What is the gear shifting method for a car without a synchronizer?
2 Answers
Gear shifting method for a car without a synchronizer: 1. Whether upshifting or downshifting, first press the clutch once, return to neutral, release the clutch, press the clutch again, and then engage the desired gear; 2. Downshifting from a higher gear: press the clutch, disengage the gear, release the clutch, give a quick throttle blip, press the clutch again, and engage the lower gear. At this point, the speed of the driving gear after the RPM increase will approach that of the driven gear in the lower gear. The main function of a synchronizer is to match the speeds of the gears about to mesh, allowing smooth engagement. Simply put, the role of the synchronizer is to quickly synchronize the speed of the transmission's engagement sleeve with the gear ring to be meshed, reducing shift time and preventing gear clash before synchronization, resulting in smoother driving.
I've driven quite a few older vehicles without synchronizers, such as some trucks from the 1980s, where shifting gears required the double-clutching method to prevent gear grinding and damage to the transmission. The specific steps are: press the clutch pedal, shift the gear lever to the neutral position; release the clutch while gently pressing the accelerator to increase the engine speed, bringing it close to the required RPM for the target gear; then quickly press the clutch again and smoothly shift into the target gear. The whole process requires practice to get the feel right—it might be awkward at first, but with practice, the shifts become smooth. The key is to match the RPMs to avoid forcing the gear and causing a crunching sound. Driving such vehicles offers a purely mechanical driving pleasure, reminding you to always pay attention to the vehicle's dynamics. I often advise friends to practice in an open area several times first to ensure safety.