Am I reading this correctly??

[DavidT]

2) Coasting with the transaxle in neutral is a concern only if you need to quickly accelerate to avoid an accident. I routinely slide the shifter into neutral without depressing the clutch when slowing for a stop. This shifter motion occurs without friction at about 1200-1300 rpm while the car is still rolling due to the IAC valve maintaining a high idle while the car is in motion. I do not depress the clutch again until I am ready to engage first gear to start rolling. This practice saves one clutch press and the resulting pressure plate and throwout bearing wear for each stop.

By Scott P.
Is it ok to throw the shifter to neutral upon slowing down (from ANY gear), while the rpms are between 1200 and 1300, without using the clutch?

 

[SHO_ROLLER]

I wouldn't do it!

 

[Slo-Sho]

I do it all the time in the work truck. (Chebbie 4 speed.)

 

[sdpatt]

If you read the passage carefully, you will see that I say, "I routinely slide the shifter into neutral without depressing the clutch when slowing for a stop. This shifter motion occurs without friction at about 1200-1300 rpm while the car is still rolling."

Nowhere do I say, "throw" the shifter in to neutral. The actual rpm range is 1200-1400 depending upon car speed and the selected gear, but I never apply more than one finger's worth of pressure to gently slide the shifter out of gear.

If the rpms drop down to the normal idle speed, you ahve waited too long and will need to use the clutch to get the shifter out of gear. There is no resistence when this is done at the proper rpm. The transmission has no knowledge that the clutch wasn't depressed.

 

[93MTXSHO]

I do it all the time, from every gear, at almost any speed. All you have to do is wait for a "sweet spot". Sometimes, I have found that the slightest pressure on the accelerator will make the tranny slide out very smoothly. Other times, it will just slide right out. It is no different sliding the transmission out of gear than it is not using the clutch to shift from 3rd to 4th for instance. I figure that the SHO transaxle has blocking type syncronizers, which won't allow you to put it into gear unless the transmission is at the proper speed, so I am not hurting anything, and I am saving the already pitiful clutch from any additional wear. I sometimes shift from 3rd to 4th without using the clutch. If you wind it up to about 2800, slide it to neutral, blip the gas and GENTLY nudge it towards 4th, when the RPMs are right, it will slide right in.

 

[sdpatt]

I sometimes shift from 3rd to 4th without using the clutch.

Now that I won't do.

 

[munkee]

I can shift through all the gears ( well, not reverse) without using the clutch. 5th is pretty hard to hit without grinding though, although I don't usually drive around like that. Pulling it into neutral shouldn't really hurt it at that low of an rpm. If your worried, just feather the gas a little right before you pull it out. (or just feather the, um, clutch.)

<small>[ November 26, 2002, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: munkee ]</small>

 

[SHODWN]

I upshift and down shift all the time. all you need to do is practice. It causes no harm unless you force it or try it ant the wrong timing and grind the gears.

I have a worn clutch in my 92, so I just save it a little bit for when I need to du smoke shows
After the clutch is gone Ill strip the car and scrap it.

 

[DHMag]

the first manual tranny i drove was my dads 94 Ranger Splash with a 4.0l. he showed me how to shift without using the clutch (expect for the initial takeoff in first and reverse). when you shift without clutch, you must match your engine speed within the selected gear speed in order to have a smooth transition to the next gear. this is where it pays off to have A) a good ear for knowing engine speed without looking at the tach, B) a delicate throttle foot, and C) coordination. at the time my dad taught me this, he had just injured his left foot and could not push the clutch without being in extreme pain. it was a one time deal...him showing me. we never did it again. now, as for my SHO, i havent tried it, but i just might soon...just so i can say i can do it...or in case i end up with a bum foot....

 

[RStalveyARFF]

I rarely use the clutch anymore, unless I am in city traffic. Most people that ride with me have no idea that it's not even being used unless I bring attention to it. And Kirk, if you're going to strip the car down after the clutch, I want dibs on it then!!!

 

[AutoSHO]

Hmm.. Clutch - $219 dollars
Transmission - $500 used, Rebuilt? $$$

I know which one I'd rather wear out...

Clutching like a madman, which is to say, when I shift!

 

[twr]

I do it all the time. My old Prelude was the easiest. Up-shift, down-shift piece of cake.

 

[munkee]

It would probably shift as easily as your prelude if the synchro hubs slid in the sleeves a little better. Why do they bind so badly? Not a good material maybe?

 

[Detenator]

I first learned the 'no clutch shifting' from my uncle who never uses the clutch. He drives a kenworth classic truck with 10 or 15 gears. If you remember how many RPM's difference there is between gears (400 in the truck, from 1500 to 1100 rpm) you can yank the gear out at 1500, let go of the gas, let the engine speed drop to 1100, an then put it back in. By yanking the gear out, i mean, first push on the shifter in the direction of neutral, then slowly letting go of the gas, the truck goes from the engine pulling the trans to the trans pulling the engine (compression breaking) During this split seccond, there is no friction and the gear pops right out. These big rig transmissions usualy don't have synchronizers, so this is in a way healthier for them. This is also why all the truck books tell you to 'double clutch'. However, a tranny in a passanger car does have synchros, and if doen incorrectly can put a toll on them. I don't do this in my SHO simply because the engine is way too smooth, a small tap on the gas sends the rpm's soaring and it takes a lot of coordination to get them to stay at the speed that you want. I didn't own it long enough to get a good feel for the engine. But i do pull it out of gear without the clutch. This presents no problems for me. I think that so long as you don't feel any grinding noise, and you don't feel bucking, and don't feel any vibrations through the shift lever, then you should be fine. It has happened a few times when i didn't do this perfectly and i got a nice clunk through the shifter, This can be dammaging because the tips of the teeth (on the gear) must carry a lot of stress at this point. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, then practice at low speeds. If you still feel uncomfortable, then don't do it. It would be more dammaging to ruin your trans then to try to save a few clutch springs. Good luck