F1 vs. DCT vs. F12 tranmissions

The F1 is a simple conventional gearbox, wherein shifting is sequential and not "free". You will know this from older race cars, where the manual shifter needed to be pushed forward for "down" and pulled backwards for "up" (and sometimes the other way around). Very similar with motorcycle gearboxes. Shifting is always in one increment only, never more. The actual gearsets in a sequential gearbox are just like in any other "normal" manual gearbox.

The "improvement" over these classical sequential gearboxes is that the clutch pedal and the shifter are replaced by hydraulic actuators located directly at the gearbox and clutch, which are activated by an electronic system and in response to throttle position, engine and speed parameters (among others), and, of course, to your action with the paddles for up and down. Unfortunately the electronics overrides your paddle actions, if the programmer believes that your choice is inapproriate, e.g. you cannot shift into 6th at speeds below about 55 km/h, and in particular if the coolant temperature has not yet reached a minimum value. Or if the software believes that you have died. It goes to neutral, if you are standing without pressing the brake pedal for a preset time.

The main difference to classical "H" car gearboxes is the actuation, in any sequential gearbox you cannot shift in higher steps than 1 at a time, whereas the "normal" car gearbox allows you to shift directly from e.g. the first into the third gear (what I typically do with the 550 in normal city traffic, 1-3-5 ).

 

Have a read:

Introduction to How Dual-clutch Transmissions Work - How Dual-clutch Transmissions Work | HowStuffWorks

 

I wonder if I misunderstood your question. I don't think the DCT in the F12 uses "wet" clutches in the sense a system like Mercedes automated manual does.

 

I don't believe this is true for the F1 transmission (as in OP's 599). The F1 is an H-pattern box with actuators. The paddles and software make it sequential, but the box itself is not a sequential box like a motorcycle. Other than the actuators, the box is identical to the fully-manual version of the same transmission, i.e., an H-pattern box.

A DCT, on the other hand, is a pair of true sequential boxes.

 

This is correct

 

+1. F1s are non sequential

 

All the dual clutch transmissions use wet clutches in basically an oil bath. The 599 confuses some people because it has a twin disc, dry clutch, like the F430 and early 348, and some think twin disc clutch = dual clutch transmission. Not true.

As mentioned earlier, the F1 system is a manual transmission, same transmission as the three pedal Ferraris, with electro-hydraulic actuation of the gear shift and clutch actuation. Not only are the transmissions identical on F1 and 3 pedal Ferraris of the same model, but so are the clutch and throw-out bearing. T/O bearing seals on F1 and 3 pedal Ferraris differ only because F1 T/O bearings use synthetic ATF for actuation and 3 pedals use brake fluid for actuation.

 

Just think of the F1 transmission as a manual with "robotized shift and clutch".

Here is an interesting video where you can see the "robot" in operation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAOk8FXPPY8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-If3wwd8Qj0

Enjoy the music and have a latte macchiato.

 

This is interesting. What an effort to "automatize" a conventional H manual gearbox. Thanks for the correction.

I though that this had been derived from racing, but apparently not ...

Cheers, Bernhard

 

Frank- There are two metal to metal clutches (that is why you need an oil bath) so the system can act like the old Wilson pre-selector gearboxes. If you are going up through the box, the system can preselect the next gear with the 2nd clutch and the shift then takes very little time. If you deviate from the sequence and go to a downshift, the next shift can actually be slower than an F1 box.

 

Surely this means a manual conversion is a real possibility. It would mean de-robotising, adding a stick and and extra pedal, plus some hydraulics

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

Technically possible and has been done with the 360 using a mix of new and used parts, but very difficult on a 599. All the parts would be very expensive, if even available, and installation costs would eat your lunch.

There were over 4000 3 pedal 360s, but very few 3 pedal 599s, so no used parts available.

Plus eventually, it would be just a conversion, and worth a fraction of what an original costs.