How to drive a manual transmission without using the clutch, in case you broke it like I did!

[@kentmckean6795]

Back in the mid 70's, my buddies 64 VW beetle broke the clutch cable. He drove it like that for 2 years. The engine died before he "got around to it"! On more than one occasion, he borrowed my car and left me with his beetle. The first time he borrowed my car, he hadn't even mentioned it was broken...

[@pri0r_t0_a_weekago...fukwi48]

😂😂😂😂😂 regular Volkswagen problems

[@Splarkszter]

what a nice friend!

[@shahramtondkarmobarakie1824]

was he later found in a lake lifeless perchance?

[@Scotty-vs4lf]

@@shahramtondkarmobarakie1824 congrats, least funny joke ive read today

[@arthur9511]

Can you explain how you make the car star moving? Do you use the starter motor to do it?

[@PCDoctorUSA]

"Now we become an expert at timing lights." Riding a motorcycle helps one to master this skill as well.

[@integr8er66]

???? Motorcycles have two clutches, one is disengaged just by pressing the shift lever, so that isn't syncro shifting.

[@mkshffr4936]

But motorcycle needs to be held up by leg power when stationary.

[@CallMeSpinpie]

was about to say i'm pretty good at this and clutchless shifting just from riding a bike

[@aceadman]

I time lights anyway just for fun. It’s amazing how many people jump out and pass me in anger. Hurry up and wait!!! 😊

[@Youwotm8Tk]

@@CallMeSpinpie On a bike it's a bit different though, cause bikes have a constant-mesh transmission instead of a synchromesh transmission.

[@Acceleronics]

I lost my clutch during an open track day at Thunderhill near Willows, CA. I didn't want to pay for a flatbed, so I drove the 150 miles home with no clutch. This included many, many miles of stop-and-go Sunday evening freeway traffic on I-80. Not to mention driving through town. I got pretty good at rev match shifting, but stalling and restarting the engine when freeway traffic stopped or for a red light was always a pain. But the most anxiety came from driving up my sloped driveway too fast and stopping before I crashed into the back of my garage.

[@natesstuff3913]

I was just up at thunderhill two weeks ago, such an awesome set of tracks!

[@duradim1]

I did that once under a very tense situation (driving a borrowed truck). Developed a bad case of muscle memory and wanted to shift my other vehicle (which was an automatic) for a couple of days afterwards.

[@SatongiFilms]

when I was 18, I had a clutch wire go out on my first car Golf mk3. I was about 15km away from home, called my dad and he told me some simple instructions: shift gears at around 2500rpm, if you need to downshift - you need to revmatch it. And to start driving you need to turn ignition whilst in 1st gear and just press on throttle to start moving... it was awkward but it worked.

[@Tobi-ob9wj]

dad wisdom

[@highlander3706]

I'm not getting that part: how is it possible to start engine when in gear?

[@rolandrimann8788]

How do you stop at traffic lights and re start.

[@jeremiahfyan]

​@@highlander3706you can always do it with stick, im more surprised it didnt need to be push started

[@mokane86]

@@rolandrimann8788you come to a stop in first gear with the breaks and turn the car off. Otherwise without a clutch the in gear engine will fight the break to dangerously pull you forward, and or stall out. Then just before it’s time to go you start the engine up in gear and you go. While the vehicle is off you are in forward gear so you shouldn’t roll back? Or you use break till starting turn over. I have not tried this method yet. I am just relearning to drive manual and am back from my first try on a trip around the block with only one lunge stall 😂

[@tslater1989]

Clutch? We dont need no stinkin' clutch!

[@ambroselake9156]

Goofy lol.

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

Ooohhh, but we do... I don't fancy ruining my transmissions... 240,000 km and still on the original factory clutch from 20 years ago when I bought the car new. I've never had to replace any of the clutches on my two cars yet.

[@sprazzerz6897]

@@AnnatarTheMaiawant a cookie?

[@AnnatarTheMaia]

@@sprazzerz6897 I do, but only if the cookie is tasty.

[@lillebrorsanvincent2017]

Yes, it’s stinking after this

[@hojo9115]

Being able to drive a manual without a clutch is something I learned to do when I was much younger with quite a few old bangers I used to drive. It's definitely a useful skill and has saved me more than a few times

[@TheVicar]

I get it once the car is moving But starting up in 1st gear would surely just stall the engine?

[@radiocontrolled9181]

​@@TheVicarSame here. How does he start the car in first gear and it goes smoothly without knocking and jerking?

[@TheVicar]

@@radiocontrolled9181 I'm guessing you'd have to be pointing downhill to give it chance. I tried it on a flat once, when my clutch hydraulics failed, and all the car did was rock backwards and forwards

[@ianhill4585]

Endearing memory of scooting a motorcycle through the centre of Rhodes and slamming it into gear because the clutch cable had snapped on the hire bike, my mate actually had the bike, I swapped with him because he couldn't "clutchless shift" . I'm British by the way, so riding on the right, round the roundabouts the opposite way --- jolly fun😮. You really only (on a car) need a clutch to get yourself going.

[@gregoryrobinson1004]

It's called floating the gears in big trucks aka 18 wheelers u only use the clutch to stop and go after that lightly pull it out of gear and put it in next highest gear.

[@BigSkyModelWorkshop]

Was gonna say the same thing.

[@cheferic6969]

Same, imagine pushing that clutch in 2x a shift...no thanks.

[@alwhitesell4023]

I just came here to say the same thing and if you can keep it rolling usually you can get it back in the first gear or second gear and not shut it off.

[@TheMrDarius]

Yeah those Eaton 10 speeds are easy to float upshifting and downshifting just make sure you rev match.

[@BigToro]

​@@cheferic6969 2x a shift? why twice? is that some truck thing i don't get?

[@Cartier_specialist]

I bought a motorcycle this guy I knew had many years ago and it had two broken things. The kick stand and the clutch didn't work. He owned it several years and always push started it and shifted without the clutch because it was a dirt bike and he didn't have a kick stand. Anyway I thought it would need a new clutch, a kick stand and possibly a kick starter. I took it home and installed a cluch cable and it worked like a champ. I can't believe he leaned it up against something and push started it every time just because it needed a clutch cable. The kick starter worked perfectly. I guess he just wasn't very mechanically inclined.

[@nobodynoone2500]

motorcycles are designed to shift without a clutch, unlike cars.

[@Les-i7e]

It's all about the revs. Get the speed right it's simple

[@troywiltshire5272]

I had a 1988 Ford Ranger that I had to drive around San Diego, Ca for about 6 months without a clutch. I even pulled a trailer like this a couple times. I pulled the transmission 6-8 times trying to figure out what was wrong with the slave cylinder, but it wasn’t until I had a buddy with me to look at the slave cylinder while I pushed the clutch. It turned out to be a missing o-ring where the hydraulic line went into the cylinder. But I did get really good at driving without a clutch and removing and installing a transmission in an 88 Ford Ranger. LOL

[@connormckibben5986]

Wanna do my 85' ? 😂

[@jamesbooth3360]

Lost my clutch back in 1973 in my '66 GTO w/4 speed. Drove it for months until I had the money to replace the clutch. Just couldn't drag race. Piece of cake! Easy as pie!

[@rhiantaylor3446]

I did this in my youth while driving a delivery van, just for fun. You quickly learn to avoid crunching noises by matching speeds.These days I always drive a manual change car and always use the clutch but also match speeds to give the synchros an easier (longer) life.

[@tigerpjm]

Same! Remember when learning to drive was something you co tinued to do after getting your licence? 30 years and still learning.

[@tappajaav]

@@tigerpjm Learning to drive is still something you continue to do after getting your license, hasn't changed in any way in the past 30 years Once you have a license you are officially allowed to learn on your own. Driving school teaches you how to read and gives you the keys to a library, figuratively speaking

[@tigerpjm]

@@tappajaav I work in mining where we only have manual vehicles. Most of our apprentices have to be taught how to use them. So, no, they aren't taught how to drive, thery're taught how to steer. We even have to teach them how to reverse park as that is how we park on site (being the safest way to park).

[@tappajaav]

@@tigerpjm Huh, sounds like those people have attended mediocre driving schools. But it's good that they learn at least something universally useful in your area of expertise.

[@tigerpjm]

@@tappajaav Problem is, here in Australia, you can go for an "Automatic" license. A "Manual" license is a separate thing. And, for most Learner drivers, "driving school" is driving with mum to get milk and bread from the shop...

[@aveekkatiyar]

Hello from India! I stumbled across a similar technique 20 years ago; our chauffeur showed me how to change gears without the clutch by timing your gas input/cut-off to the gentle-but-firm pressure on the gear, and you can slip into the next gear rather satisfyingly. It blew my mind. In later years, I discovered this - accidentally - on my motorcycle, too. Now I regularly practise this skill; it’s wonderful to feel one with the machine in this subtle art :) I’m writing, however, because you completed the information loop for me all these years later. Now, I have a guideline for starting the car without the clutch, too - though the circumstances are different (I suspect mine is unlikely to come apart while engaged). If I ever run into this situation, it will be quite the hero’s rescue for whoever needs the help. Thanks man, you made my day!

[@IbbiAhmed]

Hello fellow Indian bhai

[@trbstang]

The cable on my 87 Mustang collapsed on the freeway and luckily I was able to get it off the road and almost back to work. Had my wife bring me a jack, stands, my tools and a new cable I ordered from the dealer and got it back running in about 30 minutes! 😂 Great video Scott!

[@flexiblebirdchannel]

Something similar happend with my Volvo: Clutch cable broke, I immediatly turned to a parking spot alongside the street, used the buses to get home, ordered a clutch cable and returned to my car. No jack needed, I could install it from above, and drove home with a working car. That was a nice construction, easy to maintain.

[@jeffbang7847]

I used to do this all the time, just for fun, I have had several transmissions go bad with gears crashing during shifts. I learned by watching videos on rebuilding manual transmissions, that this practice actually wears out the syncros! after only several thousand miles, your transmission will be worn out from pressure on the shifter. This kind of shifting is only for emergencies, Using the clutch makes the syncs only slow down the gears, with no clutch, you have the weight of the entire drivetrain to slow down and mesh the gears. I learned the hard way, I hope you learn from my mistake!

[@mattbenton3177]

This is the comment that should be pinned up top. People need to know not to do this with synchronized transmissions unless it is an emergency.

[@goptools]

Years ago, I owned a 1987 Ford F150 with the manual trans. I can 100% verify that the firewall does in fact fatigue and crack in such a way that working the clutch becomes a task meant for the incredible hulk. There was a repair reinforcement plate that corrected the problem. I don't recall if it was a Ford part or aftermarket, but it did the trick.

[@adubbelde1]

in 67 I was in HS. Had a 59 Impala bubble top. It was a 348 Powerglide when I bought it. I decided it needed a manual trans so I found and swapped in a 3 speed with a Hurst Synchrolock. One day on my way home from school the ball stud snapped off in the block. I drove it home exactly the way you demonstrated. Replacing the ball stud was a lot simpler than a hydraulic throwout bearing.

[@luism8130]

Old timer you sound like a badass.

[@tedfry236]

can't wait for you to get a new shop! I had a S10 with a 4 speed manual. a spring in the clutch disk broke and wouldn't let it disengage. I learned real quick how to drive it without the clutch. I miss that little truck.

[@jamesgraham6122]

I remember many years back.. the 80s.. borrowing a Lancia from a car dealer friend as I needed to make a 30 mile trip to somewhere south of London.. all suburban driving..multiple roundabouts, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings etc.. the clutch cable broke as I was beginning the return trip.. I managed the drive back, carefully adjusting speed when approaching slow or stalled traffic, matching the engine revs changing up and down.. made it back feeling quite proud of myself :>)

[@richardthomas1743]

The memories this brings back on multiple cars and trucks that I have owned over the years. LOL Nice car Scott! I hope that all is going good for you!

[@miketyler4536]

I did this so much when I was kid. Drove all over San Diego until I could afford replacing it, myself. Cheers, Scott, From The second land of rust and corruption (Utah)

[@pri0r_t0_a_weekago...fukwi48]

Is the first New York? Cause after 32 winters in the north east I’m about sick of it lol

[@TripodsGarage]

I remember my mother driving without the clutch when I was a kid. Fast forward 25yrs, my bother drove a rig, and rarely used the clutch.

[@matth5309]

Reminds me of the time my friend and I were 100 miles from home when his corvette got stuck in third gear. Not as anxiety inducing as the clutch not disengaging but still made for an interesting ride back. About 75 miles of that ride were highway. We were in right lane going 50 with the engine screaming getting all kinds of strange looks from other drivers. Didn’t help that his corvette had flowmaster mufflers…

[@pete.theeggbox]

Hi Scott, great example of what to do when the dreaded clutch goes, as you become an experienced driver, much of what you do is all about timing, meshing with traffic, lights and so on - i am always amused at folk that stop at a junction in front of me, they don't read the road, they are looking at the traffic and still stop, where as i may slow or speed up so i can mesh with the traffic, avoiding them and giving them time to avoid me, roundabouts a particular favorite, because even at very low speed assists in getting out safely, people will stop completely forcing them to have more time to get out, not easy on British roads, haha i recently noticed a couple of notorious roundabouts having traffic lights fitted, great idea, should have been done 30 years ago and saved countless accidents on the side of a clutch going, i've had this a few times myself, and managed to get home, with the old Land Rover it was indeed fun, trying to get the old girl to start in gear, pull away and change gear, many times was near impossible to get from one gear to the next, getting the engine speed right another the Audi S3 was very different, the box the clutch pedal was attached to broke three times on different occasions, the pedal disappears into the carpet, most odd, but the gear changes were fairly easy, all about timing and engine speed (not the speed you are travelling) because here in the UK we have hills and this can effect you as well, as the loads on the gearbox will change - but it is fun, nerve racking but fun - timing junctions, traffic, and lights a real skill, like trying to tame a beast, but doable

[@michaelbradley7529]

I had an 85 Mustang GT where the clutch fork decided to snap at a traffic light. The process was the same except when you were stopped, putting it in 1st gear it was the starter that propelled the car until the engine actually started. Fortunately, the starter was strong and so was the battery. Otherwise, everything else was as you demonstrated.

[@kingduckford]

Another advantage of living in rural nowhere. My town doesn't even have a single stop light. You figure out how the stop signs are, and you can get anywhere, including in and out of town, with only hitting one of them. When limping broken shit back home or to town, it is extremely good knowledge.

[@MelodyMan69]

1960 Land Rover (tinny) had a great transmission with really good syncromesh. I learned to drive it as a 14 year old without the clutch except starts and reverse. 🇦🇺

[@green95gt]

I drove like this for nearly a year, but, with using the clutch only to get into 1st gear and reverse. Then after that, I had to rebuild the transmission for 2nd gear. They don't call it crashing the box for nothing. But, I like your stop the engine start technique. Clever. I've seen Kimi Raikkanen never use the clutch and never turn the car off. Just slowly pushing the shifter into 1st gear from a stand still. Either way, just letting the clone clutches on the sychro rings doing all the work. Again, clever in a pinch. Cool video..!

[@ezvue]

I don’t get this. He starts the car with clutch pedal depressed and moves out slowly just like a normal clutch. Wouldn’t it be the starter that moves the car forward until it starts?

[@dylanduke8389]

It looks like that’s exactly what’s happening, you can see the engine is lugging at the low rpm while it’s just the starter pushing the car along. Clutch is just to allow the car to actually start right?

[@keithberwanger6595]

The starter can roll the whole car in first gear until the road speed gets up just enough for the engine speed to catch up and give you enough power strokes (a lot more likely to happen in an LS V8 I presume is in one of these things) to get up to idle. It will lug and spit at you more the fewer cylinders and torques you have. I've driven only 4 cylinders like this, a fwd supercharged car was able to start pretty quick like this but the viscous awd NA Subaru I drove like this hated it unless you were already going down hill.

[@HunterHerbst]

@@dylanduke8389 right yeah, the clutch pedal had to be depressed because of the neutral safety starter he talked about. Even if the clutch itself isn't really disengaging (or at least not fully as he mentioned he still has a small amount of wiggle) the car has to "think" it's in neutral or the clutch is disengaged. As such there's probably a sensor monitoring the clutch pedal position telling the ECU "yeah, it's pushed, you're good to start"

[@savanpatel5824]

You're actually correct he's not driving without clutch, seems like clutch is still working a bit if u try starting a car in 1st without clutch it can never be this smooth it'll be really jerky

[@daringd3lta574]

@@dylanduke8389 But watch the RPMs when he pulls off, the engine starts normally and then engages.

[@JamesSailor]

Thank you for the tutorial. I know how to shift without a clutch, but always wondered about a dead stop. You have completed my manual arsenal!

[@plustgraaf]

Way back when, I had a 59 Dodge pickup with a 4 speed with the granny gear. When the clutch broke, it was trivial to put it into granny and start the engine. I even did it once with the parking brake set! I didn't even realize it until I tried shifting, it slowed down pretty fast once I got it out of gear! One interesting thing about that transmission was that it was the exact same transmission that Dodge used behind the big Hemi engines. My little flathead six was never going to break that transmission.

[@kybruce1]

Oh good memories. Drove my son's 99 Accord 5 speed home from Lexington KY. About 90 miles mostly highway. Planned for mostly right hand turns. Forced it into 2nd too hard a few times, so after fixed (slave cylinder) made a little grind shifting to 2nd, but barely noticeable. I might have run a few red lights

[@BrucePierson]

I've had a clutch go on two cars. It's a matter of driving very delicately to make it home. I fixed one car, but the other one we retired.

[@timjackson3954]

Back in the day when I worked for a car hire company, I had to do this several times recovering vehicles. Once the car was parked on a sloping car park facing uphill. No way I could start it in first gear uphill, but fortunately the car park was empty, so I started in reverse and did a u-turn until I was backing back up the hill, Disengaged reverse gear, and waited for the car to stop and start to roll forward then slipped it into first. No problem.

[@jeremyashford2145]

Been there done that. Back in the 1980s. Actually I may have found myself in two different cars, a 1950s L15 Citroen and a 1960s Triumph Herald, the latter a British car and the former British-assembled. Both cars had manual chokes. This is useful for keeping revs up. My concern was the starting so I chose a route that would avoid stopping on an uphill, or even flat. The trick is having sufficient power to start and move the car in gear. On yet another occasion I found myself in the middle of nowhere with no clutch. My girlfriend and I had spent the night in the car, a Falcon (Australian XT) station wagon (estate) and woke to the problem. I had no tool kit with me. But I did have a three inch adjustable wrench on my keyring and a teaspoon (don't remember why). Fluid was down in the clutch master cylinder. I spooned fluid from brake master cylinder to clutch master and bled with my little crescent. That got me mobile enough to go buy some more fluid. Staring a car with no clutch and driving in what was effectively a soggy paddock (field) was not an option on that occasion.

[@oifivguy]

Been a long time since I've had to do that, thanks for sharing.

[@computernaut]

My first car was a manual. The clutch died randomly while I was on my way to work one day, and I had to do exactly what you demonstrated in this video except that I had figure everything out myself, in the moment, in the middle of rush hour. I got it to a shop and they replaced the line and slave cylinder.

[@SireDragonChester]

Trucker been doing this for years. As other have also said. It’s called floating the gears. If you have older vehicle, then you maybe able float the gears to get home or to garage/repair shop.

[@colin8532]

You forgot to mention the other reason for shifting without the clutch, it's really fun and allows you to feel really cool about yourself! And lets be honest, we all like to feel like we're cool once in a while, and not just when our moms tell us we are LOL

[@troywiltshire5272]

I did find out that not using the clutch puts premature wear on the synchronizers though. I used to not use the clutch sometimes when I was feeling too lazy to use it, but I had some other issue with my jeep and got to see the tranny disassembled and saw the wear on the synchronizers.

[@Bola0cho]

@@troywiltshire5272 yeah, the clutch is there for a reason after all, you can ignore but it doesnt mean you should

[@derekheeps1244]

My father was a truck and bus driver , so when he taught me to drive , he taught me this straight away . Before driving buses in the 1950s , he was a driver in the army in WWII ( Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders ) and fought in Europe for over 5 years ( pretty much the whole war , and I have his medals to prove it ) during which time he drove motorcycles , cars , trucks and tanks . As per the comments of another contributor , I had a clutch cable fail on a VW Beetle , and remembered my father's lessons . Even without a failed clutch , I kept practice at clutchless gear changing and would only use the clutch to move off from rest , as most truckers do anyway . I mostly drive automatic , but I can drive manual , and sometimes non synchromesh cars , but if you get it right , that is OK too . My first car was a 1957 'Ponton' Mercedes , and the clutch pedal on that car rotated a shaft which acted directly on the release bearing , no linkage at all , so that was the best engineered clutch I ever used - and I kept that car for 38 years !

[@paulstaf]

1970's Vegas had firewall metal fatigue as well....

[@nobodyspecial6436]

They also had the worst engine GM ever made…. Those flat sided 4 cylinders were absolute garbage..

[@paulstaf]

Well, the Vega engine sure gave the 1980's diesel conversions a run for their money as worst engines ever made 🤣

[@joshjlmgproductions3313]

2008 - 2014 Subaru Imprezas do as well.

[@zafnor]

@@nobodyspecial6436 I had a '74 Vega and put 80k on it with out any problems (except the clutch). I was 16 at the time and drove it like it was stolen.

[@resurrectionautorebuilders8465]

Good lord did this bring back the memories of driving my 1976 Chevette with a broken clutch! Nothing like Chicago rush hour stop n go traffic without a clutch. I fixed it........eventually. What can I say, I was a poor teenager. Damn clutch was only 3 years old.......freakin GM!

[@N5_built]

My frs clutch fork snapped a few weeks ago. I'm so happy I practiced floating gears in my project car prior. It's definitely easier than I thought, including the down shifts

[@malcolmirving9485]

Thanks for the tips Scott. That car looks very much like a Holden Commodore that the Aussies drive.

[@theretroblondie]

That's because it is a Commodore. They brought them over for a few years, GM was even debating bringing the Ute over before the bankruptcy.

[@oooohapenny4707]

Yeah GM outsources lots of their cars. Ever notice some of the Buicks look familiar (they are rebadged Opels and Holdens!)

[@external316]

Semi? No cluch? No problem! *if you don’t get it, it’s because some semis done have synchros, meaning they can shift without the cluch*

[@John.Mann.1941]

Back in the sixties I learned how to do this on my motorcycle (BSA Super Bantam), when my clutch became stuck a couple of hundred miles from home. Since the bike was lacking an electric starter getting moving from stationary was a bit awkward, much easier downhill. Once the clutch was fixed I often only used it for stopping and starting.

[@geniferteal4178]

Start in gear (if you can jump out the safety). Then rev slightly past the shift point. Put gentle pressure towards the next gear. Let the rpms drop slowly, continuing the pressure. My truck would "suck it" into the next gear when the rpm was right.

[@davidp8892]

Last week me and my friend were 60 kms away from home when the clutch master cylinder broke on his 2002 VW Golf. When you pressed the clutch pedal and release it the pedal stayed glued to the floor and you could only lift it by hand. We started the car in 2nd gear while hitting the gas to keep the car rolling and managed to drive home safely.

[@tinman9341]

Thanks for that little tutorial! I always wondered how you could do that. I lost my clutch cable on my car once but just got lucky on the lights. I made it home about 5 miles away though.

[@SandBoxJohn]

Been shifting the gears in the manual transmission vehicles I have owned without using the clutch for more them 40 years. Learned how to do from a truck driver that had a brand new International Cab over back in the 1970s.

[@JoeyLovesTrains]

God the G8’s are so beautiful, omggg

[@pattonkeith]

I was messing around once in my Subaru WRX after watching a video about Colin McRae and his driving style (one foot gas the other brake) and forgot to hit my clutch and inadvertently did a perfect gear change with no clutch. No grinding or catching at all, a perfect smooth transition from 1st to 2nd. At first I thought it was just incredibly lucky wizardry, but as I learned more about transmission works with a standard gearbox, I realized that while I was absolutely lucky, it wasn't wizardry after all. And screw the haters, if there's no one around to hit, pin that throttle

[@RadggsAutomotive]

Had a summer job working on a 65 Ford milk delivery truck, that is where I learned no clutch shifting, one difference were the hills around here could kill a starter going up.

[@kathreyburn7012]

Speed shifted my 65 VW when the clutch spring broke for about 6 months. A skill everyone should have

[@renax7631]

Once tried this in my 1998 Škoda Felicia, you get the hang of it suprisingly fast.

[@TheVicar]

Does it not just stall when starting up in 1st gear?

[@renax7631]

@@TheVicar In the case of getting going, the starter motor will help the engine to get moving. Its obviously not healthy for the starter motor, but it works for emergencies.

[@TheVicar]

@@renax7631 So get it moving with the starter motor and then put it into gear?

[@renax7631]

​@@TheVicar 1. get into 1st gear -> 2. get the car and the engine moving with the starter

[@TheVicar]

@@renax7631 Yeah. I had a brain fart there I realised what I'd said was BS when I thought about it later Thanks

[@ChrissClutch]

I saw a YT video of someone shifting without using the clutch and i called BS until the day before i knew i was trading my Lancer in for an Si..... Tried it out and never doubted Scotty again.

[@kevin122759]

That car is one of the reasons I subscribed.

[@GrandsonofKong]

WOW...even the garage doors rust out in Illinois. I had the main seal on the clutch master fail on a 74 Datsun PU, puked fluid all over my shoes just as I was pulling into my jobs parking lot. Got a buddy to drive me to get parts at lunch and after work I replaced it and pumped and bled it enough to work...another lesson to always carry a few tools!

[@garycallahan7867]

I had the same problem on an early 70s Datsun as well.

[@7samsaraaa422]

Wow that thing sounds so good. Makes me want to get one

[@roywhite7833]

I used to drive a Freightliner Tractor and I used to shifter the 18 speed manual transmission exactly how you described how you’re doing your car. Nothing was wrong with my clutch, the older drivers taught us that. I think they called that “floating.” That was over 30 years ago, so I may have the terminology wrong. It was fun though.

[@cosmicegg7299]

I drive almost daily my peugeot 106 without using the clutch (i only use it from stop in 1st since it's not broken). But i use revmatching for downshift, it's way more convenient and once learned you can easily do heel-toe (or you also learn left foot braking)

[@fabianweber6937]

You really surprised (and honestly impressed) me with that technique, only few will master the manual transmission like that

[@l.f.p.8305]

I live in a cold climate, so here is an extra advice. Before you drive the car this way - set the gear in neutral and warm up the engine for one or two minutes. And when bringing the car to a halt, flip the gear in neutral and let it coast to a halt using the brake. When backing, with the engine stopped, set the gear in reverse and start the motor. Be ready to flip the gear into neutral and brake before backing into some walll or car.

[@behindthewolfseyes]

a lot of us are still driving those 80s and 90s Ford trucks, so that comment is actually quite useful.

[@John-NeverStopLearning]

I used to do the same with my 74 CJ Jeep. It had locking hubs for the 4 wheel drive. I would lock the hubs and if I needed 4 or 2 wheel drive I would take my foot off the gas and push in the clutch so I was coasting and then I could slide in or out of 4 wheel drive.

[@bearing_aficionado]

Happy Wednesday, Scott!🍻

[@voyeur442]

That car sounds wonderful 😊

[@ArnCital]

I own 3 4x4 vehicles with manual transmissions and I have a bypass switch for their clutches so that I can start them in gear with the clutch out. I also can crank the engine in gear in the event of an engine failure so that I can get off the road; easy cranking load in first .gear and transfer case in low range.

[@MREnzoHerbie]

That car sounds amazing.

[@Penultimate_Jive]

Fun Fact: In NSW, Australia (Where I live), it is illegal to coast in neutral as you are considered to not be in control of the vehicle.

[@davidebacchi9030]

That’s also fuel-inefficient given that the fuel is still used to idle the engine in neutral but when in gear it is cut completely and the engine is moving only because of dragging

[@tundrajt]

I had this same issue happen to me with a Mazda B2600 I had when I lived in Alaska. Clutch failed in the engaged state and had to do the same thing to get it home. Luckily, it was only about a three mile drive and I never got over 3rd gear. Unfortunately, that was the end of the road for me with that truck. I gave it to a friend who ended up fixing it and driving it for a while longer.

[@JosephCowen-fz8vj]

RIP General Motors Australia, we miss our aussie cars like this , be it a Commadore like this or 2017 Ford Falcon with the Coyote 5.0 supercharged ! Did any other country offer the Coyote 5.0 supercharged from the factory ? Outside Australia?

[@Ultimateman]

I blew up my flywheel back in the days and couldnt disengage / engage the trans while the car was on. I rolled the car to the nearest gas station and then put it in 2nd gear and started the car. I drove the car to the nearest shop and got it fixed. 2nd gear was perfect since u could drive the car from 0km/h to 130km/h while having 2nd gear engaged lol

[@stevew270]

Once you get to know your vehicle it's easy, I had a rusty 96 Cavalier, I figured out the sweet spots and drove clutchless quite often, I also had an even rustier Canadian Cavalier Z22 5-speed I drove for 2 years with no brakes, summer and winter, rain or snow.

[@zeitgeist888]

Growing up in the 80s I had to drive without a clutch a couple times but zero effect at the pedal so I was glad the car didn't have the clutch safety switch. I also broke a shift lever and was stuck in 3rd gear and another car that was stuck in 1st gear on the way to my sisters wedding I was standing up in so no fixing it in a tux. Fun times

[@Accidic]

I can attest that this works. Bought vehicle a couple weeks ago whose clutch pedal died 1.5mi after I bought. You just have to be careful about the habit of clutch/brake combo at startup. It's a prime example of why I sought out a manual rather than an idiotbox. :)

[@boxxdrmtb]

I already knew this and I've had to do it more than once. I was excited to watch the video just to see the G8 and I would love to see a video of you fixing the clutch issue but first you need to fix your garage issue.

[@k8vnl]

I learned of this trick from someone I worked with in the 90s and tried it myself and it works.

[@stevem268]

LOL, back in the early 1980's the clutch cable in 71 volvo broke, drove it for a month like that, couldn't afford to fix it. i got really good at starting, reversing and shifting, transmission went on for another 5 years after that, i didn't hurt it all. i shifted a big truck with a twin stick 5 by 4 for several years without using the clutch

[@GhettoWagon]

I used to work at a car auction moved cars and drove the tow truck.. did not want to use the tow truck.... At the gate a few times the clutch gave out right by a big speed bump with spikes. Off engine 1st gear I 2 foot brake gas like 3/8 pedal crank and go violently but it moves. Downshifting is fun when you are on the streets every used auction car I drove on the street I floated the gears up and down for practice. Not my car!!!

[@RipRoaringGarage]

I had to do this long time ago in my crappy Dacia. (there was a time when nobody knew those cars, before Top Gear, though mine was the old old one, a Renault 12 clone). Those were days when poverty teaches you to be a good driver! And a mechanic! When I was doing it, the starter would move the car, and when (or if) it started it would lunge ahead with all of 40hp lol. This brought back memories. Also reminded me of pushing a car for 20miles. This was no little Renaul, but a Pontiac Grand Prix. Me and three buddies pushed it to this shop with a lift. Ive been reminiscing lately....sorry for that. Hope the new shop is coming along.

[@stevenewsam1993]

Wanted one of those G8’s so bad when they were new but we were still in the minivan stage. 1980’s Nissans were guilty of firewall cracking around the clutch cable too

[@MigotRen]

Tried this in my old manual car sometimes. If you have a feel for your car its not that hard to do. I miss my stickshift, as the rs3 i wanted and drive now only comes with a dct. But its very common on bikes or at least its similar. Because its a sequential and the drivetrain interia is lower you can pretension the shifter. Once you let of the throttle its gonne diengange and snap into next gear. Or just a blip on downshifts. Clutchless shifting is very satisfying

[@barovelli]

And if your clutch is perfectly functional you CAN practice this. I too drove on a busted clutch cable for a few weeks, 67 VW. After that learning experience, I tried it on every stick shift I had.

[@ericswearingen8791]

Don't know about the Pontiac, but I had a Chevy Cavalier that the clutch went out on it back when I was young and poor. Hydraulic clutch, 1 piece plastic hydraulic assembly, dealership only part. Dealer wanted more for the part than the car was worth. I drove it clutch free for about 6 months until the head gasket let go. Same method you used.

[@thecarwreckhunter]

I drove a car the whole way across Australia (3500kms) using this trick, it works.

[@BSGSV]

Rev matching. Nice to see. But in 3 cars and 25 years I have never experienced a clutch failure. My last car I purchased new (2006 BMW 325i) and when I sold it in 2021 with over 200,000 miles, it was still running the original clutch with no issues.

[@garysimonson9593]

My dad taught me to do this before I got my license. His '63 F100 (292, 3/tree) was the classroom. It's come in handy.

[@JT-SE-OHIO]

Nice enough car to fix and enjoy.

[@Can8ian.]

A long time ago I had an 83 Hyundai Pony 5 speed. Was a cheap but fun little car. The clutch cable snapped (after getting other work done... go figure) and I drove it like in your video for about a year before I finally got it fixed.

[@Fred-mp1vf]

Had to ride my motorcycle home without a clutch. Starting out was a pain, & I hit my calf with the foot peg -- ouch! Also broke the throttle once and had to rig it to the front brake lever. It takes 3 times the distance to stop with just the rear brake. My neighbor has no left hand, but skillfully works his motorcycle clutch with his stub.

[@nedludd7622]

In the old days we learned to drive non-syncro trucks. I loved a 1948 International I had.

[@KJ-VIT]

3:43 If it is in 1st Gear, and you started it, why didn't it move just as you started it? It only moved after you hit the gas pedal. I feel like the engine shouldn't rev without the tires turning unless you are clutched in. I thought the car would jerk forward during startup. But when you did it, it revved for a couple secs then started crawling forward as if you let go of the clutch. Correct me if I'm wrong. I skipped ahead so I might have missed context, maybe you were explaining how to do it after you fixed the clutch so that's why it did that.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

3:42 This car has a clutch that obviously works well enough to be usable because the engine is idling while gear is selected but car is still in place. If the clutch doesn't disengage at all, the car will be moving immediately the starter motor starts to turn. And unless your battery is in good health, it may not be powerful enough to move the whole car fast enough to start the engine.

[@mikechiodetti4482]

Yup. Been there done that. Your bad luck sounds like mine. When diagnosing a system on a vehicle, I used to hear, "99% of the time it's (name your part here)." I get the 1%, 99% of the time!

[@atikovi1]

One thing I don't understand and maybe it's already been answered, but when you were stopped at the light with the engine off, and then you turned the engine on, the car didn't move for a second. I think if the clutch didn't disengage, the car would move instantly from the starter cranking. Like in the old days when your car stalled in an intersection you could move it out of the way with the starter.

[@bunning63]

Remember years ago showing people at work how you could change gear without the clutch, they were amazed at this magic!

[@quilofra]

When starting the car, you start in first gear? How does the car start? Doesn't it stall?

[@chrislongbeard]

My father had a 91 Civic for almost 400k miles. Still the original clutch because he shifted like this all the time. I never could master it on either my 48 Plymouth or 55 Dodge truck but i chalked it up to column shift and mechanical linkages

[@snoopdogie187]

I've done this but I find driving without brakes a little harder. I did it once, luckily in a manual trans vehicle. Waited for traffic to be minimal, and timed every light so I never had to fully stop.

[@edwardclark2653]

This man can drive any auto on the road! I laugh at people that discount the importance of familiarity with 3 pedals.