whats the deal with double-clutching?

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Nov 24, 2002 | 11:09 PM
  #1  
I'm a little confused... I was watching The Fast and The Furious the other day and after the first drag-race at night Vin says something like: "You're granny-shifting and not double-clutching like you should..."

I was under the impression double-clutching describes blipping the gas while down-shifting so your clutch slides in easier and doesn't wear out. I know it's probably just the artistic license that the filmakers took when making the movie but if I'm wrong and "double-clutching" means something different let me know.

-mike
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Nov 24, 2002 | 11:50 PM
  #2  
for downshifting (say 4-3), starting in 4th, double clutching is clutching in shifting to neutral, clutching out, clutching in, shifting to 3rd, clutching out.

i think it was for cars that didn't have a good synchros, but you don't really need to do that with more modern cars.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 12:12 AM
  #3  
yes, double-clutching is usless nowadays
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Nov 25, 2002 | 05:37 AM
  #4  
so it's assumed then that he swapped the tranny out on his eclipse for some 35 year old synchros
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Nov 25, 2002 | 06:29 AM
  #5  
they also use MOSHIMOTO TIRES ... whatever those are ... and double clutching might help with all that NAWWWWWs he was using ... fast and the furious = dumbest movie ever ... cool cars tho
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Nov 25, 2002 | 06:38 AM
  #6  
It's because of his new ultra-super-crazy-silly-fresh short throw shifter. It's so short that the throw is only 1cm long. The catch is, you have to double-clutch every shift because the synchros can't catch up.

But your Eclipse isn't truly hopped up until you get one. Official replicas are on sale on eBay for $5000 a piece.

I wouldn't ever admit to a forum like this that I asked a question because I was thinking about what Vin Diesel said on the FnF.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 07:13 AM
  #7  
I understand the purpose of double clutching, but I never figure out why you have to clutch twice. Can't you just clutch in, shift to neutral with the clutch still in, rev match, shift to the next gear, and clutch out? I rev match while I drive, but I definitely don't feel a need to double clutch.
-hype
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Nov 25, 2002 | 07:33 AM
  #8  
If the gears your attempting to put together aren't spinning at the same RPM, then your going to hear grinding. Syncronizers match gear speed to eleviate this condition. Way back in the day, they used to make manual trannies without syncros. Hence the need for double clutching. They haven't made trannies like that since the early 50's if I remember correctly. As for outshifting the syncros on an Eclipse, it seems to me if you have to take the time to double clutch because your shifting too fast for the syncros to keep up, doesn't it make a short shifter a wasted effort? Just my .02.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 07:33 AM
  #9  
They say that it's easier on the clutch itself....

THEY say, not me.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 07:38 AM
  #10  
ok I can't make this sound technical at all so here goes....

In neutral when you let the clutch out, the clutch engages, and the "drive shaft" (don't know what to call it) starts spinning inside the transmission. The reason you let the clutch out and blip the throttle, and to speed up the "drive shaft" to match the higher revs that are required for the lower gear.

If its done right, the shift lever just falls right into gear without hessitation. I mastered it on my saab (because of shot synchros :P) and am close to mastering my maxima. You'll know when you do it right.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 09:33 AM
  #11  
Quote:
Originally posted by cscm094
ok I can't make this sound technical at all so here goes....

In neutral when you let the clutch out, the clutch engages, and the "drive shaft" (don't know what to call it) starts spinning inside the transmission. The reason you let the clutch out and blip the throttle, and to speed up the "drive shaft" to match the higher revs that are required for the lower gear.

If its done right, the shift lever just falls right into gear without hessitation. I mastered it on my saab (because of shot synchros :P) and am close to mastering my maxima. You'll know when you do it right.
"Drive Shaft" ==> Input Shaft to the Tranny.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 09:46 AM
  #12  
Here's everything you'll need to know about shifting:

http://playground.sun.com/greg/


Dave
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Nov 25, 2002 | 09:47 AM
  #13  
Yep, double clutching makes shifting much smoother because the synchros don't have to work as hard. It's necessary on racing transmissions probably because synchros cause some percentage of power loss through the transmission and so are removed.

-Gambit
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Nov 25, 2002 | 09:49 AM
  #14  
Double-clutching would be used “nowadays” to save the synchros and prevent lurch on a down shift.

Useless in racing in a straight line – meaning, as it pertains to the scene in the movie.

Here is a good article that explains when it is a good idea, the benefits, and when it is a waste of time.

http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-ar...rticle_id=3249
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Nov 25, 2002 | 10:13 AM
  #15  
ES???
Dev, in your sig, it says your max is an ES. Just thought I'd let you know!

Brian

My Maxima Page

Quote:
"Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin!"
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Nov 25, 2002 | 10:48 AM
  #16  
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave B
Here's everything you'll need to know about shifting:

http://playground.sun.com/greg/


Dave
Oh my. I think I want an M5. Reeeallly bad.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 11:19 AM
  #17  
I have to double-clutch sometimes in my car when i'm trying to shift into 3rd. I have a shortshifter and gettin into 3rd can be a ***** sometimes. I need MT-90 real bad.
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Nov 25, 2002 | 07:22 PM
  #18  
vin's not so bad...
ok so i wasn't taking vin seriously... and i don't think he's as bad (ok bad, but not terrible) an actor as the critics say... thanks for all the info

-mike
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Nov 25, 2002 | 08:36 PM
  #19  
Re: ES???
Quote:
Originally posted by 92vemaxse
Dev, in your sig, it says your max is an ES. Just thought I'd let you know!

Brian

My Maxima Page

canadian model
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Nov 25, 2002 | 09:03 PM
  #20  
Good site Dave, thanks.
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