drive it like a 3 speed or 4 speed

[scott]

i rarely use 1st. like one of you guys said earlier, 1st whines out within 10 feet. even on uphill starts on pavement i fly off the line in 2nd. any extra wear this puts on my clutch is made up for by shifting less, no 1st to 2nd shifts.

[brucejohn]

In my 109 first feels better unless I am starting out headed down an incline.

I was taught like LaneRover, once moving no clutch unless down shifting then double clutch.

[Moose]

I'm with gudjeon on this one. Around town on the flat, I often start off in second. The engine seems to have the torque to easily pull away and no slipping of the clutch is required. I've been doing so since I got the truck way back in '84. Starting off on a grade, with a heavier load or with a trailer is always first gear.

One thing to note, the Series 3 has a 9.5 inch clutch while earlier vehicles have a 9 inch. Not a lot of difference but it would make the Series 3 clutch a bit more robust.

Brett

[gudjeon]

On the flat pavement I always start from 2nd. I can keep up relatively well with modern traffic. Have been doing this for ten years and two different rovers and never had to replace a clutch due to wear. I use first to start on an incline and when the engine hasn't warmed up yet. The low end is pretty good in these little lumps.

[LaneRover]

I don't float the gears when shifting, I always use the clutch. In fact I usually double clutch to 2nd until the tranny warms up and I usually double all downshifts. My tranny hasn't been rebuilt and I think the syncros to 3rd are worn. My impression is that it's best to use the clutch on syncromeshed gears but it's OK to float the gears on non-sycro gears. Thought I read that here on this board somewhere.....

I can shift up into 2nd much better without the clutch than with. You just got to get the timing down. I shift without the clutch synchro or non-synchro. Years ago someone I knew said, you only need the clutch to get going from a stop. I do tend to use the clutch a bit more when downshifting.

Brent

[Bostonian1976]

I go first to third when I'm too lazy to double clutch

[badvibes]

The discrepancy could be in the gear ratios that you and your friend have:

Hadn't thought of this. I'm assuming we both have 4.70 gears and similar tranny ratios but it's something to check out.

[Bud]

I always use the clutch, and I almost always double clutch as my synchros are pretty worn. -SIII

The discrepancy could be in the gear ratios that you and your friend have:

http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/gear_ratio.htm

[badvibes]

Free wheel hubs or lack of can effect the feel of it. My 109 felt much "zippier" when I was running them, let alone unlocked.

We're both running free wheeling hubs.

[ScottT]

Free wheel hubs or lack of can effect the feel of it. My 109 felt much "zippier" when I was running them, let alone unlocked.

truck definitely feels zippier than mine

[badvibes]

Is there any extra wear and tear shifting without the clutch? I guess you are not wearing the clutch, but what about the gears?

I don't float the gears when shifting, I always use the clutch. In fact I usually double clutch to 2nd until the tranny warms up and I usually double all downshifts. My tranny hasn't been rebuilt and I think the syncros to 3rd are worn. My impression is that it's best to use the clutch on syncromeshed gears but it's OK to float the gears on non-sycro gears. Thought I read that here on this board somewhere.....

[NickDawson]

If you really want to drive it like a 3 speed then go ahead, if you are worried about using up the clutch too quickly then learn to shift without the clutch going to 3rd or 4th.

Not to hijack... I used to always do that with manual transmissions growing up, but got out of the habit around the time I got my Disco... (coincidentally around the time I was totally on my own for repairs).

Is there any extra wear and tear shifting without the clutch? I guess you are not wearing the clutch, but what about the gears?

[slorocco]

The rover trans is not a granny gear transmission. I always used it as a straight four speed unless I was in low range.

[Jim-ME]

I use all 4 gears unless I'm starting up on an enough of a hill that the Rover rolls when I take my foot off the brake then I start in second gear.
Jim

[badvibes]

One thing to think about, does your friend's Rover have smaller tires than your Rover? That could definitely effect things.

We're both running 235 x 85 x 16s. Scott's truck definitely feels zippier than mine since his just completed rebuild with a 2.5 cam, bored cylinders, and shaved block. But even before these motor tweaks his truck seemed to run a bit better than mine. Guess I'm wondering if my use of 1st is "normal" and Scott is just lucky to have a better than average pulling truck or if using 2nd is what everybody can do and my truck isn't pulling what it should.

Jeff