RE: Crunchy Second Gears

["Jorge Mazlumian" <jmazl@domain.elided>]

Bruce wrote:
<<In my opinion, the reason that the second gear synchromesh fails is
because
a) it is the hardest worked of all the gears in normal driving and hence
the first to fail and b) because most drivers do not shift
"sympathetically".>>
*************************
Why doesn't it happen to other non Alfa cars, then?

**************************
<<So the real cure is for people to learn how to shift gears properly and if
possible also double declutch on downshift. This will reduce the wear
substantially.  A good driver can of course operate even a crunchy gearbox
smoothly,...>>
***************************

I was witness to that just recently in Button Willows, when an SCCA
instructor drove my 230K mile Milano so fast I never new possible, and
without even once crunching my *weak* 2nd gear synchro.  He double clutched
it with such an ease I was continually waiting for the ugly noise that never
happenned.
By the way, why exactly does double clutching work? (3rd, clutch, neutral,
release and press clutch, 2nd gear (no crunch), release clutch and floor the
accelerator/gas.)
Jorge Mazlumian
89 Milano QVerde

------------------------------