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YACT: manual people, clutchless shifting bad or ok?

N

NeoPTLD

Platinum Member
I've disconvered that I can shift without using the clutch except for shifting into 1st from a stop.

What I would do is I'd let off the gas just enough so that engine isn't driving or slowing the car to minimize the load on the engine. If you do it right, you can take it out of gear really easily. You let the engine come down in the RPM enough, then push the shifter into the next highest gear. With proper RPM matching, it shifts very smoothly without having to clutch.

Is this bad for the transmission?
 
If you do it perfectly and the transmission doesen't give you any grief, it shouldn't be much different than using the clutch.

Infact, if you're a "bad" shifter, it could be easier on your transmission... Some people really give their synchros a workout by shifting at the wrong time.

It's a tough call. It very well may also depend on the transmission.

I'm going to lean towards "no problem, or maybe even better", assuming you're doing it perfectly each time.. Using the clutch gives you an excuse to use the synchros to force the gears. If you revmatch and just let it slide into gear, almost naturally... that isn't going to hurt anything.
 
I haven't driven for a while, but i remember when i was younger, i watched my dad shifting our farm trucks & tractors w/o the clutch.

I quickly picked up on how to do it...it's a kinda kewl skill 🙂
 
It really depends on technique. If you are good at it, go for it. I drive a 15 speed semi and a dumptruck, and never use the clutch after getting started. The big difference is the RPM range on a truck engine. It is not as wide, and easier to match RPM's with practice.
On the other hand, I rarely skipped using a clutch in my car.
 
Yeah it seems big trucks, etc. it's much easier shift clutchlessly in. I never could do it in cars, though granted i haven't driven enough cars to say.
 
Just be aware that doing a "bad" job even a few times negates any benefits you may be recieving.

I suppose practice would make perfect, though...
 
Originally posted by: skyking
It really depends on technique. If you are good at it, go for it. I drive a 15 speed semi and a dumptruck, and never use the clutch after getting started. The big difference is the RPM range on a truck engine. It is not as wide, and easier to match RPM's with practice.
On the other hand, I rarely skipped using a clutch in my car.
Click to expand...
I've always kinda wondered why bigrigs use manual.. rather than automatic transmissions?

Seems like they would be ideal for the application...?
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: skyking
It really depends on technique. If you are good at it, go for it. I drive a 15 speed semi and a dumptruck, and never use the clutch after getting started. The big difference is the RPM range on a truck engine. It is not as wide, and easier to match RPM's with practice.
On the other hand, I rarely skipped using a clutch in my car.
Click to expand...
I've always kinda wondered why bigrigs use manual.. rather than automatic transmissions?

Seems like they would be ideal for the application...?
Click to expand...

Because the manual transmissions that they have last 4x the time the ENGINES last?

Those things are built like TANKS. 18spd tanks.
 
3rd to 5th is all I'd ever do. Except the time my clutch went out in rush hour traffic. Lotsa fun trying to let the engine rev down enough to get it into 1st or 2nd. While applying the brake & hitting the gas to keep from stalling out. And giving the guy behind you the finger at the same time.
 
I've done it once on accident but I definitely wouldn't do it all the time. Just use the clutch. That's what it's there for.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: skyking
It really depends on technique. If you are good at it, go for it. I drive a 15 speed semi and a dumptruck, and never use the clutch after getting started. The big difference is the RPM range on a truck engine. It is not as wide, and easier to match RPM's with practice.
On the other hand, I rarely skipped using a clutch in my car.
Click to expand...
I've always kinda wondered why bigrigs use manual.. rather than automatic transmissions?

Seems like they would be ideal for the application...?
Click to expand...
First, there's the difficulty of building an automatic with a lot of gears.
Second, autos don't get great mileage unless they lock up-which you can't do if you're constantly shifting to stay in the (tiny) powerband of a big diesel.
third, since you're constantly shifting the clutchpacks wouldn't last long.

As for clutchless shifting, if you're revmatching your gears anyway it doesn't put any more or less wear on the engine than using the clutch, and there's the risk of screwing up.
 
assuming you know when to shift...its gonna work.

you can shift out of any gear at anytime with out the clutch though im not sure how damaginf that is, i find myself doing it now and again. shifting out of gear then doing the clutch
 
Originally posted by: ktehmok
3rd to 5th is all I'd ever do. Except the time my clutch went out in rush hour traffic. Lotsa fun trying to let the engine rev down enough to get it into 1st or 2nd. While applying the brake & hitting the gas to keep from stalling out. And giving the guy behind you the finger at the same time.
Click to expand...


thats the way pal!😀
 
I've always been very mechanically minded, so I am able to visualize what's going on in the tranny/engine at the time, and I rarely use the clutch except for starting.
 
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