crash gear box changing gear

[Ken Hughes]

Hi people,Im having trouble changing back thru the gears from top gear.
I have to almost stop to select third or second gear,im pretty sure its technique and ive tried the three finger shift that i remember from an old army instructional film that i had once viewed .
I seem to do a very good impersonation of Jiff polishing gears,any thoughts,thanks in advance.

[Keith Webb]

You should see the video with Tony in the cab 12!

It's a matter of practice - double declutching takes a while to get used to and easier in a Chev than a Ford. It's a matter of not changing down when you're still too fast... back off throttle, disengage clutch, shift to neutral, give it a rev as you engage clutch, then disengage and go to lower gear. You need to go to the lower gear fairly smartly as blipping the throttle synchronises the gears and if you hesitate they slow down again causing a crunch.

Once you get the hang of it you can try doing it without the clutch. Very satisfying when they just snick in beautifully.

Changing up is similar but without blipping the throttle, and you can take it a bit more slowly - keep at it - the gearbox is strong!

[hrpearce]

As Keith said it is all practice, you will eventually develop an ear for the right revs for the changes. Once you get the hang of it you wont forget, I learnt to drive a crash box when I was seven, by the time I got my licence we had updated to synchro boxes in the truck but 30 years later when I got the blitz it all came back in a couple of miles. Down changing while going up hill is easier to master than when you are going down hill. Enjoy a long drive and have fun learning.

[jack neville]

I think the biggest mistake is thinking you have to change after you have revved the engine out and built up speed as we do in modern vehicles. Do all the changes at low speed. I was always told the side whackers like to lug down low. Funny how my son Jake at 27 is better at it than me. But then again he virtually learnt to drive in these things. We've both polished our fair share of gears though.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Gearing down is easier without using the clutch. Let off the gas a bit and pull it out of high. Then rev it up a bit as you put it into 3rd. When the revs are right it slips right in. It's all a matter of matching the engine and tranny speed.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Ken

First off don't think you are going to damage the transmission with those little crunches. Because you are not likely to hurt these transmissions unless you really grind them or use a lot of force. If you are having problems shifting lets check a couple of things:

• Does your clutch fully disengage?
• With the transmission warm and clutch disengaged can you shift through the gears without excessive force on the lever?

Everybody is correct it is just a matter of practice the more you shift the better and smoother you will get.

Sounds like we need GoPro Film Challenge, for those of you with a GoPro or other small video camera that you can mount to show the gear shift and the peddles lets see who can come up with a good video. Think we should have couple of goals:

• Best technical video in that it most clearly shows the feet and hands
• Best actual shifting how smoothly can you shift up through the gears and back down. (no editing the sound tracks)

Cheers Phil