Topic: Need help to master manual

[eddie1234]

I can drive a manual car, but I can't shift the gears smoothly in 2nd, 3rd gears. And I have trouble starting the car in 1st

1) how do you start manual in 1st gear?
The way I do it is to press the accelerator until ~ 1,500 prm, release clutch at middle position, push accelerator farther and slowly release the clutch, anything more efficient and faster?

2) how to shift gears smoothly in 2nd and 3rd?
what i do is press clutch, change gear, press gas and release clutch slowly.

3) and finally how to shift gears without touching the clutch?

[Sterling]

If you are brand new to manual transmission just keep doing what you are doing and it will become second nature. If you have been driving the manual trans for some time, sell the car and get an automatic.

Why would you want to shift gears without the clutch? It's there for a reason. Clutchless shifting is for racers or wannabe racers. There's nothing to be gained by avoiding the clutch in a regular car.

[barrie1]

Trying to match your RPM's with the shift is a difficult thing to do as it takes a lot of practise and can also do a lot of harm to your trannie when you don't hit it just right. Definitely a good way to damage the teeth on your gears. Keep useing the clutch and practise as much as you can because it will become easier as you learn more about it. Practise makes perfect.

[davidm]

Agree with the above posters.  One small nitpick in your system.

In point 2, if you are upshifting from 1->2 and/or 2->3 you should need very little if any gas before you release the clutch.  If anything you apply the gas as you release the clutch.  Also, for a 2nd->3rd upshift you should be able to release the clutch fairly quickly without a jolt.

This all comes over time with lots and lots of practice.  Try and head for a point where you are releasing the clutch fairly quickly.  The longer your foot is on the clutch (except pushed all the way in) the more wear you are putting on it.

Keep on driving ...

(Message edited by davidm on August 31, 2005)

[articsteve]

I can drive a manual car

What car is it?

3) and finally how to shift gears without touching the clutch?

Your a funny guy.

Eddy; go to flat surface with car running and tranny in first (after you engage clutch fully).  Do not touch gas. Slowly let go of clutch to the point that the car just barely moves and then engage clutch.  Repeat this action until you can move the car around the parking lot slowly without stalling.  Do not use the gas during this exercise.

You must fully master the operation of the clutch before you get into shifting gears.

[tenpenny]

"You must fully master the operation of the clutch before you get into shifting gears."

And futhermore:

When you can take the pebble from my hand, then it will be time for you to go.

Soon, Grasshopper, soon.

[eddie1234]

You can impress people by changing gears without touching the clutch. I drive an automatic car, but sometimes(once/month) I drive a manual. I will try the new advices next time.

[mrthompson]

You can also impress the transmission shop with all the business you'll be giving them.  

What's cheaper...a new clutch or a new transmission?

[Craig]

You can impress people by changing gears without touching the clutch.

I have no idea how to respond to that.

[AVToller]

My son thought it was cool - when he was 16!! By the time he was 18, he realized that it was just plain stupid!

[ovr50]

"You can impress people by changing gears without touching the clutch"

You might impress someone by jumping into 25 feet of water when you can't swim, but doesn't mean it's a good idea. In fact, both ideas are rather dumb.

[eddie1234]

Before today, I thought there exists a way to shift gears without touching the gear in such a way that it won't damage the car. Now I know that, I won't do it.

 

[AVToller]

Yes, it IS possible, it is just tricky for even very experienced drivers and the only justification for doing so in the real world is to show off. The risk of damaging the car is very real!

[mdxtasy]

When shifting, try to take note of what RPM the car is in when you switch gears.  In the future, that is when you should be letting go of the clutch when shifting into that gear.

 For example, in first gear, the car is running 3000rpm, shift into 2nd and the RPM drops to 2000rpm.  The next time you shift into 2nd, you should be timing it so that your disengage the clutch somewhere around 2000rpm.  That will give you a smoother gear change. 

[tpl]

Shifting with no clutch.

Modern transmissions are NOT DESIGNED to allow that...in ordinary road cars. All you will do is ruin the synchronizers as they will be fighting you all the way until they break

A very long time ago when straight cut or old style helical gears were used it could be and was done with double declutching....lost of old cars had no synchromesh on 1st gear and you either stopped to go into 1st or learnt to do the change.

clutch in . out of gear, clutch out adjust revs , clutch in, into gear clutch out.   remembering that all the time you are out of gear the car is slowing up and therefore the rev adjustment required is continually changing.

you need 3 feet or to have pedals set up so that you can accurately heel and toe


dont bother to even try