The Driving a Manual Without a Clutch Thread

FiestaST

FiestaST

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So the clutch master cylinder on my banger (Palio) has packed up, drove 8km to a Clutch & Brake specialist in Montague Gardens. Driving with no clutch is eventful to say the least, you try & avoid stopping at all costs, you anticipate traffic like crazy. It builds character I say. :eek::laugh:

Any (older) folks with stories of driving without a clutch? I chatted to some folks in person & there is a common trait ie. "the clutch on my Golf gave up xx years ago..." :D


www.caranddriver.com

How To Drive a Stick Without a Clutch

If your clutch fails, you can still drive your manual car by following these steps.
www.caranddriver.com www.caranddriver.com
 
My brother picked me up from boarding school in our family cressida wagon, and the clutch master cylinder died on the way home. Quite a learning experience changing gears by using the revs, and luckily only a few traffic lights starting in gear to get going...
 
Play with the revs while lightly pushing the gear lever, and it will go in without grinding teeth. If you have driven trucks with non-synchromesh gearboxes, as were used on the old army trucks and many other heavy trucks even in today's use, it's easy-peasy.
 
TheChamp said:
I wish I had a car to practise on, sounds like a very useful skill to learn.
Click to expand...
Not recommended for daily use, but good to know for an emergency. Try it, you might find it to be easier than you think. The biggest problem is the pull away, using the starter in first gear, a down slope will help.
 
FiestaST said:
So the clutch master cylinder on my banger (Palio) has packed up, drove 8km to a Clutch & Brake specialist in Montague Gardens. Driving with no clutch is eventful to say the least, you try & avoid stopping at all costs, you anticipate traffic like crazy. It builds character I say. :eek::laugh:

Any (older) folks with stories of driving without a clutch? I chatted to some folks in person & there is a common trait ie. "the clutch on my Golf gave up xx years ago..." :D


www.caranddriver.com

How To Drive a Stick Without a Clutch

If your clutch fails, you can still drive your manual car by following these steps.
www.caranddriver.com www.caranddriver.com
Click to expand...

Less of the "older folks" ;) but yes, have done it a couple of times and it was a Golf (and a Fox) :laugh:
 
I've not managed to not have a clutch in the car, but have done so on the bike.

Worked reasonably well until it stalled and then I rather pushed it the rest of the way, because launching a bike in gear with the starter is a whole different story than a car.

I have however driven a Ford Sapphire with no throttle and running it straight out of the bonnet and through the window with a piece of string....not that was some overrevving madness and funky tricks.
 
Stokstert said:
Play with the revs while lightly pushing the gear lever, and it will go in without grinding teeth. If you have driven trucks with non-synchromesh gearboxes, as were used on the old army trucks and many other heavy trucks even in today's use, it's easy-peasy.
Click to expand...

Changing gears isn't too bad...but getting it into 1st has never really worked for me.

Easier to turn it off and change into 1st and then start it.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Changing gears isn't too bad...but getting it into 1st has never really worked for me.

Easier to turn it off and change into 1st and then start it.
Click to expand...
Have done that a few times as well, killer on the battery and starter motor
 
Happened on Sable Road in Century City a few years ago, heading towards the N1. Stepped on the clutch pedal to gear down before the sharp bend, and the pedal didn't return.

Turns out the clutch cable popped out of its mounting point on the gearbox of our 1998 Polo. The mechanic was quite impressed that I drove it to him without any issues.
 
Thanks for bumping this up.

24 Hours after dropping the car, a R2200 repair bill & it's been all good.

Cheap cars (normally) = cheap repairs.
 
the 20xe opels fitted with F20 and F28 boxes were easy to change without clutches
 
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