Who shifts their car clutchless?

**Chefsp0t** · 11-16-09, 20:09

On the way home today I was bored and I started to teach myself how to shift without the clutch. It's much easier than I thought it would be. I have 2-3 shift and 3-4 shift as well as their downshift counterparts down pretty well now. I haven't tried 1-2 shift yet and 4-5 is just too low in rpms to bother with. 5th also tends to grind because it is a smaller gear (I guess). I was only going 40 when I tried doing it.

Are there any negative affects from doing this? It's not jerking or making bad sounds. I just slip it into neutral, rev the car lightly, and apply pressure on the stick until it pops into gear.

**4cylfun** · 11-16-09, 20:11

I did this for a week on the LX. I only was able to do 3-4 easily. the rest was kinda hard. Then i thought to myself the pedal is only a push away.

Without the clutch there's no longer a smooth transition from the engine to the input shaft. Going off that general knowledge its probably not good but i doubt it would f' it up anytime soon.

**mazdaboyracer** · 11-16-09, 20:25

It's called rev-matching and no it's not just for down shifting. At a certain RPM in each gear the synchros along with the gear match rotational speed and the shift fork can then be passed off into the corrosponding gear with out the clutch to disengage the engine. As long as it's smooth going in and out, meaning it's not catching on anything in the gearbox, then you should be ok. Although without proper equipment and training don't try doing it while hot footin' it. I have done this with the 6, but the gears didn't match up right for just driving around town. I also tried it at the track... and now I have a new tranny in the car!
Old school muscle car guys used to bevel down the gears and synchros to make 'dogboxes' or 'slapshifters' so they could rip through the gears clutchless. But it was different technology compared to a brand new car. You almost have to have a real dogbox to do it at speed these days.

**Chefsp0t** · 11-16-09, 20:32

I understand totally how it works. I was just wondering how many people actually try it. It seems like one of those things that people talk about but are scared of doing.

I only do it at cruising speed anyway. I feel like I have to use my clutch at 5k+ rpms.

**Looby** · 11-16-09, 20:43

from my understanding it doesnt do any immediate harm but in the long run if done constantly it can wear the transmission and make normal shifts harder.

sorry im just going from what im told im not 100% on this but i figured 2cents is better than no cents?...

**JoeyV** · 11-16-09, 20:45

I'm with you on this one Chris. I do it only at cruising speeds. When racing or driving spiritedly, I shift using the clutch. (when I'm driving someone else's manual car..._

**Chefsp0t** · 11-16-09, 20:45

Two cents is better than none for sure. I was just seeing what you guys thought about it. I was simply bored and wanted to give it a try.

Edit: Fail for Joey's autotragic FD.

**Fitzyb** · 11-16-09, 21:00

ive done it once or twice by accident, but unless i had a dogbox id be way to scared to do it often with my box. Alot of race drivers do it, but there boxs have to last one race and they can have a new one

**matt89glturbo** · 11-16-09, 21:05

I did for about a week when my clutch master exploded...it is really hard on the synchros, but if you're decent at it, everything else will be fine, I always had a hard time with the 2-1 downshift, but after a couple days like it I could do the other gear changes pretty good.

A few times I could time the throttle just right to where it felt like a normal shift, but couldn't do it regularly, but I bet it's easier with a stock fw, I had a fidanza installed at the time...

**Chefsp0t** · 11-16-09, 21:09

Haha, I am rethinking this new technique. At least if my trans decides to die it will be covered by Mazda if it happens in the next 6 years.

**matt89glturbo** · 11-16-09, 21:14

Just remember to not force it, if it doesn't go right it its not ready

**Chefsp0t** · 11-16-09, 21:18

It does slide right in when the rpms are exactly right. I was just holding a little pressure on it until I felt it kind of click and then it just slipped into gear. I would not want to try it at high speeds/rpms though.

**mazdaboyracer** · 11-16-09, 21:21

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't cover it Chef. They would tear it open and it would seem like you were banging on it (aka: racing = no warranty) They would void the coverage. Same thing happened to a friend's S2K, the clutch was slipping causing it to grind gears and even though he babies that thing, they voided it because he couldn't prove the clutch was slipping before the tranny went.

**midrange** · 11-16-09, 21:25

i always found 1 -2 in my mx6 easy to go clutchless.. but i could never ever get any other gear to find its hole in the mx6. .Then there has been other cars i've had where it was opposite.

My mx6 shifter bushings were shot. maybe that had something to do with it. i dunno. I should ask my dad, he drove trucks for years on the hwy and never used his clutch.

**Chefsp0t** · 11-16-09, 21:27

Did he buy his s2k brand new from the dealership and only have it maintained by them at all their recommended intervals?