Clutch free driving--home

[WRGREENER]

72/915 could anyone give me a lesson on driving with out a clutch cable. I know i can start in 2d and to 5th but what are the techniques for getting through the gears both up and down. At least well enough to get me home or to a shop for clutch cable replacement. I just spent 2 hrs in a tow truck and never want to do that again.

[HarryD]

You CANNOT shift as the 915 Porsche synchronizers do not allow for that.

On the other hand, you should be able to go about 50+ mph in second. In my '73 I had the same thing happen. Drove 20 miles to my shop without stopping or shifting.

Traveled around south America for most of december. I had a vw polo. At a light the clutch cable went to the floor. I was in a pretty bad part of quilmes, argentina.
What I did was with car off I put it in 1st. For there the car started rolling and I accelerated till I was able to pull shifter out of first. From there I was gently looking for second. Gears are meshed and will eventually engage. Again you have to be gentle.
When I was coming to a light I pulled out of gear and rolled to a spot to pull over. Then I repeated when traffic had passed.
This process was to get me out of a bad part of town. Not sure I would be able to do it with my 915. With 2 kids and 2 females, I didn't have a choice. I needed to get them out of there.
I guess I may do it on the Porsche to get it off a highway or somewhere safe.
I should mention that the car is a deisel and has a high torque starter. I think it enabled me to start it in first and get rolling.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by The Chef

Traveled around south America for most of december. I had a vw polo. At a light the clutch cable went to the floor. I was in a pretty bad part of quilmes, argentina.
What I did was with car off I put it in 1st. For there the car started rolling and I accelerated till I was able to pull shifter out of first. From there I was gently looking for second. Gears are meshed and will eventually engage. Again you have to be gentle.
When I was coming to a light I pulled out of gear and rolled to a spot to pull over. Then I repeated when traffic had passed.
This process was to get me out of a bad part of town. Not sure I would be able to do it with my 915. With 2 kids and 2 females, I didn't have a choice. I needed to get them out of there.
I guess I may do it on the Porsche to get it off a highway or somewhere safe.
I should mention that the car is a deisel and has a high torque starter. I think it enabled me to start it in first and get rolling.

You can do this with the Borg Warner style synchonizers. Again, the older (pre-G-50) Transmissions does not use the same design.

Here are some thoughts by Grady Clay on the topic:

Let the game begin, 60 miles from home and no clutch!

and read post #24 here:

Ever had to drive your car w/o a CLUTCH?

[tobluforu]

This happened to me in my 72, cable snapped in San Francisco. Drove car 15 miles through SF, across the GGB and 1\3 the way up Mt Tam to my house. Put car in second and turn ignition to start, car will start and lurch forward. If you have to shift, go easy and go from second to fourth. Ran a few stop signs, and coasted through a red light, but got very lucky with the stop lights (this was around 1am) The second time it happened, guess what, I kept a spare and changed it in a parking lot. If you need to get home, it's do-able, if you can get it towed, do that instead.

[WRGREENER]

Wow, an i thought i had a clutch night. This all started when i drove my girlfriend from santa cruz to half moon bay last friday. I have been restoring this car for over a year. The first time i took her out for a drive i did not realize that i had a "fried" alternator and it died (excessive headlight abuse) at dusk and we had to walk/taxi home....not a good deal.
As we started this trip she commented that she had dreams about the brakes failing. I assured her that i had not worked on the brakes and they would be fine. (however, i had replaced the clutch cable and felt it better not to mention it). We had dinner reservations at "gibraltar" in el granada ca ( a must do restaurant). Had about 10 min. Till sit down and "pop" the cable snapped. Sit her at the rest., called a tow truck, had wine and apps., loaded the car, had a 1.5 hr home in cab of tow truck and she is still seeing me. All that and i could have driven home using 2d and 5th. Next time i will stay for dinner!!!