Starting in 2nd gear with Tr-3650

[metroplex]

Will I break anything if I always start in 2nd gear with the TR-3650? I find that the 1st gear is rather steep for normal city driving and that 2nd gear might be a bit better for certain conditions. I have the option of going WOT up to about 60 mph (versus 42 mph in 1st gear) in case I need to merge with fast city traffic (50+ mph zones).

I know some people actually do start off in 2nd gear, but I want to know if this will break anything, or if it will wear out the clutch faster.

I have heard one side stating that starting in 2nd gear will wear out the clutch faster because of the gear ratio differential (3.38:1 vs 2.00:1). However, wouldn't 2nd gear be "easier" to move the car, which is why you park in 1st gear or reverse (depending on the grade of the road)? If so, wouldn't this cause less wear on the clutch since you wouldn't have to slip it as much to prevent it from stalling out?

 

[anthony05gt]

I've got 4.10's and take off in 2nd gear quite a bit. I would never take off in 2nd with stock gears.....too much excessive wear on the clutch disc. The main thing to keep in mind is to not let the clutch slip for more than a couple of seconds.

 

[CBus 06 GT]

I start in 2nd all the time with my stock 3.55s for normal city driving. It's not like you need to slip the clutch more than a fraction of a second longer than you do in 1st, the engine has the torque to pull 2nd gear cleanly from idle. Granted, I only have 4k miles on the Stang, but my 98 F-150 with the 4.2 V-6 and 5 MT has 150K miles and I'm still on the stock clutch/flywheel using the same 2nd gear start method for city driving.

 

[RoadconeTuning]

wow, you people need autos if you think its too steep with stock gears... i almost NEVER do a 2nd gear start and i have 4.10s... just seems like excessive wear for no reason. plus i still get 19mpg

 

[CBus 06 GT]

wow, you people need autos if you think its too steep with stock gears... i almost NEVER do a 2nd gear start and i have 4.10s... just seems like excessive wear for no reason. plus i still get 19mpg

I never said that 1st (or the rear end) was too steep, just that you can start from 2nd w/o any issues. If the motor has the torque to pull 2nd gear from a stop with minimal clutch slippage and you are in stop and go city traffic where you're not going to see 3rd gear, why not?

 

[D-06]

I start in 2nd gear all the time. Why put it in 1st gear for 3.2 seconds off of a dead stop?

I did in my 2000 Gt as well with stock gears and the car went 125,000 miles on the stock clutch with no issues, so I dont know why you guys would worry about excessive wear or issues.

D