into next gear. Seem difficult between 1st and 2nd, but the rest are a doddle on my gearbox. Some gearboxes might be better suited to it though - the 6 speed one on the tdi is nice 
Going down is harder as you have to increase the revs to the right place to get the synchronisation and usually goes with a crunch so I never do that
Going down is harder as you have to increase the revs to the right place to get the synchronisation and usually goes with a crunch so I never do that
Really is fairly simple to do when you get to know your car... Often do it without fully realizing it. When my passenger freaks out it reminds me to stop saving the clutch!![[B)]](/forums/styles/seatcupra/oldforumsmileys/shades.gif "Cool [B)]")
Only real downside is when you catch a fork!!!
Often do it without fully realizing it. When my passenger freaks out it reminds me to stop saving the clutch! Only real downside is when you catch a fork!!!
I helped take apart a formula renault gear box (same principal) because third gear had mashed from wear and tear. It took chunks out of the casing and ended up as being costly...slipping gears etc is what wears this down so try avoid it!
try this,
go along in 2nd at 20mph, then lift off the gas and as you do that just knock it into neutral without pressing the clutch pedal
Thats half the way and once you have mastered that you can go on to selecting the next gear
then try this,
go along at 60 mph in 5th gear and knock it into neutral as above then give the gas pedal a good poke and take the revs up to about 3.5-4k whilst putting light pressure on the gearstick for 4th, when the revs and road speed are correct it will just glide into 4th way smoother than you would think
some practice and you will be able to do clutch less gear changes as smooth as gear changes with the clutch
I used to do it on my clio, but would like to try on the Beeza.
Its not so hard when you get over the "things that could go wrong" stage.
Its not so hard when you get over the "things that could go wrong" stage.
Flipping hell!...just reading that makes me cringe at gearbox noises...then having to look in my rear view and see it bouncing along down the road behind me...
Nath you see the explaination you just gave should i use the same speeds you quoted etc for my 1.2? id be willing to give it a shot
Nath you see the explaination you just gave should i use the same speeds you quoted etc for my 1.2? id be willing to give it a shot
just dont do it.do you really think car makers would put a clutch etc in a car for no reason. NO!
JUST USE THE BLOODY CLUTCH.
JUST USE THE BLOODY CLUTCH.
Flipping hell!...just reading that makes me cringe at gearbox noises...then having to look in my rear view and see it bouncing along down the road behind me...
Nath you see the explaination you just gave should i use the same speeds you quoted etc for my 1.2? id be willing to give it a shot
I would say the speeds I quoted are probably good for pretty much all cars
Just remember that you asked me so when you have your gearbox dragging along the road behind you , don't drive round my house and moan at me about it
If done correctly clutchless gearchanges do no harm to the gearbox at all but doing it badly time and time again would not be good
As said before it's all about matching the road speed and gearbox speed/revs
My dad used to drive the very old Routmaster busses when I was a kid, those busses required the driver to double declutch, if the driver was to do this all day with a big old heavy clutch pedal the drivers left leg would be like the Hulks
so they used to do clutchless gearchanges to save the poor old leg and only use the clutch to pull away or stopI had a little play last night in my diesel astra and I drove all the way to see my mum/dad (5 miles each way) and I changed through all of the gears up the box and down again all the way there and back with ease, if you get it right you can even go from second to first if need be
whilst driving hire cars/loan cars I somtimes even pull away from standstill without the clutch
trust me it can be done with no crunching but i wouldn't do it in my own car ***oh and it's not exactly quick either***
pull away from standstill without the clutch
Oh, come on now, that has to be polishing the brass to the point of abuse...
Oh, come on now, that has to be polishing the brass to the point of abuse...
you do it too eh ?
No siree, haven't the guts! But had I a banger at my disposal... hmm... there's this Saxo for sale at just under a grand down the road from where I work...
I'm rather, er, paranoid when it comes to my own modest ride, and knowing my luck... Well, I wouldn't want to chance it. (And wouldn't moving off on just a sync ring most likely stall a 1.2?)As an anecdote, during observer training I went out with one of our senior observers on a role-playing exercise in his daughter's TDI Leon. This guy is a very good driver. Anyway, all through it, I had the suspicion he was doing something fishy with the gears but couldn't put my finger on it. Putting the lever into position in two stages rather than straight through. When he got back he told me that he'd been shifting without the clutch. Crafty bugger! This was the first time I'd ever seen it in action. Luckily, none of my real associates have ever been that naughty...
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As you say clutchless gearchange if done right is just as smooth
I reckon I can change without the clutch smoother than some people do with a clutch
As you say pulling away with no clutch by just using the sync ring is not to be done on your own car, that's why I said I do it on hire/lolan cars, makes me feel better about the rip off prices of car dealers
I reckon I can change without the clutch smoother than some people do with a clutch
As you say pulling away with no clutch by just using the sync ring is not to be done on your own car, that's why I said I do it on hire/lolan cars, makes me feel better about the rip off prices of car dealers
yeah I get it on the FR some times when I want to reverse out of my garage but the mileage is still very low so I put it down to that
I would rather have to have 2 goes than have it crunch though
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