help dowshift 3rd to 2nd

bigmegina

bigmegina

Junior Member
i got the up shift down pretty good but cannot downshift from third to second to save my life.any tips would help.going to change ****** fluid tomorrow,got 600.been in there over 10 years.
 
time to learn how to double clutch.
shift into neutral and rev the motor
then shift into second.
practice makes perfect
 
Last edited:
40-A Twins said:
time to learn how to double clutch.
shift into neutral and rev the motor
then shift into second.
practice makes perfect
Click to expand...


Double clutch yes. That's what it takes, since these are not synchro transmissions and they are straight-cut gears.



I might add to the "rev the motor" --- Rev it to about the RPM's that the engine will be at when it is in 2nd at the speed you are going. It will seem to be pretty high, but practice will make the difference. That being said, I don't downshift nearly as much in the A as I do a modern car. Even with 6 years of practice, I occasionally don't get it quite right. My own opinion is that they did not downshift on the fly back in the day as much as we do these days with synchro trannies in modern cars.



Good luck.
 
Last edited:
The manual itself says go directly and immediately from third to second without pausing or double clutching. I find it only works that way at speeds under 20 mph. Otherwise double clutch.
 
Down shift way before you need to. If you miss the shift and are depending on it to slow you down on a grade, you may be in trouble.

Mitchell makes a synchronized Model A transmission that is in the stock box.
 
The Ford mode A sliding gear 3 speed standard transmission uses straight cut spur gears without synchronizing drums. Therefore it needs to be double clutched to shift up or down to mesh these gears without grinding....Henry referred to these transmissions as "crunch boxes", preferring the planetary transmission found on the Model T....But that's another story for another day.....
 
bigmegina said:
i got the up shift down pretty good but cannot downshift from third to second to save my life.any tips would help.going to change ****** fluid tomorrow,got 600.been in there over 10 years.
Click to expand...


What worked for me was two things: first, get a speedometer app on my phone and mount it temporarily in front of me so I could see my speed. Second, find a big open property with a winding drive to practice in. I used a local cemetery.

The actual operation is that you shift from 3rd to neutral, let the clutch out, blip the throttle, clutch in, and ease the shifter into second. The practice part is needed to train your ear to know what engine sound corresponds to being under 20 mph. That’s really all there is to it.
 
Are you trying to downshift in situations where you actually need to? Or,just where you want to,like a modern car. I had to educate a friend when he bought an A.He was trying to shift it to slow down,and trying to shift down when there was no need to.If a car was making a turn in front of him he kept wanting to drop a gear and hit the throttle to go around it.He kept wanting to drive it like his three on the tree Falcon.It took him a while to come to terms with the slower pace of operation in the A.
 
Excuse my ignorance on the age old "Art" of double clutching. When you rev the engine in neutral, to rev match the gears, is that with the clutch out? Then clutch in and down or up shift to desired gear? That to me would be "double" clutching.

Thanks forum, Your The Best!
 
Ford’s owner instruction manual says to up shift 1-2 at 5-8 mph, up shift 2-3 at 15-18 mph, no need to double clutch at these speeds! If you’re grinding the gears at this recommended speeds then you have other issues like to fast of an engine idle, engine not returning to idle, transmission has too lightweight oil. If you get it right you can slide the gears without using the clutch ( just ask a good semi truck driver ) on a good day I could do it but I don’t recommend it. As for down shifting double clutching is a must that I couldn’t get right.
 
So I brought home my avatar truck. It was a pretty easy drive up onto the car carrier/flatbed.

Once home I decided to "get familiar" with the truck and took it out for a couple of "spins."

It drove pretty good. No clashing of gear no issue with shifting using my modern sensibility.

It was then I decided to start tearing down the truck for a restoration. Out comes the motor and ******. Motor was replaced with a rebuilt unit. Transmission was next for restoration.

Open the top and pour out the fluid before beginning.

WHAT is this? Sawdust/wood cuttings all mixed with the oil.

No wonder it shifted so easily and drove so well.

Joe K
 
If you have a Mitchel overdrive, shift it into neutral and immediately down shift the transmission without double clutching and then shift the Mitchell back into low or high.
 
Ramman, Starting from 3rd gear:

1. Push the clutch pedal to the floor
2. Shift in to neutral
3. Let the clutch pedal out (all the way up)
4. Rev the engine to the rpm that 2nd gear will need (this is where experience is needed)
5. Push the clutch pedal to the floor again
6. Put the transmission in 2nd
7. Let out the clutch pedal

Same procedure for going from 2nd to 1st.

Unless you need the engine to help you slow down going down a grade, down shifting is not normally needed. In town driving you just pull up to a stop and shift from third into first (with the clutch pedal to the floor as normal).
 
Last edited:
Your ears are a valuable tool. When going through the double clutch process you will learn the engine's audible "sweet spot" that is ideal for switching gears.
 
One more thing is patience. You will get the feel of the timing with practice. These transmissions do not shift quickly like a modern trans.
 
As a test, shift from 3rd into neutral, rev it as high as you think you should.
While still in neutral, push forward lightly into 2nd.
It will grind until it slows down enough.
That engine sound is what you want each time.
If it never goes in, you didn't rev enough.
 
P.S. said:
Sometimes, there is no substitute for a visual demonstration. This is one of those times.
Click to expand...

It’s true, just watching someone do it is really helpful. I didn’t get the concept until I took a ride in ndnchf’s pickup and watched him do it. Still had to practice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top