LAND ROVER MOMENTS & HOW TO OVERCOME THEM
Moka and I were rolling merrily down the highway on our way to get work done on her during the weekend. I've been planning on getting the OME shocks on for two months now and was finally going to do it. Moka had made plans for herself too though, so as I was pulling out of the last toll station she had a "Land Rover" moment and dumped the clutch on me. From now on all breakdown will be labelled as Land Rover moments, Green Eggs or similar. As I pulled over and positively diagnosed the clutch diaphragm has retired in haste I persuaded Moka back on the road. So here is a trick most of you will know, some may not in case you're wondering:
WHAT THE HELL DO I DO NOW?
Relax you can drive your rig home no problem, diesel is better, by the way. So...
GET MOVING: With the engine NOT running select first gear. Turn off all lights and whatever may use electricity. Crank the engine and do not give up. It feels horrible but these old diesels can take the abuse. It will get you moving again! From then on change gears without using the clutch by matching motor speed (rpm) with the transmission speed.
I've clocked over 160K km on Moka and I "know" when I can slot gears in but you can do it too like this.
UPSHIFTING (EASY): build up rpm. We do this in order to have sufficient speed and rpm range to allow matching; rpm will need to drop (500rpm avg on Moka" to match next gear. Release throttle and gently but quickly pull it our of gear. Immediately bring shifter to the next gear and "rest it" on the slot applying a hair of pressure. As the revs naturally drop your transmission and motor revolutions will match and "pluc!" in goes the gear! now your set to keep on moving!
WHAT THE HELL DO I DO NOW?
Relax you can drive your rig home no problem, diesel is better, by the way. So...
GET MOVING: With the engine NOT running select first gear. Turn off all lights and whatever may use electricity. Crank the engine and do not give up. It feels horrible but these old diesels can take the abuse. It will get you moving again! From then on change gears without using the clutch by matching motor speed (rpm) with the transmission speed.
I've clocked over 160K km on Moka and I "know" when I can slot gears in but you can do it too like this.
UPSHIFTING (EASY): build up rpm. We do this in order to have sufficient speed and rpm range to allow matching; rpm will need to drop (500rpm avg on Moka" to match next gear. Release throttle and gently but quickly pull it our of gear. Immediately bring shifter to the next gear and "rest it" on the slot applying a hair of pressure. As the revs naturally drop your transmission and motor revolutions will match and "pluc!" in goes the gear! now your set to keep on moving!
A vehicle in gear is SAFER than a moving vehicle in "neutral"! If for whatever reason your engine cuts you lose power brakes and steering!! So practice this if you can!
DOWNSHIFTING (TRICKY): Now you're going to reverse the procedure. Your actions determine wether you'll successfully downshift or not. Imagine you only have a specific window of speed over time in which you will be able to shift down into a lower gear before being at sever gearing disadvantage. So slow down your vehicle in gear to a comfortable and reasonable ratio (speed/rpm). Release throttle and pull out of gear. Move gear stick to the desired lower gear and rest it. Now using throttle build rpm up to match lower gear transmission speed. Keep in mind it is safer and easier to slot a gear in when the motor is revving down rather than revving up. I know that Moka has a 500rpm difference (more or less) between gear shifts. When downshifting with no clutch I tend to build 600rpm on the previous count and as rpm's drop i will keep slight pressure on the gear stick until it literally is "taken in" by the transmission.
Expect a jolt. If you fail to slot the gear in and lose that window of gear ratio immediately move down to the next lower gear and repeat. If you lose all momentum you're gonna have to persuade it to start again I'm afraid! ..... No pressure... just don't let it happen if you're going up-hill!!
STOPPING: when stopping keep in mind that you're A) going to have to "persuade" it back moving and B) will be relying on brakes more than you usually would. So be conscious about that. Do use engine breaking to slow down but remember to slot out of gear before you lose the window of speed/rpm. If you do you'll either be forced to accelerate a tad or will stall the motor!
Tip session over Moka is at the doctors and am thinking about taking her to a psychiatrist in order to prevent any more Land Rover instances or feeling she's harbouring. Jokes aside I'm glad the clutch gave out now rather than during an expedition.
Expect a jolt. If you fail to slot the gear in and lose that window of gear ratio immediately move down to the next lower gear and repeat. If you lose all momentum you're gonna have to persuade it to start again I'm afraid! ..... No pressure... just don't let it happen if you're going up-hill!!
STOPPING: when stopping keep in mind that you're A) going to have to "persuade" it back moving and B) will be relying on brakes more than you usually would. So be conscious about that. Do use engine breaking to slow down but remember to slot out of gear before you lose the window of speed/rpm. If you do you'll either be forced to accelerate a tad or will stall the motor!
Tip session over Moka is at the doctors and am thinking about taking her to a psychiatrist in order to prevent any more Land Rover instances or feeling she's harbouring. Jokes aside I'm glad the clutch gave out now rather than during an expedition.
Let us know if you found this useful or not!
Jokes aside we absolutely love Land Rover...albeit not all models
Alberto
Jokes aside we absolutely love Land Rover...albeit not all models
Alberto
