Jerky gear change from 2nd gear

[stellablade]

Maybe this is my lack of driving experience, but every time I select 2nd gear and bring the clutch back up ready to apply my foot to the accelerator, the car seems to jerk. I’m finding it very difficult to get a smooth change. I guess this is likely to be my driving style. Any ideas? It's very annoying.

[somerset]

Funnily enough, I had the same thing - I think it just takes a little getting used to. I've managed to stop it happening now (MOST of the time). Perhaps its a case of introducing a little finesse into the left boot!

[stellablade]

I'll try for a little more finesse then. Seems I can only get a smooth shift if I let the clutch out very slowly and take it easy with the accelerator. Guess more practice is in order.

[stellablade]

Cracked it! Combination of smoother release of the clutch and application of more gas as the clutch is brought up.

[DaveNagy]

It's been my experiance that the finesse is required more in the right foot than in the left. When moving from a stop then yes, you'll need to "feather" the clutch a bit as it starts to bite. But you should be able to do all your other upshifts without much clutch slippage. The key is, of course, to have the revs matched pretty closely. If you have the engine speed matched to what it's going to "require" in the next higher gear, you should, in theory anyway, be able to pop the clutch and feel nothing at all through the driveline.

I understand that the MCS is prone to "holding on" to its revs when you get off the gas. That's unfortunate if true because when upshiftingyou need the revs to drop in order to have the car's road-speed match with the higher gear you've just chosen.

The same goes for downshifts. You should be able to get off the clutch very quickly and still not cause the car to change speeds. (You don't need to use to clutch at all if you're good. I'm definitely not!)

I found these two articles to be interesting:

Shifting Techniques
Heel-toe Downshifting

-Dave

[Bilbo Baggins]

I have also noticed that if you try and "short" shift it is jerkier. Make sure you are reving the engine up to 3,000 or more before you try to shift. Also, easing off on the accelerator just prior to shifting, not a sudden "lift" mind you, just an easing, will also help smooth things out.

[stellablade]

So when taking my foot off the clutch after engaging gear, when should I start to increase pressure on the accelerator? I found that by gently applying the accelerator while simultaneously releasing the clutch made for a smoother shift. I've not driven a petrol car for ten years, hence all the questions

[Bilbo Baggins]

Quote:

Originally posted by stellablade
So when taking my foot off the clutch after engaging gear, when should I start to increase pressure on the accelerator? I found that by gently applying the accelerator while simultaneously releasing the clutch made for a smoother shift. I've not driven a petrol car for ten years, hence all the questions

Ahhhhh, that is indeed the question, isn't it.
Timing and practice is everything. Just keep practicing to keep it smooth. As long as you are not slipping the clutch all will be well.