no clutching, clutching, double clutching - tractors vs. all other vehicles

That is the reason

 

It's kind of pointless to use the clutch in a big rig other than getting it rolling. The mechanics will appreciate it also.

 

I'll tell you this not all synchroed transmissions are created equal. a synced trans can let ALMOST anyone shift without using the clutch if it was made right.
Now If you have a trans that is synced and they get worn from ABUSE bad it is hard to shift and stay in gear for almost anyone.
Also in smaller vehicles, if the trans was designed NOT in north america, or Europe. It can be hard to shift without the clutch no matter what.
Mazda (Japan)5 speed trans came in F150s for years these were very hard to shift without the clutch. The ZF (german) 5 and 6 speeds used in F250s and larger trucks were sweet and smooth shifting without the clutch.

 

how long did you take to learn this way of driving? is it something that take time or pretty fast to pick up.

 

It's easy to learn,takes practice and learning to hear your rpms,but no-one is perfect.

 

Upshifting by floating (not using the clutch) is really easy to learn as long as you have good timing. Once you are out of gear you just have to wait for the RPM to come down. Normally that time is spent pushing the clutch in again when double clutching, but with floating you just have to wait it out. Downshifting is a bit trickier since once you are in neutral you have to raise the RPM of the engine to match the two sides of the tranny so they mesh properly. One trick I was taught was to give the stick a slight bit of pressure into the gear you are shifting down to. This way you'll feel the tranny bumping but won't actually be grinding the gears. Once the RPM are high enough it should just drop right in.

 

It don't take long. I don't even realize I do it until I hear someone talking about it. I never knew it was called floating until a few years ago and I've been driving for years. It's easier than walking IMO

 

I learned to drive on a farm tractor. Once you were at 10 MPH and not on a hill I did not use the clutch. If I had a heavy load I would #### on high/low; it was hard to float 2 gears with a level throttle.


I had one Ford I had to use the clutch, but the beater was $500 and it would get me form A to B.


I mostly owned Toyota's and they would float.

 

I use the clutch.
I worked for an outfit and the owner of the trucks wanted the gears floated. Since it was his truck, I did but on any other truck, especially my own, I use the clutch. Eaton has information about transmissions and floating gears. It is not recommended by the manufacturers.