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Pulling Shifter Out Of Gear At Low Speeds?


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To save some wear and tear on my leg and my clutch system, I've been gently pulling the car out of gear when rolling up to a stop.

Could this be bad at all?

I mean, when you are slowing, but still going like 10+, the gear box doesnt want to let the stick go into Neutral, and i don't "pull" it. But when the RPM drop below 1000, and below 10mph, you can just "nudge" it into N. No sticking in the gearbox, no noise, and feels just like you have the clutch in.

 

Any longterms problems that could arise from this?

I'm pleasantly surprised... It was most certainly worth the couple bucks and 10 mins of my time.

CLICK HERE FOR THE HOGZAUST

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The wear from pressing the clutch at such a slow speed would be extremely small. While it may not hurt anything I'll keep using the clutch just to be safe. I don't want to give it any excuses for screwing up!
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If your gentle about it, there's no harm done. I got about 70k on my 98 outback before I had to change out the clutch and I do a lot of city driving.

So long as your revs are dropped low and you aren't forcing it.

Its actually a process I use on my motorcycle too. In fact, I can upshift without clutching if I've got the clutch and engine speed matched.

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Ok, my two and a half cents (from someone who's had to tear apart and fix a few)...

 

In a modern synchromesh transmission/tansaxle, the syncro will have some sort of detent mechanism which holds the shift fork/car in gear. In addition, there is also a slight bevel cut on the syncro teeth which further enhances this hold when the teeth are loaded (accel and decel).

 

If you pull the shift lever out of gear with any kind of load on the transmission, you will cause wear to the to the syncro teeth. A small amount, but then how often do you shift?

 

If you manage to magically pull the car out of gear with no load whatsoever (perfect coast) then congrats, you did it - no wear on either the syncro or clutch.

 

However, in practise, this is very difficult to pull of consistently. If you get it right, the lever will pull to neutral with no resistance whatsoever. If you pulled it out early or late, and you feel a little tug, then you have worn the teeth ever so slightly.

 

Given that the clutch is a wear item which is easier to replace than the internal syncros, I personally don't pull the car out of gear without declutching. I also don't gear down (but that's a different thread altogether...)

 

I file this technique as cool to impress friends once in a while (like clutchless shifting), but false economy in the long term.

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To save some wear and tear on my leg and my clutch system, I've been gently pulling the car out of gear when rolling up to a stop.

Could this be bad at all?

I mean, when you are slowing, but still going like 10+, the gear box doesnt want to let the stick go into Neutral, and i don't "pull" it. But when the RPM drop below 1000, and below 10mph, you can just "nudge" it into N. No sticking in the gearbox, no noise, and feels just like you have the clutch in.

 

Any longterms problems that could arise from this?

 

dont do it too often unless you know the synchros are aligned..

Keefe
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wear and tear on your leg?!

 

Well, you know, it's not so much "wear and tear" it's more just "ease".

 

I mean, when pulling up to a light, and you know your gonna wait, just drop it into N, and stop. Otherwise, it's Clutch-N-Unclutch.

 

Yah, it's not that hard, but it's just a habit.

 

There is ZERO tension on the stick, I mean, I'm goning 3-5 mph in maybe 3rd or lower. it just slips out. And no, the engine doesnt lug or stutter. You pull it out the moment before it would begin too...

I'm pleasantly surprised... It was most certainly worth the couple bucks and 10 mins of my time.

CLICK HERE FOR THE HOGZAUST

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if your left leg is tired, why not use the right?:)
258k miles - Stock engine/minor suspension upgrades/original shocks/rear struts replaced at 222k/4 passenger side wheel bearings/3 clutches/1 radiator/3 turbos
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There is ZERO tension on the stick, I mean, I'm goning 3-5 mph in maybe 3rd or lower. it just slips out. And no, the engine doesnt lug or stutter. You pull it out the moment before it would begin too...

 

No harm here. Been doing this for 20+ years in various vehicles.

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"If you pulled it out early or late, and you feel a little tug, then you have worn the teeth ever so slightly."

 

Uhuuhuuhhuuhuhhuh.

 

+1 What bean sed... if you pull it out and feel a tug, her teeth may wear slightly. Never pull out late!! (although sometimes this is unavoidable) If it's your leg that's wearing out though, try the Automatic.:icon_tong

Stage2.5376, TDC ProTune,blah blah blahhhh and....Alky/H20 injection :icon_mrgr
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.

 

Need more info on why not to gear down and what exactly do you mean by gear down?!? :confused:

 

Maybe he means when he's in 5th gear coming to a stop, he just goes straight to neutral as opposed to "gearing down" through the gears?

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I have owned 4 manual cars. The highest mileage was a Toyota Corolla and I had 120K on the clutch. My last 2 cars I had 77K and 52K and I was on the stock clutch on both of them. I can't see really saving any wear and tear as I never did that and have always gotten high mileage out of the stock clutches.
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