is it possible to shift without clutch and without grinding?

Question

Is it possible to shift gears without pushing in the clutch and without grinding or anything? Do you have to time it right or something? I heard this is what most truck drivers do because they have like 20 gears before they reach 40 mph. Is this true?

Answer 1

You're funny, 20 gears....

Yes you can shift without clutch and without grinding.

I am a truck driver and I don't usually use my clutch in the truck but the clutch and tranny ARE different than a car. Same concept tho. You just need to time it with the RPM's. It's not a real good thing to do in a car tho. I do sometimes just out of habit.

Answer 2

It's all in knowing what you are doing, and what the inside of the transmission looks like. You need to "see" the gears, you need to feel the "sweet spot", and you really need to be able to hear exactly what the engine is doing. It is possible to shift up and down, but it isn't something for a rookie driver to try. The only reason I did it was because my clutch cable went, and I couldn't use the clutch. I actually started the car in gear and did all the shifts for several days no clutch before I was able to fix it. Not once did I grind a gear, but I am a patient man, and I also learned to drive manual from the start of my driver training 42 years ago.

Answer 3

Jacob W has the best answer in my humble opinion.

If the trans is of the synchronized style (where the gears are cut in a helical pattern vice non-sync trans with spur cut gears) then it can be done.

I have done it before, but only on my truck's T18 because I knew it could take the abuse, it being a stronger and heavier duty trans than what is in any passenger car. I had to do it because the retaining pin for the rod that actuates the clutch had fallen out letting the rod slip off the pivot point on the clutch pedal. Gotta love those old-school, mechanical, lever-actuated clutches! Took me five minutes to fix the next morning when I had some light.

You can damage the synchros by doing this on light weight trannies.

Good luck, and use that clutch, but don't ride it!

Answer 4

Yes, if you have a syncronyzed transmission. Most modern automobile stick shift transmissions are syncronized. If the engine rpms and the speed of the weels are equalized there is no load on the gears and you can slip from one gear to another smoothly and without grinding. Why you would want to risk doing it, I don't know. If you don't do it correctly you can cause serious damage.

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Answer 5

It is possible, but not recommended. Depending on the type of gears and speed of the motor and wheels you can do it but it can cause damage to the tranny. Some people think that the non-use of the clutch makes it worth while to try. But as a mechanic and a truck-driver I don't recommend it.

Answer 6

I think it might not be very a distant possibility to shift gears without using the clutch

Answer 7

Yes, it is possible. I only use the clutch for starting/stopping. And it really doesn't matter to me if I'm in a little car or a semi-truck. All it takes is knowing how to match up the engine RPM's with the ground speed.

Answer 8

I'm pretty sure big rig drivers actually double clutch to avoid grinding. My stepdads 1987 Toyota pickup can go into 2nd 3rd and 4th with no clutch or grinding, which was very convienent the other day since I had just sprained my left ankle.

Ah yes, my Camaro could do it too.

Answer 9

yes. I have done it lots on air cooled v.w.'s when the clutch cable broke, upshipt an down shift with no trouble. I only use that method in emergecys. On my Virago it helps speed up accleration in town. But puts a burden on chain an sprockets.

Virago Jim

Answer 10

yes you can. i drive an 18 wheeler with a 10 speed i dont use the clutch except to take off and stop. u can do this with a car but the window for shifting is a lot smaller and u have to be quick and good