Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 6speed shifting w/o the clutch

[JNeiman]

I have taught myself to be pretty good now with the 6 speed. I can shift all the gears without the clutch by matching the rpms and downshift through a few of them too without any trouble. Is this bad for the transmission in any way? I know they do it all the time in heavy trucks. What about when towing? Anyone else drive like this?

 

[MKresch]

i drive my truck without the clutch. but i also drive a big truck. if you can shift smoothly it will be fine.

 

[WadePatton]

NO

This has been covered a few times. Yes I like to show out by sticking my left foot out the window and going through the box --BUT even doing it without grinding wears on the internals of the NV5600 and it can cause accelerated wear and expensive repairs.



OTR-type trucks use different style gears.



That's about as short and simple as I can repeat it.

 

[A Johnson]

Yep I do it all the time, I hate my 4 speed in my Ford so I figured a semiautomatic was a good comprimise. Now it won't stay in 3rd gear on a hard pull. I won't be doing it after my transmission rebuild.



A Johnson

 

[dieselluver]

Don't do it unless you like replacing the synchronizers in your transmission. When you do shift without the clutch, the syncro's are trying to change the speed of your vehicle to match up the gear speeds- in other words it wears them out quickly. Trucks with Eatons or what have you use a different style of gear and they don't have syncro's. I'm not a transmission tech, but I can attest that speed shifting will wear them out - I had a chebby with a junk transmission.



Ryan

CAT Diesel Tech

 

[RustyJC]

The NV4500 and NV5600 are fully synchronized transmissions in the forward gears. OTR 18 wheelers use non-synchronized transmissions. Two completely different animals, designed to be driven in two completely different ways.



It's your transmission and your money, so shift clutchless if you wish. Just set some money back for a very early transmission rebuild.



Rusty

 

[24Vpirate]

it seems to me if you are shifting with no clutch and no grinding then it wouldnt be a problem?i thought the reason it wasnt grinding was you got the syncros at the right speed and thats what allows for smooth shifting without the clutch?

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by 24V pirate

it seems to me if you are shifting with no clutch and no grinding then it wouldnt be a problem?i thought the reason it wasnt grinding was you got the syncros at the right speed and thats what allows for smooth shifting without the clutch?

If it's not grinding, that merely means that the shifts are being made within the operating range of the synchronizers. The balk rings are still having to accelerate or decelerate the rotating mass of the engine, flywheel, pressure plate, clutch disc, input shaft, etc. to match the road/output shaft speed at each shift. Just because it's not grinding doesn't mean that the synchronizer isn't having to do work that it was never designed to do.



Rusty

 

[SHobbs]

i got to chime in

as far as shifting without the clutch or floating it as I call it. I have had 5 trucks all of them manual. I have always floated everyone of them. I had a 90 model furd and floated it for 240000 and the only problem I had was the throw out bearing. I replaced it and turned the flywheel put everything back in and away I went and the factory clutch lasted for another 10000. I change the fluid in my transmission every 30000 always have. As far as I see it if you aint grinding it go for it. My last 2 trucks have been CTD's and I have always floated them, clutch is only used to launch. I guess only time will tell as far as the synchro's go, but till then I keep floating it always have always will. Just my cents worth

 

[illflem]

My big question is WHY?

Do some of you guys only have one leg?

 

[WadePatton]

Actually I had to learn how the hard way back before dirt. Long story, but I lost the clutch rod while driving my 1974 F100 3-onna-tree, at the ripe old age of 16 or 17. I learned clutchless shifting fairly quickly. Had to shut it off for full stops. I consider it practice--if I do it and I don't much anymore.



NOW if I would quit blipping the throttle between gears (like I'm floating) I'd probably break 20MPG more often.