Double clutching..lets hear about it

[Dal's Dream Car]

I was just reading a thread from Banky, who is kinda new like me.

I would love to hear about some technique on downshifting for next spring (she's hibernating) when I take the 29 Tudor back out.

I tried 2ble clutching to downshift a couple times this summer, but my teeth made just as much noise as the gears!

Does each clutch have its own personality! Do I just keep practicing till I get it and will I roast the clutch/gears in the learning process?

Finally snowing here in NH! Cheers everybody!

 

[roccaas]

Practice practice.

Your ear will tell you when you've matched engine speed to the cluster wile double de-clutching 3-2. I don't go 2-1.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

You probably aren't speeding the engine up enough while in the middle of the third to second downshift. It is quite a ratio difference. I usually don't go from third to second until the car has slowed to about 15 MPH.

 

[steve s]

Like Tom said. As soon as you let up the clutch pedal in neutral, really goose the accelerator pedal to race the motor. The faster you're going, the more you need to race the motor--you've got to get it going at least as fast as it's going to be roaring after you complete the downshift. After racing the motor, without allowing time for it to slow down, quickly depress the clutch pedal, and then IMMEDIATELY follow the pedal down with your shift into 2nd.

I think the three main sources of difficulty are (1) failure to lift foot completely off clutch pedal when going into neutral, (2) failure to race the motor to high enough rpm when in neutral, and (3) failure to immediately follow the pedal down with the shift into 2nd.

Don't do this if the road is wet; it's like jamming on the brakes without the ability to let up on them.

Steve

 

[mmindling]

Hi, I have a 3.54 rear axle gear in our e28 - all else is standard Ford issue, including the original multiple-disc clutch.

Just adjusted the clutch this week and getting much better performance.

Because of the rear axle ratio, first gear in my car is good for about 20 FEET.

If the car is warm, no upshift double de-clutch is necessary. If it's cold, then all upshift require double clutch.

Most of the time, will double clutch on second to high shift, unless it's feeling just right. Hard to define, non-quantitative.

Any downshift from high to second requires double clutching in my car.

No downshift to first is possible, must be completely stopped.

I have accepted this behavior as the nature of the beast, unless someone convinces me otherwise. Really no trouble once getting the hang of it.

Regards,

Martin Mindling

 

[Mike V. Florida]

You can smooth the upshifting by double clutching.
When you shift out of first, shift to neutral and let out the clutch with your foot off the gas, then push in the clutch and shift to second and accelerate. Repeat this for the second to third shift. Practice will help you to learn the correct engine speed and road speed at which to shift. Double clutching is better than jamming the gears, as you are trying to match gear speeds, so the gear teeth slide together smoothly.
You can downshift from 3rd to second in this manner:
Depress the clutch and shift from 3rd to neutral, let out the clutch, tap the gas pedal to slightly rev the engine, depress the clutch, shift into second, release the clutch and accelerate. This maneuver requires some practice to find the speed and engine reving at which downshifting works best for your car; it should be done only at speeds under 15 mph. Downshifting should be a relatively rare maneuver given the low speeds at which gears are shifted. The Model A Instruction Book (owner's manual) advises that all gear shifting be done at very low speeds. The manual suggests shifting from 1st to 2nd at 5-8 mph and from 2nd to 3rd at 12-15 mph. Keep in mind that practice will help you find the optimal speeds at which to shift gears for your car.