Setting: Ok FC3S NA or maybe just general manual shifting (its my 1st manual anyways)

Curiosity: When in a gear(>4krpm) and want to go lower, I clutch in>Neutral>Pick Gear = Shifter wont let me go into lower gear and if I force it it grinds even with clutch still kicked in....

Guess: Is this the reason for double clutching and not single clutching....?

Working Conditions: In gear(<4krpm), Clutch in>Neutral>Pick Gear/rev match>clutch out = works perfectly


Question: Is this mechanical problems....or biological(me).....

 

You may need to adjust the freeplay on your clutch pedal. With the clutch pedal depressed, you should be able to put it into whatever gear you want.

 

My car won't down shift into 2nd easily. I get around it by match the engine rpms to the rpms the engine would be at if it was in 2nd gear.

For instance if I'm in 3rd at 3K and want to shift in to 2nd I'll -> clutch in -> rev engine to 4.5K -> shift into 2nd -> clutch out.

I always assumed it was because of 2nd gear syncro was bad.

 

Bad clutch?

 

In 3rd gear at around 4k you would need to be up near 6k in 2nd gear to be traveling the same speed. If you put the clutch in, then while holding it down try to select 2nd gear you are forcing the synchro's to speed up the input shaft by 2000rpm (plus whatever it slowed down by while you were shifting, so if you are slow possibly 6000rpm). That is asking a lot.

As far as I am concerned this is the very reason for double clutching, by rev matching before you select the gear you save the synchro's from having to match the input shaft speed for you and will prolong the life of your transmission.

 

+1 For rev matching, should be done anyways.

Might be your clutch not disengaging properly.

Double clutching is used to synchronize the input and output shaft of the trans.
You might be able to use it as a workaround but you should get the clutch/trans inspected.

On daily driven base it is not absolutely necessary to use double clutching but it can come handy.

I use heel toe all the time for downshifts with braking, for everything else rev matching.

I experimented alot with shifting on the FC NA trans and its a pleasure, its gives you a nice feedback, I like it.

If you might want to look further I can recommend "Going faster - Mastering the art of race driving" from Bentley Publishers.
Entire chapter on shifting, plenty of input.
If you love driving you will love that book =)

Steven

 

this is a good thread for all beginers!! no point in having a awesome car if you cant use it!

 

Exactly, think about the weight balance, proper shifting methods, braking and the nice rev lovely engine.

You wont get the same from another car for the same amount of cash.
Impressive.

 

If you heel & toe, it works well....usually + it saves you a clutch kick....but you obviously cant use it all the time.

i always thought it would be a bad synchro that causes these problems.