I have this compulsive habit when I drive. Any time I shift into 1st, I always go into second first. Like if I'm sitting at a stop light in neutral, I'll go 2nd-1st and go. I do it without thinking about it in all sorts of situations. Is there any thing wrong with doing this? I figure I'm wearing out some linkages, but not doing any real damage. Does anyone else do this?
I shift into 2nd before reverse in my truck but that's mostly cause it doesn't like reverse otherwise. Something about shift forks aligning or whatever.
I fell into the habit when driving my Sprite. The non-synchro first gear had a lot to do with that.
If you ever have trouble getting a tranny in gear they tell you to put the shifter in 2nd to align the synchros. I don't know if that's BS or what but if it's true then you're doing the right thing.
Second gear synchros tend to get less wear, and have more leverage on the spinning parts, so if you have a cantankerous trans it can help
Was the only way to get the f150 moving when the throwout bearing bit it. Which it did about three separate times in 125k miles.
I have found 2nd to be the first gear to fail in neons. I'm willing to give credit to "Hard" 1-2 shifts...
I do the same thing, the habit started when I was driving 020 equipped VW's which usually had difficult and grumpy first gears.
I do it too. I wasn't really sure why it had become a habit, until I read ansonivan's post.
Me too.
It started way back with my father's '64 Chevy truck, with it's three-on-the-tree and non-synchro first and reverse. It was the only way to get into first or reverse .The habit just stuck.
I never noticed any unusual wear to second gear, although I did notice when the frame broke in half at 40 mph.
On a not so related note, my friend just replaced synchros in his Dodge Dakota pickemup. The tranny tech asked if he kept his hand on the shifter once it was in 4th gear.
Yes.
That small amount of pressure obviously was enough to punish parts over time. I used to do it in 2nd gear, not anymore.
Dan
I know from years of driving fiat 124s.. I tend to avoid 2nd wherever possible. That always seemed to be the gear that went first in those cars
MG is fussy unless I do the 2nd to 1st bit
914Driver wrote: On a not so related note, my friend just replaced synchros in his Dodge Dakota pickemup. The tranny tech asked if he kept his hand on the shifter once it was in 4th gear. Yes. That small amount of pressure obviously was enough to punish parts over time. I used to do it in 2nd gear, not anymore. Dan
Yep, I've been told by a few transmission guys that resting your hand on the shifter while driving is bad news. I've never heard any ill effects of shifting into 2nd before 1st though.
I got into that habit after getting my Spitfire and have used it in every manual car I drive. It is muscle memory now and I would have to make a concerted effort not to do it.
Shouldn't rev matching reduce wear on the syncros to a minimum?
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