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 Driving Free wheel- couple of questions.
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andydeans3
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1994 Posts

Posted - 10 Oct 2021 :  22:59:10 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Couple of questions to the group.

If you drive in Free Wheel, do you make clutch-less gear changes going up the gears, as well as down?

Reason I ask, is that I came across an owners manual among my Saab "stuff" today, and it seems to suggest that you should only make clutch-less changes when changing down....
I only ever use the clutch to get the car moving, with the exception sometimes of 1st to 2nd, especially if going up hill.

Also, though it may not be advisable, is it possible at all, to lock/unlock the freewheel when moving? ie while moving, put the car in neutral, depress the clutch and switch between free and fixed wheel......or is it a complete no no?




1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro

christophe
V4 Fanatic

France
224 Posts

Posted - 11 Oct 2021 :  09:57:52 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Well,I do use the freewheel all the time for upshifts or downshifts except when I am in a hurry or till the gearbox oil is fully warmed. I would say that as long as the gearbox does not protest, everything is OK.
As far as I know, it is not advisable to touch the freewheel when the car is rolling. I suppose this is why they put its control in such an awkward place.
Nice day to all.
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GeoffC
V4 Mad

United Kingdom
507 Posts

Posted - 15 Oct 2021 :  18:03:00 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Always used the freewheel whilst rallying, as it enabled me to very quickly snatch a lower gear whilst using my left foot on the brake to set the car sideways for the corner. So works well for down changes but as Christophe said you need to change up slower so I always used the clutch for that. Freewheel can be engaged/ disengaged whilst moving but only in neutral. If you have the handle of the control vertical instead of horizontal you can pull it out by hooking your foot under it. I've missed the freewheel on the Sonett (previous owner welded it up the vandal!) but just acquired a Chris Partington built box with working freewheel so looking forward to fitting it.
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TTruckie
V4 Fanatic

United Kingdom
320 Posts

Posted - 15 Oct 2021 :  21:26:39 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I Use Freewheel on the Sonett lots and use it for up and down shift all OK. If you are careful you can change in and out but the gearbox must be under acceleration load or bad things happen, so best do it in neutral or stationary.
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72sonett3
V4 Fanatic

Spain
269 Posts

Posted - 16 Oct 2021 :  21:53:45 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I use the freewheel all the time, not using clutch shifting up or down.

You can engage the freewheel while driving (push the lever in) as that slides the locking sleeve out of the splines of the freewheel cylinder.

To disengage the freewheel (pull the lever out) the teeth of the sleeve slide into the splines of the cylinder and lock it with the primary shaft, so that is when the teeth meet and damage may occur if you do it under power. It can be done when coasting in neutral or with clutch depressed, but gently...

--
'72 97
'77 96L conv.
'95 900SE conv.
'99 9-3T
? 006
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andydeans3
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
1994 Posts

Posted - 27 Oct 2021 :  18:09:18 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Thanks for all the inputs guys.

The reason I was asking about engaging, disengaging the freewheel, while moving, was because I was recently told a "hairy" story, where a chap's brakes failed completely, (not sure how), while he was going down hill in Free Wheel, and he wasn't sure if he should try and engage fixed drive, while the car was moving, in order to acquire some engine breaking. In the end he made it round the next corner, where the road went up hill quite steeply, and he managed to stop with the hand brake.

1978 LHD SAAB 96
1978 MGB Roadster
2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo
1991 Nissan Figaro
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