Shifting Without Clutch
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Shifting Without Clutch
I have a 4 speed overdrive in my 84 F150 and I was wondering how bad it wears on it when I shift without a clutch. I know with the T18 granny gear tranny its not that big of a deal if you know what you are doing but thats also a much more heavy duty tranny. Any ideas or experience?
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Joined: May 2010
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From: BC Cana'duh
I've had several standard transmissions in cars and trucks and I've never changed gears without the clutch.I've seen other people do this with resulting grinding/crunching sounds eminating from the trans.I've heard that you'll damage syncros,gears and shifting forks.I'm sure you'll just simply shorten the life of the trans.Bottom line is unless it's a performance trans built for speed shifting,use the clutch.I don't know why someone would elect not to use the clutch unless it wasn't set up properly or was on it's way out.From what I've seen,it's easier to shift clutchless at higher RPMs.If you don't like shifting you can always swap to an auto trans.
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From: Virginia
You can easily tell when you are putting wear on the tranny. If you get the road speed and the rpms just right, the shifter will fall into gear with very little force on the lever. You can do it if you know how to do it correctly.
When you are not doing it correctly, you are hanging on the lever with a lot of pressure waiting for it to go in, and sometimes you can hear the synchros winding up inside the tranny. That's when you are wearing out the transmission.
When you are not doing it correctly, you are hanging on the lever with a lot of pressure waiting for it to go in, and sometimes you can hear the synchros winding up inside the tranny. That's when you are wearing out the transmission.
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From: North Dakota
I have and have had other many manual transmission vehicles (trucks and cars).
My 84 F250 4spd 460 is the FIRST manual transmission that I CANNOT shift without the clutch. I currently also have an 86 Fiero I can up and down shift through all 5 gears with NO grinding or binding with out the clutch.
I thought it was strange that I cant get this F250 to do it.
As for the wear, there is a reason the clutch is there. IF you can match the speed perfectly everytime and there is no "waiting" for it to "fall into gear" (hard on the syncros) and no griding (excessive wear on the gears themselves), then no, it does not hurt. Chance of that happening every time, slim to none. AND.... what are you saving? wear on the transmission in exchange for saving a clutch? I'd much rather replace a clutch than the transmission internals.
With that said..... I still often shift my pontiac with out clutching just out of sheer lazyness or not wanting to move my leg. (neither my car or truck have gosh darn cup holders)
My 84 F250 4spd 460 is the FIRST manual transmission that I CANNOT shift without the clutch. I currently also have an 86 Fiero I can up and down shift through all 5 gears with NO grinding or binding with out the clutch.
I thought it was strange that I cant get this F250 to do it.
As for the wear, there is a reason the clutch is there. IF you can match the speed perfectly everytime and there is no "waiting" for it to "fall into gear" (hard on the syncros) and no griding (excessive wear on the gears themselves), then no, it does not hurt. Chance of that happening every time, slim to none. AND.... what are you saving? wear on the transmission in exchange for saving a clutch? I'd much rather replace a clutch than the transmission internals.
With that said..... I still often shift my pontiac with out clutching just out of sheer lazyness or not wanting to move my leg. (neither my car or truck have gosh darn cup holders)
Last edited by ctubutis; Apr 25, 2012 at 09:22 PM. Reason: Remove inappropriate reference
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Brandywine, WV
I can shift my 3-speed column-jammer without the clutch, but I don't make a habit of it.
But I think the synchros are already gone. Even when using the clutch, I have to rev-match and double-clutch when downshifting, or it grinds.....
But I think the synchros are already gone. Even when using the clutch, I have to rev-match and double-clutch when downshifting, or it grinds.....
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