gtbbaby

Hey guys,

Have a '98 'vert with manual tranny - having problems with left knee and I've been putting trans in neutral without using clutch when slowing down. From my limited knowledge I don't think I'm hurting anything but just want to be sure.Any input would be appreciated. Thanx in advance.

Z06ufgrad2002

No, you're not hurting anything by doing that. Hope the knee gets better.

Zr-1Mike00

Shifting CAN be done without the clutch but is not advised/good for the tranny. But into neutral shouldn't be a problem.

Hope the knee gets better! I know the feeling.... Sucks

bj1k

Taking out of gear not a problem , but when you stop you have to start out again , Still need to use the clutch . THATS A PROBLEM ! This question does not even make sense !

Zr-1Mike00

dba4life

Kinda sad that I never knew you could safely go from in gear to neutral without using the clutch...

TB1300

I also sometimes shift into neutral without the clutch. It doesn't hurt anything, as long as the car has slowed down to the point where the engine rpm is at idle speed. At that point it shifts into neutral as easily as it does if the clutch is used.

If you do this when the engine speed is higher than idle, then it takes a lot more force to move the shifter into neutral. I avoid this. I suspect this could lead to dogs, or other transmission parts getting rounded off. It would probably take a lot of cycles before this would cause any real damage, but I avoid it anyway. If you are forcing it, you probably are not doing the transmission any favors.

gtbbaby

yes, but I'm reducing my "knee" useage by at least 25% ............ every little bit helps - and I don't want to go to an auto thanks.

gtbbaby

Good point, I'll keep an eye on the Tac - thanks.

Suthunman

The point where it is easiest to do is not necessarily at idle. It depends on how fast you are going and which gear you are in. It's easiest at the point where there is no load on the transmission. The rpm of the engine is neither accelerating or decelerating the car. My explanation makes perfect sense to me.....not so sure it will anyone else.

o2bnkc

That's the sign of a good truck driver when you can shift without using the clutch, but it sure is a pain when your clutch goes out and you have multiple red lights! Been there, done that.

Blue 92

I've had to drive more delivery trucks (14' step vans) from one side of the city to the other through traffic without a working clutch more times than I care to think about.

Learning to match the engine RPM and vehicle speed isn't that bad after you've done it for a while.

Coming to a complete stop and starting out again in traffics is the only real issue.

That's when you hope the battery is good and the engine tuned for an easy start.

baxsom

Its like the road course bike I used to own, you could go all the way up the gears without the clutch but had to use it to go back down. Just load the pedal and back off the throttle and it slips right in.

o2bnkc

gtbbaby

Thanks for all the info gentlemen ........ but I'm still shifting with the clutch, it's just that I thought I could save wear & tear on my knee as I come up to a stop sign/red light-pull shifter without clutch into neutral-and coast/brake as I approach stop sign/red light. From all your opinions it looks like I'm not doing any damage to tranny. I never down shift ...... brakes are cheaper to replace than the clutch.

gtbbaby

duh! Of course everyone knows you have to use clutch when upshifting - either you can't comprehend English or maybe a little short in the IQ dept. ?

Johnz02Z06

It is best to pull it out of gear with low-no load on the trans...to lightly pull on the shifter as you decelerate until it comes out of gear by. On an old truck I had a clutch failure and had to drive home with an engaged clutch (pressure plate failure). Had to start it in gear at every stop and RPM match to shift