The Driving a Manual Without a Clutch Thread

TheChamp said:
I wish I had a car to practise on, sounds like a very useful skill to learn.
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After reading this thread and watching the video I thought to myself that I need to try it.

I was hesitant at first, so I attempted it with my manual Polo. And it worked! No gears grinding and I worked my way through the entire gearbox and down before I reverted back to the clutch.

It's certainly a useful skill to have.
 
Novoca1ne said:
After reading this thread and watching the video I thought to myself that I need to try it.

I was hesitant at first, so I attempted it with my manual Polo. And it worked! No gears grinding and I worked my way through the entire gearbox and down before I reverted back to the clutch.

It's certainly a useful skill to have.
Click to expand...
Glad to hear it's doable, It would make a big difference if you happen to lose the clutch in the middle of nowhere.
 
Float shifted a couple of cars in my life.

Also had a clutch cable snap and use the starter to pull away. This is easier with 16L and up because today's modern 14L or 12L cars doesn't require a super strong starter and those uphill segments are tough.

Fair warning this is not good for your car. The shifting part is not too damaging if you get it right but getting it moving requires you to use the starter.

eg2505 said:
so if a cable snaps, its possible, with a bit of practice to shift into 1st,
what if its stuck in 4th and then the cable snaps?
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Into first when the engine is off. And then float shift as you drive.
 
Used to have to do it with my first car which was a Ford Capri when it snapped the clutch cable twice. And constantly with a girlfriends MK1 Golf because the cable pulled through the the firewall. Eventually cured with a thick steel plate.
 
TheChamp said:
But is it possible to do it gently? I thought the whole point of having a clutch was to enable you to do it gently?
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It is doable if you pull it in neutral and try to match the engine RPM with the RPM the incoming gear would assume.
 
FiestaST said:
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
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Long time ago the clutch on my 70s kombi gave out. Had to drive it around 30km to my mechanic for a replacement. Driving an old bus is already stressful, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
 
Harmonic said:
Long time ago the clutch on my 70s kombi gave out. Had to drive it around 30km to my mechanic for a replacement. Driving an old bus is already stressful, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
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Hectic but lemme guess you look back & it made you a stronger individual eh

Q the Spears & Clarkson:


 
Harmonic said:
It is doable if you pull it in neutral and try to match the engine RPM with the RPM the incoming gear would assume.
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Indeed. Rev matching is the name of the game. Try also to not put the engine under load when shifting - blip the accelerator, then let the revs fall a bit to where the next gear would be.

Had to drive my mom's 1998 Polo Classic without a clutch pedal from Century City to our mechanic in Parow East once. Cable unhooked from the clutch actuation arm. Luckily I almost knew the road speeds at certain revolutions by heart before it happened.
 
Yup a few times, once with a 2L Granada from Strand to Melkbos , pulled away in second, crash change straight to 4th. I drove out on the N2 took the R300 then N1, turned onto the N7 then turned off on the M19, got my first robot at the R27 intersection which luckily was green and made it home without having to get out of 4th.
 
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