So I took the 51 shoebox out for a spin today and I noticed when I would stop at a light and it turn green as soon as I stop and I went to go into first gear but I couldn’t due to a grind no other gears grind and when I pull the car in and out of the garage it doesn’t grind and has a new clutch any ideas?? Thank you Christian P Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Welcome to the old days! That's normal operation. If you want to downshift to Low while moving, learn the fine art of double-clutching
before you stop shift into second gear. leave it in second until you get stopped. then shift down into low when your not moving. if you set at a stop in netural with the clutch released the front shaft is turning along with the cluster gear. and that rotating mass has to stop turning before you can engage the non syncro first or reverse gear. It likely works a bit better when you first start out because the gear oil is cold and thicker and slows the rotating parts better.
You can also shift into 2nd or 3rd, to stop the rotation, then shift into 1st or reverse. This is my standard operating procedure to get into reverse, to this day.
If you have a 3 spd+OD, set the overdrive cable so that the Over-Drive planetary gear set free wheels when load is removed. Makes shifting into that non-syncronised 1st gear, while rolling, a breeze without having to learn how to double clutch. Just be aware, you will no longer have engine braking.
The 55 in my avatar still uses the old 318 Muncie non syncro first & reverse gear trans. I grew up with those type of transmissions . It becomes second nature to downshift without needing a full syncro trans.
Thanks so much for all the help defiantly gotta learn to double clutch i was just worried it was something serious glad to hear it wasn’t Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
You really don't need to double clutch in most instances. Just don't put it into first gear until you come to a complete stop. About the only time would be if you encounter a really steep hill and you don't want to lose forward momentum, which is mostly never. Around town, just downshift into second when you turn corners.
If I'm coming to complete stop, such as a traffic light I avoid shifting into first and just pop it in neutral and coast. Actually I do that with all my manual transmissions synchronized or not.
Yep, only use the clutch to start or stop. Learned how on a Fuller 9 speed in a cabover, was gravy after that. Was told I couldn't float shift a Mack, said the gears were too coarse, proved that theory wrong. I even forget to use the clutch in my run around Ranger sometimes!
The Jalopy Journal
