shifting without clutch

Got questions? We got answers....
Post Reply
zepplin153
Member
Posts: 137
Joined: 11:48 am Mar 13 2012
Country:
Location: middle tennessee

shifting without clutch

Post by zepplin153 »

I posted a thread about my clutches getting hard but this led to another question. On a ride this weekend the problem crept in. All my riding friends all said "its a dirt bike, you dont need to use clutch to shift." I did it anyway because I was unwilling to stop riding. BUT, is this ok?

Thoughts please.
'98 KDX 200 (KLX300 Forks)
User avatar
diymirage
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 2909
Joined: 05:00 pm Sep 19 2011
Country:
Location: michigan

Re: shifting without clutch

Post by diymirage »

if im not mistaking a dirtbike gearbox uses "dogs"
as long as the dogs line up properly you dont need a clutch

having said that, i only use the clutch when i take off or when i downshift, but going up, hardly ever
newbbewb wrote:DIYmirage has it right.


-1996 KDX 200 woods weapon (converted to 99 green body)
-1996 KDX 200 plated street toy (barney edition)
-2003 Yamaha TTR125-L (wifeys bike)
-1997 KDX 220 project bike
hbgod
Member
Posts: 333
Joined: 05:18 pm Jan 01 2012
Country:
Location: massachusettes

shifting without clutch

Post by hbgod »

once you get moving in just about anything you dont need the clutch to shift up(except big trucks) its mostly used to take off and downshift.
If you ain't Mixin Gas, You ain't Haulin Ass!
User avatar
fuzzy
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 3437
Joined: 01:29 pm Jun 18 2003
Country:
Location: Fredneck, MD

shifting without clutch

Post by fuzzy »

if im not mistaking a dirtbike gearbox uses "dogs"
as long as the dogs line up properly you dont need a clutch
Indeed. It's a constant mesh transmission....All the gears spin all the time, the driven gear just moves up the line. You do have to unload the trans to shift it....IE let off gas. Shifter karts will use a momentary ignition kill built right into the shift lever, so you can just yank it while at WOT.
'91 KDX 200 Project $300 KDX
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
User avatar
rbates9
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 3164
Joined: 06:07 pm Apr 27 2010
Country:
Location: UPSTATE New York

shifting without clutch

Post by rbates9 »

hbgod wrote:once you get moving in just about anything you dont need the clutch to shift up(except big trucks) its mostly used to take off and downshift.
"Big Trucks" need the clutch even less then cars and pick ups.
terminatr
Member
Posts: 239
Joined: 08:06 pm Mar 13 2012
Country:

shifting without clutch

Post by terminatr »

I'm pretty sure if I try to up shift w/o clutching on my car, the trans will grind horribly.
2001 KDX220
User avatar
SS109
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 5770
Joined: 05:11 am Aug 23 2009
Country: USA
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA
Contact:

shifting without clutch

Post by SS109 »

terminatr wrote:I'm pretty sure if I try to up shift w/o clutching on my car, the trans will grind horribly.
Then something is really wrong with your trans and/or your shifter. All modern (80's+ - most from the mid 60's and up) manual trans cars and light trucks are synchromesh transmissions. Read up on it as I can't explain it and have it make sense! Anyways, you should be able to accelerate the engine smoothly and, with just gentle pressure on the gear shift, it will shift up to the next gear almost on it's own. When you hit the sweet spot RPM it will just slide easy as pie. Try it sometime. I have done it on everything from a '71 Ford Ranger w/390ci BB w/3 on the tree to a little Geo Metro and even a huge Ford F700.
Youtube Channel: WildAzzRacing
AZ State Parks & Trails OHV Ambassador - Trail Riders of Southern AZ
Current KDX: '98 KDX220
Old KDX: '90 KDX200 -White/Blue
'11 GasGas EC250R
Post Reply