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Once you have become proficient enough shifting a manual transmission, you have already learned how to slowdown by downshifting the gears to almost a stop, most times without having to use the brake pedal.
Once you have become proficient enough shifting a manual transmission, you have already learned how to slowdown by downshifting the gears to almost a stop, most times without having to use the brake pedal.
Thinking about that, I rarely used my engine to slow my vehicles (by downshifting) - - unless it was just easing into a slower mode. I would much rather put wear on my brakes than putting hard downshifting stress on an engine.
Once you have become proficient enough shifting a manual transmission, you have already learned how to slowdown by downshifting the gears to almost a stop, most times without having to use the brake pedal.
That needlessly wears out the clutch. Brake pads are easy to replace, clutches aren't. Use your brakes to slow down, and rev match when you downshift.
That needlessly wears out the clutch. Brake pads are easy to replace, clutches aren't. Use your brakes to slow down, and rev match when you downshift.
For several years I drove tractors and dump trucks that had manual transmissions. When driving such rigs, one learns to coast down to a stop as one downshifts. Even up-shifting most times one can shift to the next gear without pressing the clutch pedal. When done properly there isn't any significant clutch disk wear, just normal wear. By downshifting to the proper gear is all I am talking about, not downshifting to rapidly slowdown. Now, if you ride the clutch there is some disk wear, but not during normal up/down shifting at the right engine RPM. Even years ago the trucks I drove had hill assist controls to reduce the likelihood of burning the disk when moving up a hill from a standstill at a light or stop (for example).
For several years I drove tractors and dump trucks that had manual transmissions. When driving such rigs, one learns to coast down to a stop as one downshifts. Even up-shifting most times one can shift to the next gear without pressing the clutch pedal. When done properly there isn't any significant clutch disk wear, just normal wear. By downshifting to the proper gear is all I am talking about, not downshifting to rapidly slowdown. Now, if you ride the clutch there is some disk wear, but not during normal up/down shifting at the right engine RPM. Even years ago the trucks I drove had hill assist controls to reduce the likelihood of burning the disk when moving up a hill from a standstill at a light or stop (for example).
Aren't most manual transmissions in dump trucks/freight trucks unsynchronized though? I've always heard that truck drivers generally learned how to float gears because the clutch is really heavy, and if you do it right there's nothing to really worry about. On the flipside, any relatively modern car with a manual has synchros on each gear in the transmission, and those get worn out quickly by clutchless shifting (makes it hard or impossible to get into a gear with a failed synchro).
Aren't most manual transmissions in dump trucks/freight trucks unsynchronized though? I've always heard that truck drivers generally learned how to float gears because the clutch is really heavy, and if you do it right there's nothing to really worry about. On the flipside, any relatively modern car with a manual has synchros on each gear in the transmission, and those get worn out quickly by clutchless shifting (makes it hard or impossible to get into a gear with a failed synchro).
I am old, but not that much (just kidding with you).
Synchronized transmissions were introduced in the late 20's. Anyway, I did drive one of the very old AC road graders in the late '70s, and this one did not have a synchronized transmission. Everything was manual on this grader, including not having hydraulic pumps and hoses for the moldboard, blade, and the rest. It had shafts with shear pins all around. If the RPM was not perfect, upshifting required double-clutching while bringing the RPM up, and you won't believe how hard it was to push the clutch pedal with your foot. Hydraulic clutches make a huge difference
You are right about the synchros. They do wear. By the way, one can also coast to a stop when driving a car with an automatic transmission, except that one does not have to downshift it. Just let off the gas pedal and let it slow down. But with a manual transmission, careful downshifting while maintaining the engine RPM within the correct range, does not create any significant wear of the clutch disk, and it's a lot of fun to be in control of both the motor and the transmission.
Aren't most manual transmissions in dump trucks/freight trucks unsynchronized though? I've always heard that truck drivers generally learned how to float gears because the clutch is really heavy, and if you do it right there's nothing to really worry about. On the flipside, any relatively modern car with a manual has synchros on each gear in the transmission, and those get worn out quickly by clutchless shifting (makes it hard or impossible to get into a gear with a failed synchro).
transmissions have been around forever.
By synchronized if you mean matching the engine speed to the correct speed to allow the engine and transmission to engage properly.. FYI clutchless shifting, if done right adds almost no wear to transmissions. It is an easy skill to master in a diesel truck with a motor that has a RPM variance of a few hundred RPMs between gears. A lot more difficult in cars or small truck with an RPM spread of 1000 or more between gears. IMHO and several million miles of driving.
but the thing is, i’ve been practicing for 14 hours total and i still haven’t got the hang of it. maybe i’m just an idiot because other people grasp it so much faster and I feel like I really suck. I’m never going to pass this test lol
You aren't an idiot; 14 hours is nothing.
When you're about to slow down, just throw the car into neutral, and use the brakes to slow down.
If you're rounding a curve, use the same gear when you downshift, that you would use when you upshift. For example: You use second gear for 15-20MPH (?); okay...so if you're going around a curve, and you're gonna be taking the curve at 20MPH, you can shift from neutral into second gear.
Correlate the gears to the speeds, and then you'll know what to downshift into. If you're driving 40MPH, and you're gonna slow down to 30MPH, you'd likely shift into third gear.
But 14 hours is nothing. It took me a good month to get proficient in shifting, in and around NYC (Queens, Brooklyn, etc) in traffic.
Normally I downshift. But in heavier traffic I used the brakes instead. You’d be surprised the number of people who almost rear end me and yell/beep at me for busted brake lights
Sometimes I just lightly rest my foot on the pedal to turn the lights on. Most people are clueless regarding the quirks of a stick car. I bet there are people who don’t even know such transmissions exist
Coincidentally I just wrapped up a rebuild. I love these gearboxes. Really simple and fun to work on compared to an automatic
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(just kidding with you).
