Post by: alexdecker on June 27, 2023, 07:01:56 PM
Does anyone know what's actually best for these bikes? To shift gears when you reach around 4, 5 or 6.000 RPM? Also, when you do shift gear, do you rev up a little bit before releasing the clutch?
Post by: deltarider on June 27, 2023, 07:37:25 PM
Post by: Oddjob on June 27, 2023, 07:44:45 PM
Upshifts around 7000 when I was trashing about, most times just as it touched the red band.
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on June 27, 2023, 07:45:07 PM
Only thing I can think of is to try and match the drop in engine speed by slightly prolonging the time the clutch lever is held in.
I might be talking crap here - in my youth I never bothered with operating the clutch lever I just stamped on the lever.
Post by: Oddjob on June 27, 2023, 07:53:42 PM
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on June 27, 2023, 10:25:15 PM
I learnt to drive using the double declutching method, it's so ingrained that even now I do it. It's not for the clutch at all Ted, it's so the 2 gear shafts come into synchronisation, the one connected to the drive wheels is going at a different speed to the other and the gears will graunch if you try and select gear until the 2 speeds match, eventually they came up with synchromesh gears where a small ring inside the gear stopped the gear allowing it to engage at any speed. On a bike on the downshift you need to make the mainshaft match the countershaft speed and the easiest way is to blip the throttle and change gear just when you judge the speeds are close to each other, when the clutch is released the sudden speed change in the countershaft then doesn't lock the rear wheel up or make it skip sideways.
Hey Ken I've driven early Beetles with a full crash gearbox - no synchromesh iirc in any gear never mind about just first gear on early pudding stick Minis. 8) 8) 8)
Post by: Laverdaroo on June 27, 2023, 11:15:52 PM
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on June 27, 2023, 11:33:59 PM
Post by: Oddjob on June 28, 2023, 12:34:14 AM
Post by: davidcumbria on June 28, 2023, 07:56:31 AM
Post by: Laverdaroo on June 28, 2023, 11:17:31 AM
I learnt to double declutch on a Leyland PD1 double decker bus, gearstick was a yard long, 3/4” solid steel bar with a solid steel snooker ball on the top, to get from 1st to 2nd on a hill start we did what we called a snatch, you pulled back on the gearstick so hard it started to bend, then you released the accelerator whilst dipping the clutch at the same time and the gear lever would suddenly shoot back and the gears would engage so fast they didn’t have time to complain about it. My left leg was highly muscled from the really heavy clutch the buses had at that time. No power anything, vacuum brakes not air, even the windscreen wiper was air operated. There are some pics for sale on eBay we me driving and some with me as a conductor.
Blakey ;D ;D ;D
;)
Post by: K2-K6 on June 28, 2023, 11:48:09 AM
I learnt to double declutch on a Leyland PD1 double decker bus, gearstick was a yard long, 3/4” solid steel bar with a solid steel snooker ball on the top, to get from 1st to 2nd on a hill start we did what we called a snatch, you pulled back on the gearstick so hard it started to bend, then you released the accelerator whilst dipping the clutch at the same time and the gear lever would suddenly shoot back and the gears would engage so fast they didn’t have time to complain about it. My left leg was highly muscled from the really heavy clutch the buses had at that time. No power anything, vacuum brakes not air, even the windscreen wiper was air operated. There are some pics for sale on eBay we me driving and some with me as a conductor.
Blakey ;D ;D ;D
;)
;D ;D ;D
Post by: Oddjob on June 28, 2023, 02:03:38 PM
Post by: taysidedragon on June 28, 2023, 04:29:36 PM
Changing down is "normal" using the clutch and a blip of throttle to match revs. Clutch and chain adjustment has to be correct for smooth changes.
Post by: Laverdaroo on June 28, 2023, 09:38:33 PM
It was Butler (Reg Varney) who drove the bus, Blakey was the inspector. At least get it right when you're insulting me ;D ;D ;D ;DYeah I know but when you said conductor I had a mental image of the guy who played the conductor in the films etc and thought, I wonder if Ken’s got teeth like that?
Couldn’t remember his name but I remembered Blakey’s. Thought it would raise an answer anyway
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Post by: robvangulik on June 28, 2023, 10:14:51 PM
Post by: Laverdaroo on June 28, 2023, 10:17:46 PM
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Post by: Oddjob on June 28, 2023, 10:28:54 PM
That's a joke BTW, I still have all my own teeth, no falsies at all.
Post by: Laverdaroo on June 28, 2023, 10:45:23 PM
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Post by: K2-K6 on June 29, 2023, 10:55:29 AM
Ultimately the biggest influence on wear is poor oil condition, usually fuel diluted even if changed at correct mileage that is the primary cause of excess wear on all engines. Short runs and much choke will do far more damage than any revs will account for.
Changing gear, with throttles well adjusted etc, chain slack adjusted, and through normal acceleration/deceleration I never use the clutch. Its always smooth up or down with throttle blip to match speeds. Dog gear engagement (all bikes really) it makes no difference if you use the clutch or not to the action of gear selection assuming speed matched.
Slow traffic, around town etc I'll use the clutch to modulate as there's often not space to use consistency in throttles for acceleration and braking in matching other traffic.
Post by: alexdecker on June 30, 2023, 05:46:21 AM