| Author |
Message |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member
Username: Peter
Post Number: 1636
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, March 04, 2002 - 3:02 am: | |
Hart, yes Cotal was one manufacturer of pre-selector gearboxes. Cord had this as well as an option on the 810. Wilson was another pre-selector gear box. I have no idea how the mechanism works, but your description is how you shift it.
Fiat had this as well on their 850 Berlina, called Idroconvert. Basically used a torque converter (for slipping in mid-shift) attached to a normal clutch. The stick-shift base had micro switches which activated a solenoid to pop the regular clutch.
I think the Valeo/Mondial system works this way. It takes throttle position, vehicle speed and gearshift position to operate and regulate the clutch. |
James Dixon (Omnadren250)
Junior Member
Username: Omnadren250
Post Number: 105
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 8:20 pm: | |
I think RUF and Sachs worked together to develop a system the mid '90s RUF CTR turbo cars. It was called EKS which when expanded and translated to english, meant "electronic foot".
I think it is still being used in the big horsepower, big money turbo 911 based cars from RUF |
Dave Wapinski (Davewapinski)
Junior Member
Username: Davewapinski
Post Number: 141
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 8:11 pm: | |
My first car, a used Saab, one of the first in the US - everything on it was strange, but a fun car. It had an auto clutch - still had to shift gears (column), but no clutch pedal. Totally reliable. |
Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Junior Member
Username: Eurocardoc
Post Number: 192
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 7:36 pm: | |
VW and Porsche had that system for a number of years, the pressure on the shift lever kicked out the clutch, then you shifted. If you got racey, like me most times, the tendency was to grab the shift lever anticipating the shift, trouble was it kicked out the clutch with the throttle wide open!!!! |
89TCab (Jmg)
Junior Member
Username: Jmg
Post Number: 166
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 6:30 pm: | |
Drove one, shifter is standard 5 speed gate and no clutch pedal. Feeling was weird but kinda cool too. I passed based on color and thoughts of trying to ever get it serviced... |
wm hart (Whart)
Junior Member
Username: Whart
Post Number: 107
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 6:11 pm: | |
Wasn't there a system made by a company called Cotal(sp?) on pre-ww 2 cars,was a preselector gear box:- you moved the gear selector first to choose the desired gear, then punched the clutch to engage it. |
Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Member
Username: Irfgt
Post Number: 863
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 5:09 pm: | |
AMC had this system years ago. I will look for some info on it tomorrow in my old service manuals. I remember driving one that had three on the tree with no clutch. |
Randy (Schatten)
Junior Member
Username: Schatten
Post Number: 222
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 03, 2002 - 4:06 pm: | |
I remember years ago, watching Beyond 2000 (now that we're in 2002, I still feel the show should be around!), they had a feature on the electronic clutches by a French company called Valeo. It was used in Subaru's in their rally racing events and on the Mondial (according to the show).
Apparently, it works by speed, and feel of the pressure on the shifter, and releases/engages the clutch accordingly when going in and out of gear. It is also said not to have a clutch pedal at all.
Got a Mondial? Or another F-car that has this system in it? What information is out there on this clutch-pedal-less system? And on another note - relability? |