Learning a manual tranny on my own

[skyking]

While that sounds impressive to your average auto-only driver, in reality it's pointless.

Yes it is on modern syncro cars.
On the big trucks however, it can be the difference between limping out of the cab at the end of the day or walking. RPMs are much lower on those rigs and rev-matching is not too tough, and the clutch may have 75~90 lb pedal pressure. Toss in 15 forward gears, and do that little shove a few hundred times in rush hour and you get the drift.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Yes it is on modern syncro cars.
On the big trucks however, it can be the difference between limping out of the cab at the end of the day or walking. RPMs are much lower on those rigs and rev-matching is not too tough, and the clutch may have 75~90 lb pedal pressure. Toss in 15 forward gears, and do that little shove a few hundred times in rush hour and you get the drift.

Yes, and that's interesting, but it's also totally irrelevant to the thread.

 

[Perknose]

I rarely use the clutch except to stop and start...the rest of the time, it a matter of matching vehicle speed with engine speed...and the shifter slides into the next gear ever so quietly...it does take a bit of practice though.

While that sounds impressive to your average auto-only driver, in reality it's pointless.

It is not totally pointless at all. ANYTHING that keeps you more engaged and exquisitely aware of and intimately interacting with the machinery you are piloting makes you a safer driver.

Conversely, the more you remove yourself from the actual driving process, the less engaged as a driver you become. When your head is less in the game, you are more of "reliving the dream of eating my last cupcake" inattentive idiot menance to others as you speed down the road.

I often think of manual trannies are severe drunk interlocks.

I used to do the exact same as Boomer. Knowing your gear ratios, I'm sure you could figure it out mathematically in advance. But, by just listening to your engine speed vs. road speed and gently testing with your shifter, a driver easily learns how to do shift without using the clutch.

When the ratio is right, it will go easily. When it isn't, it won't. You can feel the difference as you begin to shift and ease off and cease if the path isn't there.

Paying attention: It's called establishing a relationship with your vehicle.

Being involved enough to listen and feel and learn when you can shift without using the clutch hands down makes you a safer, more attentive driver.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Being involved enough to listen and feel and learn when you can shift without using the clutch hands down makes you a safer, more attentive driver.

Or you'll just destroy your transmission.

 

[Perknose]

Or you'll just destroy your transmission.

Not even close. You obviously don't know what you're talking about at all. But, hey, thanks for playing!

 

[AstroManLuca]

Not even close. You obviously don't know what you're talking about at all. But, hey, thanks for playing!

I drive a manual and I am aware that you can shift without using the clutch. Good for you if you can. I wouldn't risk damaging my car by learning. Maybe on a beater but my car's pretty new. I mean, it has a clutch pedal for a reason.

All I know is if you get it wrong, you get that horrible grinding sound... that can't be good for the car.

Then again, my car is small and doesn't have a powerful engine and the clutch goes in really easily so there's no real reason not to use it. If it had a heavy clutch pedal maybe that skill would be more useful.

 

[skyking]

Yes, and that's interesting, but it's also totally irrelevant to the thread.

Not really. I believe that is where most of us that do that learned that, so it is as much of an explanation as to why.
EDIT: I'm glad this did not get moved to the Garage. Thread like this are the reason I don't much care for the separated forums.

 

[Perknose]

You can also pull a manual tranny out of (high) gear without using the clutch with zero damage to anything across a wide range of road/engine speeds -- much, much wider than clutchless shifting into a gear.

Again, it's simply a matter of feel.

I used to do this with an old Willys Jeep Station Wagon I drove delivery in Philly for a summer job. It had one of those "ten thousand" pound clutches, stiffer than most big rigs I tried.

 

[Perknose]

All I know is if you get it wrong, you get that horrible grinding sound... that can't be good for the car.

Read my post on the subject. You persist in making comments about something you know nothing about. You do it by FEEL, son. LONG before you force the gear in and get that grinding sound, you can FEEL it ain't going and damn well stop, far short of any grinding.

When you are at the right ratio, it goes with little force AND YOU WILL KNOW AND FEEL THAT.

Then again, my car is small and doesn't have a powerful engine and the clutch goes in really easily so there's no real reason not to use it. If it had a heavy clutch pedal maybe that skill would be more useful.

Ok, you feel no need. And you are also too intimidated to learn.

This does not make discussion of the practice "totally irrelevant" to this thread, as you tried to declare.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I have actually shifted from gear into neutral without the clutch... that one's pretty easy as long as you're careful. Haven't tried putting it back in gear without the clutch though.

 

[skyking]

I have actually shifted from gear into neutral without the clutch... that one's pretty easy as long as you're careful. Haven't tried putting it back in gear without the clutch though.

Indeed, when it is clear you are going to be stopping, I do that all the time. I don't typically rev-match cars much because I drive an auto car and have for years now. I got enough clutch work at work to last a lifetime.

 

[Possessed Freak]

I have actually shifted from gear into neutral without the clutch... that one's pretty easy as long as you're careful. Haven't tried putting it back in gear without the clutch though.

For what its worth, I find it much easier to slip into gear while the throttle is revving down (instead of trying to match it with constant foot pressure). Hand gently pushing the stick into next gear, when the revs match it slips right in.

 

[Perknose]

For what its worth, I find it much easier to slip into gear while the throttle is revving down (instead of trying to match it with constant foot pressure). Hand gently pushing the stick into next gear, when the revs match it slips right in.

The bolded is the key. Don't force anything, you will know when you're good to go by feel, using gentle pressure only. 404 Grinding not found! :awe:

 

[slag]

May as well shorten the life of a rental's clutch instead of your own.

You must cease and desist all usage of this avatar. I've been using it since the day the image was published.

 

[Fritzo]

There are not NEARLY enough tranny jokes in this thread. Shame on you ATOT.

 

[preslove]

This thread is nasty.

 

[BoomerD]

There are not NEARLY enough tranny jokes in this thread. Shame on you ATOT.

Dude...if you want to "learn" a tranny named Manuel...that's up to you...but it's TMI for many of us.

 

[Fritzo]

Dude...if you want to "learn" a tranny named Manuel...that's up to you...but it's TMI for many of us.

Much better!

 

[Schfifty Five]

you want a man tranny?

 

[lxskllr]

Yes, and that's interesting, but it's also totally irrelevant to the thread.

I'm not sure how modern hydraulic clutches work, but back in the days of clutch cables, it could mean the difference between getting yourself home, or being stuck on the side of the road when a cable broke. I suspect the hydraulic cylinder could go south, and the skill would still be useful, but I don't know that for a fact.

 

[RapidSnail]

So I gather that by shifting gears without using the clutch you are matching the engine revs audibly to the speed of the car, and when the engine start to rev faster than it should (relative to velocity), you can gently slide the stick into the next gear without depressing the clutch?

 

[lxskllr]

So I gather that by shifting gears without using the clutch you are matching the engine revs audibly to the speed of the car, and when the engine start to rev faster than it should (relative to velocity), you can gently slide the stick into the next gear without depressing the clutch?

Yea, it'll fall into gear smooth as can be. I haven't practiced where I can do it on purpose, but I've felt the speed match while shifting, and known I didn't need the clutch at that time.

 

[RapidSnail]

Yea, it'll fall into gear smooth as can be. I haven't practiced where I can do it on purpose, but I've felt the speed match while shifting, and known I didn't need the clutch at that time.

I've only driven manual a few times in my life but that actually makes a lot of sense. Why use clutch then except when stopping or going or downshifting multiple gears? Seems like it would make highway driving much easier and less threatening.

 

[Aikouka]

I learned on my own, years ago I bought a 90 Plymouth Laser (got the good one, got the turbo 4G63) with a manual and figured it out on the ride home. I had tried one time prior to that in a buddy's car in the snow, and I had a Honda dirt bike. Since you understand the concept it'll likely come pretty easy.

I learned how to drive on an Eagle Talon TSi AWD myself :awe:! That car was loads of fun... then the clutch went in it. I wonder... :hmm:.

DSMs weren't too shabby... the 4G63T was a pretty sweet engine... and even nicer if you could find one of the 4G64s to mate with it given the 2.4L of displacement vs 2.0L.

I always had the hardest time with stopping on hills... the rest wasn't so bad.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I'm not sure how modern hydraulic clutches work, but back in the days of clutch cables, it could mean the difference between getting yourself home, or being stuck on the side of the road when a cable broke. I suspect the hydraulic cylinder could go south, and the skill would still be useful, but I don't know that for a fact.

I had a clutch start making noises; the mechanic said (pretty sure it was the throwout bearing; it was a long time ago) it was toast. But I had to drive 100 miles. Only used the clutch three times (stops).

The next day my father decided I was an idiot, and the car was fine (common occurence) so he took it to work to prove it. He made it about ten blocks.