Transmission

[phanamlady]

New member question.I have a 1931 ford coupe that has to be double clutched to shift through the gears.Is this normal for 1931,or is the transmission faulty

[MikeK]

All Model A transmissions are non-synchro. Welcome to the forum!

[31Abone]

No its not normal..clutch dragging ,check lube

[Patrick L.]

You shouldn't have to double clutch the upshifts if, the correct oil is in the transmission and if you're patient enough while shifting. Just take your time and it will slide right into the next gear.
Downshifts are a different animal. They require double clutching. Usually until you get used to it the problem is not enough engine speed just before sliding it into second.
Don't try shifting from 2 to 1 for awhile, come to a complete stop. Once you figure out the 3-2 shift then the 2-1 can be tried. This requires even more engine speed.

[Mitch//pa]

your probably shifting to late and make sure your idle is low ///proper oil in trans

shift at 6 & 12 mph
6 is basically crossing the intersection and 12 is 6 more mph past 6 ..lol
i never need to double clutch

[Patrick L.]

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Thats a good point. I forget that some folks at first try shifting at too fast a speed. They're too used to these new-fangled cars.

[phanamlady]

Thank you all for your help.

[Mitch//pa]

yea my future son inlaw has a stick vette. they were up visting sat from FL... i threw him in one of my cars and thought he was going to blow the axle keys out of it..after a few times around the block i then followed him in lucy... he'll never forget that ...

[Mitch//pa]

another

[mhsprecher]

My two cars shift differently, but Mitch is pretty much on the money. I have read lots about how we should not lug our engines and in 3rd at 12, how do we avoid that?

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by mhsprecher

My two cars shift differently, but Mitch is pretty much on the money. I have read lots about how we should not lug our engines and in 3rd at 12, how do we avoid that?

i dont feel being in 3rd at 12 is lugging..
i also feel lugging and ruining the motor is an overeaction

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by phanamlady

New member question.I have a 1931 ford coupe that has to be double clutched to shift through the gears.Is this normal for 1931,or is the transmission faulty

Don't over-rev your engine and gears. Shift 1->2 at about 8-10 mph; 2->3 at about 12-15 mph. Listen to your car. Be patient. You'll learn where the right speed is for you. I disagree with 31 A Bone. This is normal for the Model A trans. I've been driving them for 54 years and I still double clutch once in a while, depending on the driving conditions.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I find double clutching easier than trying to time the slowdown between shifts. For someone new to Model A's I would recommend double clutching.

Some guys have even said they can shift gears without using the clutch at all, once the car is moving. I've done that on my motorcycle, but it's harder with sliding gears, and it's also a good way to chip or break teeth off the gears.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I've done that on my motorcycle...

Haha, that's because most motorcycles have constant mesh gears and your only engaging shifting "dogs" on the sliding gears.

[ryanheacox]

I was never really taught how to drive an A, I just watched my grandfather and one day I took it out on my own. That being said, I picked it up pretty quickly. He always double clutched up and down so I do too. Once you understand the physics behind it, you realize that double clutching is only really necessary on downshifting but doing it both ways won't hurt anything.

What really matters on a stock trans, it seems, is that you shift slowly and deliberately. AND gently, there aren't any synchros to help out after all.

I know on my car at least, I shift into second almost instantly, no more than 5MPH. Then, I shift into third a little later than most of the other guys it seems, around 20. From what I remember, the torque peaks at 1000RPM which is right around 20 in third so that's where I try to shift for the 'fastest pickup' so to speak. You can shift at lower speeds, it shouldn't be a problem. If the Model A engine has one thing going for it, it's low end, stump pulling torque.

[ian Simpson]

I learnt to drive in a 1927 Austin and was firmly told to double declutch up and down. Still do every time I drive ANY vehicle with a manual transmission, with one exception noted below.

Even vehicles with fully synchronised transmissions can benefit by reduced wear.

As for shifting without a clutch, we do it all the time on the farm grain trucks. Dunno why, maybe cos we can?

Ian

[RonC]

Double clutching

http://youtu.be/oMeHUTw9jkk

[100IH]

One more point to consider, The lube in the trans needs to be something akin to the old 600 "viscosity". It is very thick and unlike other lubes used in anything since WWII. The venders have it. Local oil distributors sell something called steam cylinder oil. Unfortunately only in 5 gal quantities. The same thick lube is used in the rear axle and, when in the trans. it makes a world if difference in the ease of shifting. Do a search here for 600 oil to find opinions on what others are to duplicate the original. 90 - 140 just will make shifting more difficult and damaging to the gearbox. Also adding STP isn't the way to go.

[mshmodela]

This video may help:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZ7NZLpewI

or

this site:

http://modelabasics.com/Starting%20&%20Driving.htm


As a newbie myself, I learned that these cars move slow, and shift slow --they are old ladies and take your time in shifting... It will take time to learn the double clutching.... I also had to lower my engine's idle rpm --big help too..

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by ian Simpson

Even vehicles with fully synchronised transmissions can benefit by reduced wear.


Ian

this is true, my s10 feels like it shifts much happier if i slowly change gears, get to about 10 in 1st, clutch in, slowly drag shifter down and it kind of just pops into gear easily, same with the chevette. both are able to power shift thru the gears by matching RPM to road speed and it just slides in but there is narrow window it will let you.

When i borrowed the neighbors dodge ram 6 speed with a cummins i was not informed the 2-3 synchro and 4-5 synchros were non existant lol. got used to letting the RPM fall where it would just slip in.