Hard To Change To First Gear

[jhjones]

Hey, I need to put quite a bit of pressure and time to change down to first gear when the car is moving. Is it a Worn syncho? It doesn't crunch while changing down to first.

[Moodles2]

Just what speed are you going when trying to shift down to first?

Really you shouldn't even be trying to shift into first if you are still moving

[Room42]

Just what speed are you going when trying to shift down to first?

Really you shouldn't even be trying to shift into first if you are still moving

Exactly. First is for leaving the line. You shouldn't be changing into first until you are doing about 5kph.

[jhjones]

That's what I do. When traffic is crawling like 5 km/h I change to first and it's hard it move the gearstick in there. I guess I can labour the engine or ride the clutch in second.

Edited September 22, 2011 by H4x

[GTSBoy]

Even if the synchro on 1st is somehow worn out, a proper heel & toe rev match will allow you to change into 1st at any speed below redline. Of course doing so is only sensible at speeds that are low enough that it won't come on boost in 2nd instantly, but that's another matter.

Learn to drive.

[doo doo]

Yeah, you really should stop before trying to put it in first- however if you get into the habit of double clutching you can make it easier on the synchros if you want to put the car in first and you're still moving- pop out the clutch in neutral and rev the engine (ideally to match road speed) before you engage first gear. I am assuming you are attempting to engage first at speeds that are too slow for 2nd gear to be useful.

edit- as above- you beat me to it, darn my slow typing.

Edited September 22, 2011 by doo doo

[jhjones]

I want know what the problem is. Is it a worn synchro or something else? Remember it doesn't crunch while going into first.

Edit:

Also rev matching won't help, double clutching will if its a synchro.

Edited September 22, 2011 by H4x

[Jonno34]

mines a little bit sticky even 100% stationary .. usually when this happens i have to put it back in neutral, foot off the clutch, then try again and itll be fine - not really a big issue and doesnt bother me though

[Room42]

Sounds like you have the wrong oil in the box then or rooted oil. Mine is similar to your when its cold but when it warms up its better. My synchro's are a little worn. I would have thought rev matching it would help tho. It helps mine...

[jhjones]

Hey, 180ks on the car and I highly doubt it's been changed before (engine oil looked like it had never been changed when I bought the car). I did think about changing the box oil, but there is a oil leak between the block and bellhousing, so I was sort of holding that off until the clutch f**ks out. About the rev matching, how does that help when the clutch is in? Shouldn't you put it in neutral (clutch out) and rev the engine to match your roadspeed then change to first?

[GTSBoy]

Also rev matching won't help, double clutching will if its a synchro.

About the rev matching, how does that help when the clutch is in? Shouldn't you put it in neutral (clutch out) and rev the engine to match your roadspeed then change to first?

I did say heel & toe rev match. That tells you everything about what I meant. Clutch pedal down, move gearstick out of gear, clutch pedal up and roll right foot so ball of foot stays on brake pedal (assuming you're doing it under brakes) and blip throttle with side of foot, clutch back down and move gearstick into 1st, clutch back up with right foot now either firmly pressed on brake (assuming doing it under braking and not wanting to take off just yet) or firmly pressed on accelarator (assuming you've timed your shift correctly and you are now ready to abuse the tyres in 1st).

If you're not doing it whilst braking you can just blip the throttle normally.

[GTSBoy]

triple post hell!

Edited September 22, 2011 by GTSBoy

[GTSBoy]

aargh

Edited September 22, 2011 by GTSBoy

[jhjones]

Why don't you just say double clutch. Some people think of rev matching as reving the engine with the clutch in so you can let the clutch fast while being smooth.

[jiffo]

Guys need some driving lessons, double-de-clutching is just rev matching.

You don't even need the clutch once your revs are right.

Try an old Mack quad box, only use the clutch for initial take off, then rev match all the rest, no clutch.

Miss a gear and you'll break your wrist.

No synchro on those bad boys.

[GTSBoy]

I didn't say double clutch, because double clutch doesn't actually mean anything (unless you're talking about various modern gearboxes with two clutches). The correct term that you ae thinking of is double de-clutch, but you really only do the classic old style double declutch action in old non-synchro truck gearboxes. When you double de-clutch in a car in a performance context, the action that you use is the heel and toe movement. Nearly everyone that I can think of that knows anything about driving cars knows what heel & toe is. They never say double clutch, but they definitely say heel'n'toe.

[33GTRV]

"not double clutchin, granny shiftin, man, youre lucky that 200 shot of nos didnt......."

[33GTRV]

"not double clutchin, granny shiftin, man, youre lucky that 200 shot of nos didnt......."

[Jonno34]

^ how do you double clutch?

I have been trying to do this while i drag race ford falcons and holden commodores around the streets like brian did in fast and furious (except he raced american muscle cars!)

i think if i learn to double clutch, i will win, because brian learned to drive and he almost beat vin diesel in the 4th movie with his r34 skyline

i also have a r34 skyline - so if i learn to duble clutch, i think i can beat all muscle cars.

especially since i upgraded my exhorst and put my body kit on.

I joke. I was actually gonna write that quote from fast/furious though Allan LOL

[LANDSCRIBBLE]

yeh mine does the same, hell even when trying to go from 3rd to second it sometimes doesnt want to slot in like it should (similiar to what it does going from 2nd to 1st at lower speeds).. synchros are knackered i believe, changed the oil months ago with no improvement.