can you drive a stick? non-synchro?

[john112deere]

Given how many younger guys there are around here, and knowing how fast this skill is dying off among my generation...a two-part poll, just 'cause I'm curious:

First half is can you drive a manual transmission, and the second half is can you drive a non-synchro (i.e. crashbox) manual transmission.

I'm thinking cars more than semis with the second half, but either way, really...

*Note that for each half "yes" means you are very competent, "sorta" means you can make it work but it's not always pretty, and no means you can't do it.

 

[5.0Flareside]

for me its a yes on Synchro manual and no for non synchro. its not that hard when you get used to driving a manual. and by all means i cant power shift but i can just cruise along. but thats only cause ive never owned a manual and have only drove a manual bout 10 times.

 

[smokey]

I learned to drive on a non synchronized when I got a modern manual I was like where is the fun in this this is too easy.

 

[john112deere]

I've probably driven 80-90% of my miles in synchronized manuals. Like to think I'm pretty competent.

I'm somewhere between "sorta" and "yes" on the non-synchros...I've driven them enough to be able to do it. Takes a few miles to really get back into the groove, but then I'm pretty good. (Note that most of my experience was in a Model A with no speedometer or tachometer, too...so it's 100% by "feel".)

 

[5.0Flareside]

yeah when i drive a manual its all by ear.

 

[5.0]

.

I rip through 10 gears of non-synchro all day long.

yeah when i drive a manual its all by ear.

I've never used a gauge to tell me when to shift... it's always been by ear.

.

 

[O'Rattlecan]

I don't know the difference, so I'm assuming "No" for non-synchro

Ryan

 

[Blue Goose]

Yes for the non-synchro.....I owned a T800 Ford Tandem with a 5 speed main with a 4 speed "Brownie" behind it. I've also driven 8LL, 10, and 13 speed Fuller Road Rangers.

 

[surewhynot]

Half the time I shift synchro'd trannys the same as I would a non synchro tranny. I don't even realize it usually.

 

[HazzardMadWolf]

Well versed in both synchro and non-synchro.

 

[SuperCab]

Synchro yeah, no problem. Non-synchro... I've done it, but I wouldn't say I'm good at it...

 

[Blue Goose]

Being an ex-quarry worker, I think Tony can relate to this. I grew up in the shadow of a rock quarry and went to work there during the summer and even when home on leave from the Army. They had three off road haul trucks, one was a Cat 769 that was a Cadillac to the two R-20 Euclids (Eucs). Those Eucs had 5 speed manual transmissions in them the size of a Ranger pickup and the teeth on the gears must have been a inch apart......or at least it felt that way if you'd miss a shift.

Ours were in a lot better condition with better paint and all of the glass etc. than the above example...

 

[TexasNomad]

Ok! if your talking about floating the gears?? then yeah thats all I can drive, I try and use the clutch in my dads car and I grind every damn gear like a noob, if I float them I can drive that **** like a bandit.

 

[Blade]

dont know the difference between them... guess i need to look it up, but my truck is a stick and thats all i drive.

 

[countryboytn]

I'v never been given the chance to drive a manual trans, so I'm gonna say no on both of them, but want to learn so bad I can't stand it.

I'v driven tractors before though, and didn't really have a problem... not exactly the same, but the same principle atleast.

 

[polarbear]

Yes and yes.

 

[john112deere]

Half the time I shift synchro'd trannys the same as I would a non synchro tranny. I don't even realize it usually.

I double clutch both my trucks most of the time...takes a lot of that Ranger notchiness out.

I can float gears in the '97...but I don't do it often enough to really be in practice.

 

[Truckin4life]

been awhile since i have driven non synchro, usually the truck i have driven are pretty beat up but after about 10-15 minutes i have them figured out... .

Drove a non synchro with a very smooth shifting trans, was very suprised honestly.

 

[mtflat]

I said sorta on the non synchro trans - cause I can do it, but don't very often.....but like riding a bicycle, it comes back fast.

 

[john112deere]

I said sorta on the non synchro trans - cause I can do it, but don't very often.....but like riding a bicycle, it comes back fast.

Same here.

I said sorta...but give me 10-20 miles to acquaint myself with the thing, and I'd be OK with driving a non-synchro box most anywhere.

Wish I could get a non-synchro box for my Rangers, in fact. Wouldn't take long at all to be as comfortable with it as I am with the synchro boxes...but it'd be an easier answer when it comes time to explain why I don't let people drive my trucks.