Shifting Without Clutch!

[Paul Perreca]

I was driving this morning, and i was tired, and when i was about ot shift into third gear, i didn't feel like hitting the clutch, so i didn't, and i just put it into third, and kept driving, than i reflected upon what i just did, and all of a sudden i was wide awake! I just shifted and found the spot where i can shift w/ no clutch, so i did each gear except for 1st and every gear works the same, just on normal driving.

Now my question, I have heard that it is good for racing to shift w/o the clutch, myabe its called powershifting or something, now when i do this shifting w/o clutch on normal driving, it isn't super fast, i have to pull it out of gear, than i put it into thenext, and it takes a about a second, so i dont see how this can be beneficial for racing, cuz i can shift faster with a clutch, and by the way, there is no grinding at all, it just goes right into gear, but slower than w/ my clutch, please offer tips on how to do it faster, like leaving my foot on the gas the whole time or something i dunno, thanks alot -

Is something wrong w/ my trans? or does this just happen lol thanks
Paul Perreca

 

[crunchie12268]

I would think something is wrong there, I can't even pull mine out of gear without pushing the clutch.... maybe you have a transmission with straight cut gears like nascar, that would be cool

 

[25thmustang]

Ill explain this...

What you did was match the transmission speed to the motor speed. It happens at a low RPM and allows you to shift through the gears with no clutch. I used to do this a lot on the street with my car, but it only happens at low RPM. When your racing under a heavy load your car will NOT shift gears without the clutch, plain and simple. I bet you also noticed you had to let off the gas slightly, and it didnt go in 100% smooth...

Powershifting on the other hand works, but you need the clutch. All that is, is never lifting off the gas to shift. Sounds easy, but when your shifting at 5000+ RPM, it can be tricky. Think of how fast the RPMs climb when your in neutral, compared to when your in gear. You have very little time to hit the next gear, but when done right, it does help for a tenth or two!

In the end, powershifting although can be hard on the car, isnt too bad, and my personal experience shows that when done right, the tranny will last fine. Speed shifting (I believe that is the term) is done at low speeds, and just RPM matching the motor and tranny to allow shifting without the clutch. I dont think this hurts the trannys too bad, but have heard if done a lot, the tranny will start to pop out of gear when driving, which is not good!

 

[EMW150]

No, if you wait for the right moment to shift you can shift with out a clutch at part throttle shifts. Do not try this at full throttle or high rpms with a synchronized trans. I run a pro-shifted TKO which you can easily shift at full throttle but you have to use the clutch.

 

[cleanLX]

Speed shifting (I believe that is the term) is done at low speeds, and just RPM matching the motor and tranny to allow shifting without the clutch. I dont think this hurts the trannys too bad, but have heard if done a lot, the tranny will start to pop out of gear when driving, which is not good!

That is definatly not speed shifting, it's just plain old matching rev's.
And, you're not matching rev's of the engine, you are useing the engine (clutch engaged) to match the rev's the transmission wants to be at in the next selected gear based on vehicle speed. Doing this on down shifts will require bliping the throttle to bring rev's up to match rpm required in the next lower gear.

 

[Paul Perreca]

yea i couldnt do it downshifting, aiight i wont try it like racin down the street - but it is still cool - i dont mind using the clutch, if i didnt like it, i would have gotten an automatic, which i do not understand why neone would get, its not nearly as fun
Paul Perreca

 

[RacEoHolic330]

I do clutchless shifting a lot when I get lazy. It is acutally better on the trans and clutch when you shift without using the clutch. Gotta be careful though, it can be easy to grind the gears.

 

[HISSIN50]

how tired do you have to be that using the clutch just seems like too much work? (I am just playin man - it sounded funny the way you typed it).

 

[25thmustang]

That is definatly not speed shifting, it's just plain old matching rev's.
And, you're not matching rev's of the engine, you are useing the engine (clutch engaged) to match the rev's the transmission wants to be at in the next selected gear based on vehicle speed. Doing this on down shifts will require bliping the throttle to bring rev's up to match rpm required in the next lower gear.

I guess that was one of the cool sayings (speed shifting) that the translation got messed up for me. I personally wouldnt call it that, but have heard others refer to it as speed shifting. Either way it is shifting without the clutch by the ways described, and not something you can do while racing.

 

[87GTSnake]

I guess that was one of the cool sayings (speed shifting) that the translation got messed up for me. I personally wouldnt call it that, but have heard others refer to it as speed shifting. Either way it is shifting without the clutch by the ways described, and not something you can do while racing.

I beleive shifting without the clutch is called Flat shifting.

 

[stang22]

What are the downsides to doing this?

Tim

 

[I_AM_CANADIAN]

yea i couldnt do it downshifting

Pull it out of gear without the clutch, then bring the rpm's up 600/700 rpm more, then apply apply pressure on the shifter when the rpm's have climbed.

What are the downsides to doing this?

Tim

You can eventually start to round off your gears if you continually grind them.

 

[jstang209]

i always do this.. my damn clutch is very hard to push in, so if im tired i wont do it!

 

[hiattwl]

If you're too tired to shift, you need to pull your sleepy ass to the side of the road and take a nap.

Wayne

 

[89MustangGX]

Please don't do this. It doesn't make any sense. You have a clutch, use it.

 

[Black_Mustang]

or just sell it and buy and automatic or one of those cool "auto-stick" cars