How to change gears correctly?

Can someone explain the correct way to change gears with a manual shift?
That is, what is the precise sequence of foot movements for efficient
gear-changing with minimal wear on the gearbox?

Thanks in advance.

Tim

"Tim Walters" > wrote in message
...
> Can someone explain the correct way to change gears with a manual shift?
> That is, what is the precise sequence of foot movements for efficient
> gear-changing with minimal wear on the gearbox?
>
> Thanks in advance.

My god, you didn't learn that stuff when you were learning to drive?

With a syncro-box, you may try double declutching and blipping the throttle
if you like but it's not necessary.

Lift throttle
Depress clutch
Change gear
Lift clutch at the same time as pressing the throttle to bring in the right
amout of revs, gently, if you just take your foot off are likely to stall.

That said it's hard to believe there are people driving who don't know this
stuff, it's BASIC.

"Mark Hewitt" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Tim Walters" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Can someone explain the correct way to change gears with a manual shift?
> > That is, what is the precise sequence of foot movements for efficient
> > gear-changing with minimal wear on the gearbox?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> My god, you didn't learn that stuff when you were learning to drive?
>
> With a syncro-box, you may try double declutching and blipping the
throttle
> if you like but it's not necessary.
>
> Lift throttle
> Depress clutch
> Change gear
> Lift clutch at the same time as pressing the throttle to bring in the
right
> amout of revs, gently, if you just take your foot off are likely to stall.


Yes, but what exactly is "the right amount of revs"? That was the point of
my question.

Care to have another go?

Tim




>
> That said it's hard to believe there are people driving who don't know
this
> stuff, it's BASIC.
>
>
>
>

"Mark Hewitt" > wrote
> "Tim Walters" > wrote My god, you didn't learn
> that stuff when you were learning to drive?
>
> With a syncro-box, you may try double declutching and blipping the
> throttle if you like but it's not necessary.
>
> ...
> That said it's hard to believe there are people driving who don't know
> this stuff, it's BASIC.

Not in the US, Mark. IIRC, only 15% of the people in the US know
how to drive a manual. It's even getting to be a problem with parking
valets. ;->

FloydR

Tim Walters wrote:

> "Mark Hewitt" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
>
> > Lift throttle
> > Depress clutch
> > Change gear
> > Lift clutch at the same time as pressing the throttle to bring in the
> > right
> > amout of revs, gently, if you just take your foot off are likely to stall.
>
> Yes, but what exactly is "the right amount of revs"? That was the point of
> my question.

That's something you learn by practice.

Graham

Mark Hewitt wrote:
> "Tim Walters" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Can someone explain the correct way to change gears with a manual shift?
> > That is, what is the precise sequence of foot movements for efficient
> > gear-changing with minimal wear on the gearbox?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> My god, you didn't learn that stuff when you were learning to drive?
>
> With a syncro-box, you may try double declutching and blipping the throttle
> if you like but it's not necessary.
>
> Lift throttle
> Depress clutch
> Change gear
> Lift clutch at the same time as pressing the throttle to bring in the right
> amout of revs, gently, if you just take your foot off are likely to stall.

Likely to stall? If you're moving? No way. It might be jerky, but
you're not going to stall.

Tim Walters wrote:
> "Mark Hewitt" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Tim Walters" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Can someone explain the correct way to change gears with a manual shift?
> > > That is, what is the precise sequence of foot movements for efficient
> > > gear-changing with minimal wear on the gearbox?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > My god, you didn't learn that stuff when you were learning to drive?
> >
> > With a syncro-box, you may try double declutching and blipping the
> throttle
> > if you like but it's not necessary.
> >
> > Lift throttle
> > Depress clutch
> > Change gear
> > Lift clutch at the same time as pressing the throttle to bring in the
> right
> > amout of revs, gently, if you just take your foot off are likely to stall.
>
>
> Yes, but what exactly is "the right amount of revs"? That was the point of
> my question.
>
> Care to have another go?
>
> Tim
>
>
>
>
> >
> > That said it's hard to believe there are people driving who don't know
> this
> > stuff, it's BASIC.
> >
> >
> >

Regarding revs, it depends on the vehicle. Most newer cars with
manuals have s dummy light to indicate the best time to shift. Rule of
thumb is that the engine will not drop below normal idle speed after
the shift. In my vehicle I shift at 1500 RPM; that puts the engine at
about 1000 RPM after the shift.

Mark Hewitt wrote:
> "Tim Walters" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Can someone explain the correct way to change gears with a manual shift?
> > That is, what is the precise sequence of foot movements for efficient
> > gear-changing with minimal wear on the gearbox?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> My god, you didn't learn that stuff when you were learning to drive?
>
> With a syncro-box, you may try double declutching and blipping the throttle
> if you like but it's not necessary.
>
> Lift throttle
> Depress clutch
> Change gear
> Lift clutch at the same time as pressing the throttle to bring in the right
> amout of revs, gently, if you just take your foot off are likely to stall.
>
> That said it's hard to believe there are people driving who don't know this
> stuff, it's BASIC.

I learned on a manual at age 12 on a farm truck (in the mid-70s).

Try going to a car lot and find a car with manual. The dealer will try
to laugh you off the lot. Even military vehicles are going to
automatic. The only challenge I've experienced with manual is if at a
stop sign facing uphill. I've owned only manual-shift cars the past 11
years.

"Tim Walters" > wrote in message
...

> Yes, but what exactly is "the right amount of revs"? That was the point of
> my question.
>
> Care to have another go?

Practice! If you have it right, your passenger will hardley even notice that
you changed gears. If you have it wrong, they'll all be sea sick. It is a
matter of slowly (and lightly) increasing the throttle opening as you let up
on the clutch (slowly).

Ed

In article >,
"Mark Hewitt" > wrote:

> "Tim Walters" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Can someone explain the correct way to change gears with a manual shift?
> > That is, what is the precise sequence of foot movements for efficient
> > gear-changing with minimal wear on the gearbox?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>
> My god, you didn't learn that stuff when you were learning to drive?
>
> With a syncro-box, you may try double declutching and blipping the throttle
> if you like but it's not necessary.
>
> Lift throttle
> Depress clutch
> Change gear
> Lift clutch at the same time as pressing the throttle to bring in the right
> amout of revs, gently, if you just take your foot off are likely to stall.

Sorry, but that is just so much nonsense. The car will *lurch* because
the engine revolutions won't match the wheel speed, but it won't stall.

>
> That said it's hard to believe there are people driving who don't know this
> stuff, it's BASIC.

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
"If you raise the ceiling four feet, move the fireplace from that wall
to that wall, you'll still only get the full stereophonic effect if you
sit in the bottom of that cupboard."