first gear

[rubezz]

does anyone actually use their 1st gear? obviously for hills, parking etc. but pulling away in traffic i usually use second. i have perfected it so it doesnt labor the engine - little more gas, bite in less as pulling out clutch. an equalibrium type thing..

cant be bothered all the time with 1st, then a second later 2nd. (plus my gearbox is stiff, think it needs replaced, and its a chore going through the gears repeatedly)

what is your thoughts? this wouldnt damage the engine or anything would it??

 

[skahigh]

its not good for your clutch. first gear is there for a reason you know!

 

[DPJ]

I agree, 2nd is too high to pull away easily, you'll f*** your clutch soon.

 

[rubezz]

even though its a 6 speed and 1st and 2nd are closer than other motors? i can get it rolling on flat or slight downslope in 2nd no bother at all, engine doesnt labor or stutter if u bring it in right, with extra gas and dont let it bite in fully until u are at a speed that u would be ready to change into 2nd anyway..

 

[Neg.]

Im with Skahigh and DPJ, your heading for a f****d clutch.

 

[edmong]

Yep say good by to your clutch! I have had problems with drivers of heavy goods vehicles always using 2nd instead of 1st to pull away and before long there in for a new clutch.

 

[skahigh]

dont let it bite in fully until u are at a speed that u would be ready to change into 2nd anyway.

theres your f**ked clutch right there. you are riding the clutch and causing undue wear and stress.

 

[rubezz]

so do u go into 1st for junctions where u maybe stop momentarily to check roads?! i just use 2nd if the car can handle it. doesnt seem like there is a need to go into 1st if it can handle it. it just revs high if u go back down to first.

i have only started pulling away in 2nd since my gearbox started going stiff, so that isnt the problem

 

[Neg.]

Yes. If the car stops, into first.

 

[chriswilks]

yeah i tried doing a launch in 2nd once and never did it again...oh the smell!the only time i use second to set off is if i forget to put it in 1st!
i use 2nd in my works van all the time which isnt good but its lasted 76k!!doubt the leon would last 20k if youre lucky!!but im of the same opinion as most of the guys that its not a wise thing to be doing.

 

[chriswilks]

also your gearbox going stiff might be a symptom of this....last time my clutch went it was hard to change through certain gears then it just wouldnt change.it never started to slip it just went!

 

[rubezz]

yeah i tried doing a launch in 2nd once and never did it again...oh the smell!the only time i use second to set off is if i forget to put it in 1st!
i use 2nd in my works van all the time which isnt good but its lasted 76k!!doubt the leon would last 20k if youre lucky!!but im of the same opinion as most of the guys that its not a wise thing to be doing.

lol theres no clutch burn if u do it right. u cant let the clutch out as fast..if u do it right it sounds (and smells) like a perfect gear change. i also use second and a bit of clutch in slow moving stop-start traffic. i wont pull away in 2nd if i get a new gearbox, but it started to **** up before i used 2nd to pull away.

 

[Bonzy1800]

lol theres no clutch burn if u do it right. u cant let the clutch out as fast..if u do it right it sounds (and smells) like a perfect gear change. i also use second and a bit of clutch in slow moving stop-start traffic. i wont pull away in 2nd if i get a new gearbox, but it started to **** up before i used 2nd to pull away.

it doesn't matter wether your doing it right!! the point is 2nd gear spins the flywheel faster, while tring to pull off the engine needs more revs and just ad's more stress.
try pulling off on tick over in 1st, stop then try 2nd and you'll see it struggles a lot more
if your already moving, be it at a slow place then 2nd is ok but not pulling off from a stand still use 1st IMO

 

[super cupra R]

Yep say good by to your clutch! I have had problems with drivers of heavy goods vehicles always using 2nd instead of 1st to pull away and before long there in for a new clutch.

Sorry to go off thread a little but you are actually taught not to use 1st gear in an HGV unless fully loaded and on a gradient, pull away in 2nd or 3rd.

Back to the original post i pull away in 1st if stood still but if the car is rolling no matter how slow 2nd seems to be fine.

 

[traumapat]

Sorry to go off thread a little but you are actually taught not to use 1st gear in an HGV unless fully loaded and on a gradient, pull away in 2nd or 3rd.

Back to the original post i pull away in 1st if stood still but if the car is rolling no matter how slow 2nd seems to be fine.

i was taught the same... first only when fully weighted on an incline. and that was only a 7.5 tonne .


cars are different though. only time i use 2nd to pull off is on mud or ice/snow.

otherwise first if at a stand still.

 

[UncleFester]

Even when i'm rolling i use 1st and then into 2nd once moving and that's in a diesel with enough torque to get away with it. In fact in traffic i'll often run along in 1st gear doing about 2500rpm, and then put it in 2nd when it's time to pull away.

 

[Neg.]

/slight tangent

I work in a DIY store, and when people ask advice, they often have a pre-conceived idea of how they are going to tackle the job. You then try to teach them the correct way, showing them where they will fail, they ignore you and f*** the job up.


Now, having no real technical background, rubezz still thinks he knows best..... please mate, just swallow your pride, admit you were wrong, and we can all move on

 

[rubezz]

didnt say i was right just said it feels ok cause there is no engine labor, smooth transition - why would i ask the question if i knew i was right? ive only been driving a year so i asked peoples opinions here..

but unclefester, using 1st even when hes still rolling.. theres no need for that at all! 2nd gear and some clutch. at a standstill i only use 1st (if at all) to get my wheels rolling then straight into 2nd.

i wont be pulling away in 1st when i get my gears fixed though.

 

[UncleFester]

didnt say i was right just said it feels ok cause there is no engine labor, smooth transition - why would i ask the question if i knew i was right? ive only been driving a year so i asked peoples opinions here..

but unclefester, using 1st even when hes still rolling.. theres no need for that at all! 2nd gear and some clutch. at a standstill i only use 1st (if at all) to get my wheels rolling then straight into 2nd.

I've been driving for long enough now, i don't drive like most people and having forked out for one full clutch already i'm quite happy to give it beans in 1st and then drop it into 2nd once the turbo is awake - otherwise all you get is a boatload of lag then frantic wheelspin when the turbo finally wakes up ... it's just not a smooth way to drive If i was driving a N/A car then yes, i'd just plonk it in 2nd and floor it.

 

[AdamRoutley]

i LOVE first gear...specially with warm roads i always use it to pull off with, because i got hella vibration with the dog bone mounts if i dont