Driving without a clutch

[Deester]

Has anyone else experienced this? I was talking about it with a colleague this morning.

I once drove from Newcastle to Glasgow in a hired Vectra without the aid of any clutch as it had given up. It was very early in the morning and there was hardly any other traffic.

I think this is a skill all drivers should learn.

Deester...

[rev-erend]

Yes - I've done it loads of times. It is a good
skill to learn but it may not be too healthy
to the poor old gear box if done too often.

I think the worst part is starting in gear when
you have no clutch at all... Kangerroo learned
starts come to mind.

Also rode a few superbikes like the Yamaha R1
and they are superb without the clutch going
up the box.. changes are lightning quick..

[Deester]

rev-erend said: Yes - I've done it loads of times. It is a good
skill to learn but it may not be too healthy
to the poor old gear box if done too often.

Do you think that it does damage the gearbox? If you get it right it just goes into gear no problem!

I agree pulling away is a bit of a laugh, but it works!

[deltaf]

Say bye bye to your synchros.

[aprisa]

There are recognised training organisations for learning these techniques, thay can be found in most major cities. This prevents damage to any gearbox parts.
Hertz, Alamo, Europcar.......

[gtir]

rev-erend said:
Also rode a few superbikes like the Yamaha R1
and they are superb without the clutch going
up the box.. changes are lightning quick..

Superb, I thought I was the only one that did this! You are right, you can change gear without a noticable change in rev pitch as its so quick.

I have done it on a few bikes, but the best was a ZX6R. Hmm, thinking about it makes me want go and buy a bike again, but I am sorry to say I am a fair weather biker.

Also done it on cars, coming down the gears is fun mind you!

[Captain Muppet]

I did Hull to Norwich once without a clutch - late at night, managed the whole trip without stopping once!

My bike changes cleanly up and down the gearbox with no clutch but I tend to use it all the time anyway, out of sympathy for those tiny cogs.

[Mr E]

Did 200 miles one evening after the brand spanking new clutch decided to quit.

200 miles from the place I had it fitted.

Didn't do my flywheel a lot of good (metal on metal)

[Basil Brush]

Apart from the bike, the best box I've ever had for doing this was the 2000E box in my Mk1 Escort. Clutchless changes were a doddle, even if I did have to remodel the trans tunnel with a big hammer to get it to fit.

[sparks]

I did a middle of the day trip to the garage (for the repair!) of a mk1 golf that had pulled the clutch cable mount through the bulkhead. Sutton Coldfield in the middle of the day , multiple 'kangeroo' starts, but luckily the hill start at traffic lights wasn't needed, they were on green (what a releif )

Have since regularly practiced this technique, just in case it happens in the future.


Sparks

[sparks]

I did a middle of the day trip to the garage (for the repair!) of a mk1 golf that had pulled the clutch cable mount through the bulkhead. Sutton Coldfield in the middle of the day , multiple 'kangeroo' starts, but luckily the hill start at traffic lights wasn't needed, they were on green (what a releif )

Have since regularly practiced this technique, just in case it happens in the future.


Sparks

[miniman]

Managed a good few miles in the Mini sans-clutch after all the fluid vanished during the journey. 1st was a bit nasty, but the others went in without too much grinding...

[smeagol]

miniman, 1st is a bit nasty in a mini with the clutch! Drove my kitcar without a clutch, when you're moving clutchless is fine, its the crawl to the traffic lights going "please change... please change" with the engine complaining and hopping along. Definately fun

[REV-EREND]

All the bikes I rode with out a clutch were not
mine - I take sports bikes out for a 1 hr test
drive and well it's not my gear box. Up & down
changes are great. Even full throttle up changes
are excellent.

I'm always glad to give the bike back after 1 hr
though.. I have no real restraint and would kill
myself if I had one for too long...

I'll stick with my TVR.

[Mark B]

I think I am right in thinking that Bikes are not reliant on synchros as they are constantly meshed gears, hence clutchless gear changes are very easy.

On a car, you need to match engine revs with gearbox revs dependant on road speed for smooth down changes. But it won't do you synchros any good at all.

If you have an old car with a gearbox that you're not bothered about it is a great way of learning how to heel and toe which will make rapid progress on the road much smoother.

[joospeed]

Basil Brush said: Apart from the bike, the best box I've ever had for doing this was the 2000E box in my Mk1 Escort. Clutchless changes were a doddle, even if I did have to remodel the trans tunnel with a big hammer to get it to fit.

teehee . I had a 2000E in my Dutton .. 3 rail version .. is good for clutchless changes, but on my last day at college it broke 3rd gear .. always wonder if I should have used the clutch more often after that!!!

[moomin]

Clutchless gearchanges are no problem in my car - and no it's not automatic or tiptronic or any of that overweight sh1te!


Moom.

[Basil Brush]

joospeed said:

Basil Brush said: Apart from the bike, the best box I've ever had for doing this was the 2000E box in my Mk1 Escort. Clutchless changes were a doddle, even if I did have to remodel the trans tunnel with a big hammer to get it to fit.

teehee . I had a 2000E in my Dutton .. 3 rail version .. is good for clutchless changes, but on my last day at college it broke 3rd gear .. always wonder if I should have used the clutch more often after that!!!

Ah the great gift of hindsight. Looking back you wish you'd had it sooner

[JohnL]

I had to do this a few years ago - the clutch cable broke while driving my Volvo along the motorway. I was on my way to a friend's and while my first thought was to stop and get the AA out to sort it, I decided to try this clutchless driving stuff that I'd read about - it worked!

So I went to where I was going and called the AA from there.

[JSG]

Has anyone else experienced this? I was talking about it with a colleague this morning.

I once drove from Newcastle to Glasgow in a hired Vectra without the aid of any clutch as it had given up. It was very early in the morning and there was hardly any other traffic.

I think this is a skill all drivers should learn.

Deester...

I did thousands of miles like this in my old Jeep Cherokee - it was an automatic.