The Ford Barn

chris_m78 · 08-21-2016, 03:34 PM

I've gotten Dad's 29 tudor out that has been sitting for the last 3 years. I've changed all the fluids and greased everything to start driving it. I've mastered double clutching to go up through the gears, but cannot downshift for the live of me. I try double clutching, and also feather the throttle and cannot get it to go from 3rd to 2nd until I'm almost stopped. What am I doing wrong? I am running the 600w oil in the tranny from mikes afordable. Thanks.

Patrick L. · 08-21-2016, 03:56 PM

Double clutching is OK for upshifts, but, really not needed. Just take your time, slow down and it'll upshift just fine.

Downshifts are a bit different as you have found. Just push in the clutch, push lever from 3rd to neutral, raise engine speed and hold that engine speed, let out clutch, push clutch back in, easily slip lever into 2nd, let clutch out. You'll probably need to raise the engine speed more than you first think.

Practice makes perfect.

Lycoming-8 · 08-21-2016, 03:58 PM

Back when I used my '29 coupe as a daily driver, I had to make a hard (more than 90*) right turn off of a fast moving 4-lane to a narrow 2-lane. Almost all of the time, there was another car waiting to get onto the 4-lane. The way I did the down-shift from 3 to 2 was to let off the gas and push in the clutch and then push the shifter shifter into neutral. Let out the clutch and then I would rev the engine with the hand throttle, all the while steering around the corner and trying to brake some as well. Then as soon as I could get the right hand from the throttle to the shifter I would push in the clutch and move the shifter up to second gear. Finally let out the clutch and add gas as needed. Never did badly, but got to where there was no noise or grinding of any kind. Give it a try.

mshmodela · 08-21-2016, 04:07 PM

I would take the car as slow in 3rd as you can then, push in the clutch, shift it to neutral, let the clutch out, tap the accelerater, push in the clutch, then shift to 2nd and let the clutch out.. The amount of gas and speed as "guesses".. By taking it slow, you should be close...

Remember, this is learning to shift a non-synchronized transmission so it's learning all over again..

daveymc29 · 08-21-2016, 04:11 PM

Have someone from a Model A club drive your car. Perhaps there is a problem with your clutch adjustment. If that is okay, have the person watch as you demonstrate your procedure. A minor tweak may be all it takes. I was teaching a chap to drive a AA truck that drove beautifully. He ground the gears and I couldn't seem to impress on him that double clutching isn't stabbing the clutch pedal to the floor twice and then cramming the shifter into the next gear. On upshifts you need to pause with the pedal down while the gears slow down so they will slide together. On a down shift it is reversed, you shift into neutral, rev the engine to a bit above the speed it will be tuning when in the lower gear, immediately put the clutch peddle in and shift to the next lower gear. It is a two footed and one arm maneuver and getting the timing correct take a few attempts for most of us. I have found that none of my three cars all shift alike, but I have to treat each as it likes best.

saladbar · 08-21-2016, 04:39 PM

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Hi just get a old truck driver I drove truck a long time and when I got my model a had no trouble at all John

modelAtony · 08-21-2016, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_m78

I've gotten Dad's 29 tudor out that has been sitting for the last 3 years. I've changed all the fluids and greased everything to start driving it. I've mastered double clutching to go up through the gears, but cannot downshift for the live of me. I try double clutching, and also feather the throttle and cannot get it to go from 3rd to 2nd until I'm almost stopped. What am I doing wrong? I am running the 600w oil in the tranny from mikes afordable. Thanks.

YOU WILL ALSO BE BETTER IF YOU DON'T SHIFT INTO 2 ND at speeds over 15 mph, if your running gear is orig. gearing. just practice. Have fun model A tony tony white Lafayette, LA

chl · 08-21-2016, 05:20 PM

you must rev the motor while tranny is in neutral and the clutch is OUT, if the clutch is in when you rev it doesn't work.

Synchro909 · 08-21-2016, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modelAtony

YOU WILL ALSO BE BETTER IF YOU DON'T SHIFT INTO 2 ND at speeds over 15 mph, if your running gear is orig. gearing. just practice. Have fun model A tony tony white Lafayette, LA

I go along with this and as you get the hang of it, you will be able to shift at higher speeds. If you listen to the motor at say, 20mph in second, that is at least the number of revs the motor should be doing when you try to engage second. You will have to rev it higher than that as it will loose revs quickly while you press the clutch again and shift the lever. Practice, practice, practice.

TerryH · 08-21-2016, 10:58 PM

There is a big gap in the gear ratios from 3rd to 2nd......most folks do not rev the engine fast enough when down shifting, and the faster you are going, the higher the revs or blip of the throttle needs to be. Practice makes perfect & you will soon get the hang of it.

Jacksonlll · 08-22-2016, 06:13 AM

Here is how I do it. jack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZ7NZLpewI

Charlville · 08-22-2016, 06:31 AM

Agree with all here, just to share my experience, I've found that trying to change down 3rd to 2nd at anyhing much above 10 - 15 mph produces a bit of a crunch fest. Take away for me is to respect your elders she's not a modern car

BILL WILLIAMSON · 08-22-2016, 08:32 AM

Just put a little Kid in your car & listen, as he "downshifts"--Mimic what he does & you can become a MASTER!
I could downshift Minerva from high to second @ 30 to 35, without a whisper. Chief taught me this, at an early age.
WARNING: Be SURE to master down shifting, before doing STEEP hills/mountains!!!
Bill W.

Patrick L. · 08-22-2016, 09:10 AM

I love this forum, 12 responses saying basically the same thing.

COOTER · 08-22-2016, 11:16 AM

But all began typing at the same time. Some are just quicker than others.

Patrick L. · 08-22-2016, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COOTER

But all began typing at the same time. Some are just quicker than others.

OH, OK. Makes sense. And to think I'm a one finger typer.

BN · 08-22-2016, 12:55 PM

The trick is - when reving up the engine in neutral with the clutch out, the RPM of the engine needs to be approximately the same as it would be in 2nd when going at said vehicle speed. Comes only with lots of practice and getting a feel for your vehicle. Same is true for shifting from 2nd to 1st.

zzlegend · 08-22-2016, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

I love this forum, 12 responses saying basically the same thing.

Make that 13

Smurkey · 08-22-2016, 09:22 PM

I use the hand throttle, 'cause I'm usually on the brake at that time too...

08-21-2016, 03:34 PM	#1
chris_m78 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 3	Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd I've gotten Dad's 29 tudor out that has been sitting for the last 3 years. I've changed all the fluids and greased everything to start driving it. I've mastered double clutching to go up through the gears, but cannot downshift for the live of me. I try double clutching, and also feather the throttle and cannot get it to go from 3rd to 2nd until I'm almost stopped. What am I doing wrong? I am running the 600w oil in the tranny from mikes afordable. Thanks.

08-21-2016, 03:56 PM	#2
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd Double clutching is OK for upshifts, but, really not needed. Just take your time, slow down and it'll upshift just fine. Downshifts are a bit different as you have found. Just push in the clutch, push lever from 3rd to neutral, raise engine speed and hold that engine speed, let out clutch, push clutch back in, easily slip lever into 2nd, let clutch out. You'll probably need to raise the engine speed more than you first think. Practice makes perfect.

08-21-2016, 03:58 PM	#3
Lycoming-8 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 76	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd Back when I used my '29 coupe as a daily driver, I had to make a hard (more than 90*) right turn off of a fast moving 4-lane to a narrow 2-lane. Almost all of the time, there was another car waiting to get onto the 4-lane. The way I did the down-shift from 3 to 2 was to let off the gas and push in the clutch and then push the shifter shifter into neutral. Let out the clutch and then I would rev the engine with the hand throttle, all the while steering around the corner and trying to brake some as well. Then as soon as I could get the right hand from the throttle to the shifter I would push in the clutch and move the shifter up to second gear. Finally let out the clutch and add gas as needed. Never did badly, but got to where there was no noise or grinding of any kind. Give it a try.

08-21-2016, 04:07 PM	#4
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd I would take the car as slow in 3rd as you can then, push in the clutch, shift it to neutral, let the clutch out, tap the accelerater, push in the clutch, then shift to 2nd and let the clutch out.. The amount of gas and speed as "guesses".. By taking it slow, you should be close... Remember, this is learning to shift a non-synchronized transmission so it's learning all over again.. __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio Last edited by mshmodela; 08-21-2016 at 04:12 PM.

08-21-2016, 04:11 PM	#5
daveymc29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,553	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd Have someone from a Model A club drive your car. Perhaps there is a problem with your clutch adjustment. If that is okay, have the person watch as you demonstrate your procedure. A minor tweak may be all it takes. I was teaching a chap to drive a AA truck that drove beautifully. He ground the gears and I couldn't seem to impress on him that double clutching isn't stabbing the clutch pedal to the floor twice and then cramming the shifter into the next gear. On upshifts you need to pause with the pedal down while the gears slow down so they will slide together. On a down shift it is reversed, you shift into neutral, rev the engine to a bit above the speed it will be tuning when in the lower gear, immediately put the clutch peddle in and shift to the next lower gear. It is a two footed and one arm maneuver and getting the timing correct take a few attempts for most of us. I have found that none of my three cars all shift alike, but I have to treat each as it likes best.

08-21-2016, 04:39 PM	#6
saladbar Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Lincoln,CA Posts: 29	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Hi just get a old truck driver I drove truck a long time and when I got my model a had no trouble at all John

08-21-2016, 05:20 PM	#8
chl Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Nicholson, Pa. Posts: 84	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd you must rev the motor while tranny is in neutral and the clutch is OUT, if the clutch is in when you rev it doesn't work.

08-21-2016, 10:58 PM	#10
TerryH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fountain Valley, Calif. Posts: 937	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd There is a big gap in the gear ratios from 3rd to 2nd......most folks do not rev the engine fast enough when down shifting, and the faster you are going, the higher the revs or blip of the throttle needs to be. Practice makes perfect & you will soon get the hang of it.

08-22-2016, 06:13 AM	#11
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd Here is how I do it. jack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZ7NZLpewI

08-22-2016, 06:31 AM	#12
Charlville Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: West Berkshire, United Kingdom Posts: 368	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd Agree with all here, just to share my experience, I've found that trying to change down 3rd to 2nd at anyhing much above 10 - 15 mph produces a bit of a crunch fest. Take away for me is to respect your elders she's not a modern car __________________ Kevin Flood West Berkshire UK Member MAFCGB, VHRA, SAH, Brooklands Trust Sporadic progress on My 1929 Sport Coupe can be found here along with my blog http://automotiveamerican.com/

08-22-2016, 08:32 AM	#13
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd Just put a little Kid in your car & listen, as he "downshifts"--Mimic what he does & you can become a MASTER! I could downshift Minerva from high to second @ 30 to 35, without a whisper. Chief taught me this, at an early age. WARNING: Be SURE to master down shifting, before doing STEEP hills/mountains!!! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 08-22-2016 at 09:15 AM.

08-22-2016, 09:10 AM	#14
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd I love this forum, 12 responses saying basically the same thing.

08-22-2016, 11:16 AM	#15
COOTER Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ontario, CA Posts: 187	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd But all began typing at the same time. Some are just quicker than others.

08-22-2016, 12:55 PM	#17
BN Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 114	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd The trick is - when reving up the engine in neutral with the clutch out, the RPM of the engine needs to be approximately the same as it would be in 2nd when going at said vehicle speed. Comes only with lots of practice and getting a feel for your vehicle. Same is true for shifting from 2nd to 1st. __________________ Bill Newland

08-22-2016, 09:22 PM	#19
Smurkey Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Esko, MN Posts: 257	Re: Downshifting from 3rd to 2nd I use the hand throttle, 'cause I'm usually on the brake at that time too...