Tried to heel toe,,,,it went wrong.

[Sukh13]

So today I tried to heel and toe for the first time at speed, have been practising around town at low speeds for a few weeks. I was doing 45/50 in 4th or 5th and tried to drop to 3rd.

Foot on brake, swivel and accelerated whilst clutch went in. Heard revs go up and shifted and clutch out. Felt OK, no jerk. But when I tried to change gear next the gearbox is all jammy?

So when I try to put it into gear there is a lot of resistance that I have to push through.

What have I done?

(its a Fiesta so I've not killed something massively expensive)


Help please!

Edited by Sukh13 on Saturday 2nd July 20:09

[CooperS]

I cant help with what you've done to your car but i'd like to ask why you want to learn to heal and toe to then use that skill in a feista?

I drove my elise spiritly but never thought oh if only i could heal and toe i'd be going quicker down this road..... i wouldnt worry about it tbh?

[edition]

Damaged the linkage?

[DocJock]

Smoother changes and more mechanically sympathetic.

[Sukh13]

CooperS said:

I cant help with what you've done to your car but i'd like to ask why you want to learn to heal and toe to then use that skill in a feista?

I drove my elise spiritly but never thought oh if only i could heal and toe i'd be going quicker down this road..... i wouldnt worry about it tbh?

I was braking to go around a large left handed junction.

And heal toe because I am a Ph'er and haven't yet invested in a nice car and a Fiesta is all I have.

[Sukh13]

edition said:

Damaged the linkage?

I have very very little knowledge of gearboxes, but it feels like I've dislodged the synchromeshes? Is that even possible?

[mx5tom]

CooperS said:

I cant help with what you've done to your car but i'd like to ask why you want to learn to heal and toe to then use that skill in a feista?

I drove my elise spiritly but never thought oh if only i could heal and toe i'd be going quicker down this road..... i wouldnt worry about it tbh?

I tried when I had my Corsa. It just made an otherwise dull, boring, slow drive slightly more fun, though still boring, dull and slow. :P

I just think that feeling of braking hard just before a corner and getting a heel-and-toe down change just right and hearing the rev matching perfectly is an awesome feeling. ...Just not one I've mastered yet. :P I don't do it because it's faster, but because it's an extra challenge and when done right feels so natural. It's just a good feeling 'getting it right', I suppose, whether that be in a Corsa, Fiesta or an Elise.

[TheStoat]

heel and toe as per the topic title

To be honest why not practise in a Fiesta? Just means you'll be that bit smoother when you graduate to a sportier steed. I find it sets up the car more smoothly for the approaching corner but when you're closer to the corner i.e. You can carry speed for longer before preparing for the corner...

As for the gearbox being firmer/recalcitrant I'm not sure. I've never had that problem in any car and I really only heel and toe in an amateur manner at best :-)

[twazzock]

Possibly the linkage has popped off or broken. Makes trying to change gear feel a lot like stirring porridge: the stick just moves around freely, no defined 'slots' for gears.

Can you get into gear at all?

Edit: Scratch that, OP says can get into gear, with a struggle. Idunnomate.

[SteveS Cup]

Sounds like you either have clutch drag ie the clutch isn't disengaging fully or you've some how managed to mess up the linkage.

And you don't need an Exige race car to heel and toe. Matching the revs on a down change makes a much smoother change and gives sympathy to everything mechanical from the engine down to the mounts.

[ridds]

Haha, I do it in my 405 diesel as it makes changing year a lot smoother.

Practise in anything you like, practise makes perfect.

[Nedz]

The pedals in some cars are simply not positioned correctly for successful heel and toeing and im guessing a fiesta is probably one of them!

[Y282]

ridds said:

Haha, I do it in my 405 diesel as it makes changing year a lot smoother.

Practise in anything you like, practise makes perfect.

'scuse me mister magic peugeot driver, can i have 1985 please?

[Sukh13]

Ok thanks for the replies

The pedals are a bit to awkward, I end up having to side foot, i.e. roll my foot right instead.

I think I have clutch drag as when trying to put into reverse (already no synchromesh by design) it makes the grinding noise and in normal gears it feels like it bites early.


How would one fix this clutch drag if at all? I believe the Fiesta has a hydrolic cable that needs adjusting? (after a quick google).


P.s May be talking out of my bottom. little knowledge and all that.

Edited by Sukh13 on Saturday 2nd July 20:44

[Toltec]

If it is a hydraulic clutch you could try checking the fluid level in the reservoir.

[Sukh13]

Thanks will do, I think it is something self inflicted though as it happened immediately after my shenanigans.

[velocemitch]

I can heel toe in my old Alfa pretty easily, but I've never managed it properly in anything modern. The brakes are too sensitive and the throttle response too limp in modern cars. That and the pedals are all wrong for it too.

Can't see how the simple act of trying it and getting it wrong can cause a problem with the box though.

[Sukh13]

Apparently it might have a self adjusting (hydraulic) clutch so hopefully it will reset over night.

If not will check the gearbox oil level and then will have to think about going to a garage.

Edited by Sukh13 on Saturday 2nd July 22:29

Edited by Sukh13 on Saturday 2nd July 22:29

[Arun_D]

CooperS said:

I cant help with what you've done to your car but i'd like to ask why you want to learn to heal and toe to then use that skill in a feista?

I drove my elise spiritly but never thought oh if only i could heal and toe i'd be going quicker down this road..... i wouldnt worry about it tbh?

Because it's a useful skill to have, regardless of the car.

FWIW, I learnt it in my first car, a humble Fiesta.

[ChevronB19]

Sukh13 said:

Ok thanks for the replies

The pedals are a bit to awkward, I end up having to side foot, i.e. roll my foot right instead.

I think I have clutch drag as when trying to put into reverse (already no synchromesh by design) it makes the grinding noise and in normal gears it feels like it bites early.


How would one fix this clutch drag if at all? I believe the Fiesta has a hydrolic cable that needs adjusting? (after a quick google).


P.s May be talking out of my bottom. little knowledge and all that.

Edited by Sukh13 on Saturday 2nd July 20:44

Don't worry about the 'side foot' - 'heel and toe' is a misnomer - bodies don't work like that! All you need is a very slight twist of the foot if your pedals are close enough. No idea about your problem but it is very unlikely to have been caused by an attempt at heel & toe.