Any of you guys ever shift without using the clutch? I do sometimes if its a easy shift and im not in a hurry at all, when i can bring the RPM's up or down slowly so it will sink in. i do all the time on my 'ol 92 dakota, but its broken in real good(154,000k miles on it)

 

I double clutch usually.

 

My 02 hardly new what it felt to have its clutch used. Never had a problem with it. Always shifted like it wasnt touching a thing. I kinda miss it now that I have an auto.

 

Ive tried several times but it grinds like a pig no mater what I try, so I don't even try anymore.
Mooseman

 

define double clutching?

 

Press the clutch, then pull out of gear to neutral. Let out clutch, then press again and shift into next gear. I know it sounds slow, but it's not too bad. Truck shifts very smooth doing it this way, especially in the bitter cold!

That's the way I had to drive the "big" trucks in the military. That or "floating" gears (AKA clutchless shifting).

 

I have to double clutch every gear since my synchros are now in heaven...or hell depending on the way you look at it!!

 

I often drive big trucks and that is the way we shift. The clutch is used only to start and stop. Sometimes I catch myself doing the same thing on the Dodge without meaning to. Do it right and it won't hurt. I can't really do it on the '07 yet...too tight.

 

Easy to shift with out the clutch in my truck. I do it occasionally. upshifting and downshifting.

 

If you match the rpm and are easy on the stick you won't really wear the synchros. That is the only worry about shifting w/o the clutch. Big trucks (i.e. semi's) only use the clutch to start off, they have no synchros and using the clutch will wear it out quickly, so they always float the gears. Double clutching is exactly what it means, clutch to take out of gear and clutch to engage. The main reason for double clutching is to slow the clutch with the rpm's to easier match the gears. This was used for trannys w/o synchros and when synchros were introduced double clutching was no longer needed. Me personally, my 4500 has the typical 3rd gear synchro out and I most often float the gear unless I'm feeling the need to double clutch it. In short, clutchless shifting (floating) is no big deal it just takes skill.

 

My brother tried clutchless shifting while taking an 06 on a test drive. Said the salesman looked at him like he just punched his mother in the mouth... Needless to say, my bro couldn't quite get the hang of it on that test drive..

 

It's not that hard to learn how to float the gears. I've gotten really good at it in my truck. Of course when it's cold out it doesn't work as well. It's a good skill to have just in case your hydraulic system fails.

 

I've tried double clutching and it does slide into gear smoothly but it slows me down too much. My leg would definitely start to hurt trying to do that sitting in our traffic here near DC. I haven't had the nerve to try shifting without the clutch yet but I do pull it out of gear a lot without using the clutch.

 

No need to double clutch unless ur synchros are bad, then u should be able to float it anyways.

Another thing I found interesting, my 04.5 with the NV5600 will float through all the gears no problem, like a hot knife thru butter. My 06 with the G56 tranny feels MUCH tighter and WILL NOT float the gears, in fact most of the time it is hard to just get out of gear without the clutch. I have a feeling that this has to do with the G56's aluminum housing allowing just enough flex for the trannies internals to bind. The bind I am describing is like trying to shift from 4hi into 2hi while stopped on a corner, and you get the BANG from the drivetrain unloading. Needless to say I do not try to float this tranny, mabe in 100,000 more miles.

 

I haven't heard that one in a while!