Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle shifting w/o the clutch

During x-mas break I was talking to one of my uncles who drives a semi! He was telling me that you can shift without the clutch as long as the RPM's are high enough! Doesn't that grind the transmission?

Not a good idea with the MTX-75. It's too hard on the synchros. It's a great way to get to know your local transmission shop though!

Actual Information.

NOT! If done corrrectly, the gears will mesh perfectly and you cna actually shift the car smoother than with the clutch. I don't do it, in fact I've only tried it once or twice, but if you know what you're doign you're not going to break the car. And , it's a good way to learn how to rev match.

Ha! Good luck with that. Don't forget how to use that search function to find Terry's contact information when your trans it toast!

Oh stop it, what do you need a list of people who do it with no ill effects before you believe? It's safe to do (when done right), just don't stop using your clutch all together.

I've done it before, but you have to get the revs just right, and it's a litte slow (I guess till you get practise). Of course, the revs aren't always right at the speed you're at.

If you really know how to do it, it is easier than using a clutch and no harder on the trans. There are very few sticks that I have driven that I was not able to shift clutchless. I learned how when I was 16 and have done it reasonably often for the rest of my 58 years.

On many semi's, if they are geared low enough, you don't even need the clutch to start off. Even the slightest movement is enough to allow the shifter to slide into gear.

Clutchless shifting can never be forced. It must be done with finesse. When everything is right the stick slides into gear very smoothly, perhaps even smoother than an average clutch shift. The synchro is doing almost nothing.

Done improperly clutchless shifting can be damaging, even disasterous. If any of you really want to learn how, I posted the details on how to do it a year or two ago and you should be able to find it with a search.

well I got brave tonight and decided to try it and I must say it was rather easy but I still need a lot of practice at it and I would like to have a few pointers if that is possible. but it was fun just to try it I used to do it in my old escort but it was a POS but the tour did ok under the clutchless shifting