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jlaird

jlaird

Great Pumpkin
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This was your question.

"While driving my newly acquired 71 Midget I've been dealing with first
gear issues. Is it completely normal for the car to be at a complete
stop before you can shift into first without grinding gears?"

Just pull shift leaver back to start into second to stop gears then into first you go without crunching. When you get real good it is fast and painless.
 
a 71 won't have a syncro in 1st so that happens, 2nd is geared low enough you can get away without much clutch if not at a complete stop.
 
Nothing to fix, that's the way it is.
 
After reading this, I realized that I unknowingly put it into 2nd, before 1st. I was started thinking about why I did that, and had no idea- sure enough after hearing the grinding, I remembered!

I wonder how many bloody knuckles and sleepless nights I would lose if I would just have the courage to ask the "silly" questions. I should learn- Everytime someone asks a silly question, I learn something valuable! Thanks!
 
And that folks is why second syncro wears out faster than third and forth.

Now when you really really get good you will not need the clutch for second, third, and forth. At your own risk of course. Taught my daughter to drive on a Bugeye including this trick. Son never caught on, sigh.

There is no such thing as a dumb question if you don't know the answer. I for one ask dumb questions all the time and learn from the answers in every case.

Folks here are great about answers, I have learned so much.
 
I had a buddy that used to put his midget into first at about 8 mph without a sound, just have to get the revs right
 
[ QUOTE ]
There is no such thing as a dumb question if you don't know the answer.

[/ QUOTE ]

If there was a prize for asking 'dumb' questions, I'd be favourite, but my midget has been kept on road thanks to the great answers to my questions.
 
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