How do you Downshift?
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Topic author - Posts: 37
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- First Name: John
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How do you Downshift?
I feel stupid...
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Re: How do you Downshift?
With a stock trans set-up, or with a Ruckstell, or a Warford or similar? Please specify.
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Topic author - Posts: 37
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Re: How do you Downshift?
With the stock transmission.
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Re: How do you Downshift?
When you slow down to about 10mph or less, mash down on the clutch pedal, at the same time advancing throttle and spark, just as you would starting from a stop.
Last edited by Humblej on Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How do you Downshift?
Simply depress the clutch pedal firmly and engage low gear. Thing is, you don’t want to do that unless you are moving no faster than you are when you normally shift from low to high. If you have a speedometer, note your speed on shifting up (usually around 10mph). If you don’t have one, it’s not difficult to learn your speed in transitions by “feel”. Practically everything about operating a Model T smoothly depends on learning “feel”.
Last edited by Rich Bingham on Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Get a horse !"
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Re: How do you Downshift?
When you begin to bog down in high, just let up on the gas and push the clutch pedal all the way down into low, then accelerate.
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Re: How do you Downshift?
If you have access to YouTube, Mitch Taylor has an excellent video, Driving a Model T from the Point of View of the driver. It does an excellent job. Since the Model T has no accelerator pedal to "let up on", the video may be more helpful than a verbal description.
Wayne Jorgensen, Batavia, IL
1915 Runabout
1918 Runabout
1915 Runabout
1918 Runabout
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Re: How do you Downshift?
You can practice getting a "feel" for where neutral is on the clutch pedal with the engine shut off and the car sitting still (on level ground, with a front wheel chocked if needed).
With the parking brake lever fully forward (transmission in high gear), press the clutch pedal down slowly. At first it will have some resistance, then the resistance will ease up somewhat. The "eased up" resistance means you are now in neutral.
If you then continue to press the pedal forward, at some point the resistance will increase again, meaning that you are tightening the low gear band onto the low gear drum. When in low gear, be sure to apply enough pressure on the clutch pedal so that you don't get slippage between the low band and the drum.
As others mentioned, it helps if you think about what the engine speed will be when you engage low gear and adjust the engine speed ahead of time with the trans in neutral. This will result in a smoother shift. Same thing going from low, through neutral, up to high gear, since the engine will be turning slower in high gear, back off the throttle while in neutral to let the engine decelerate before going into high. Once in high gear, you can move the throttle as needed to achieve the speed you want to go.
Practice makes perfect, good luck!
With the parking brake lever fully forward (transmission in high gear), press the clutch pedal down slowly. At first it will have some resistance, then the resistance will ease up somewhat. The "eased up" resistance means you are now in neutral.
If you then continue to press the pedal forward, at some point the resistance will increase again, meaning that you are tightening the low gear band onto the low gear drum. When in low gear, be sure to apply enough pressure on the clutch pedal so that you don't get slippage between the low band and the drum.
As others mentioned, it helps if you think about what the engine speed will be when you engage low gear and adjust the engine speed ahead of time with the trans in neutral. This will result in a smoother shift. Same thing going from low, through neutral, up to high gear, since the engine will be turning slower in high gear, back off the throttle while in neutral to let the engine decelerate before going into high. Once in high gear, you can move the throttle as needed to achieve the speed you want to go.
Practice makes perfect, good luck!
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)
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Re: How do you Downshift?
The idea here is to get the engine running as fast as it would be when you shift up from low to high. when you shift either up or down do not move the pedal very fast. The engine speed should be adjusted as you pass through neutral either up or down. You don't need to pause in neutral, but just be ready to adjust the throttle as you push the pedal down. You don't want to slam it into gear or you risk breaking some parts. Just do it gently. After you get into low if you are slowing down to stop, you push the gas up. However when you shift up from low to high you push up on the gas as you shift and then pull it down after it is in gear. Same thing when you shift up or down with Ruckstell.
Norm
Norm
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Re: How do you Downshift?
When the engine starts to lug in high push the pedal into neutral and close the throttle. Allow the speed to drop to about 10 mph. Then speed the engine up and press the pedal down firmly into low and hold the pedal down firmly until you can shift back into high. Don't just mash the pedal in from high to low or the speed of the car will momentarily over rev the engine.
Stephen
Stephen
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Re: How do you Downshift?
Don’t forget, the model T transmission is either in gear or not. It is not a slide transmission like on the modern cars. The pedal has to be either all the way out or all the way in. If you have the pedal partially down and act like with modern sincro transmissions too much you could do damage. It is a matter of habit that you acquire driving a T. Just my .02 cents.