Crack Pipe Time- Automatic Manual Tranny

Sounds a lot like the VW "auto-stick". They're neat to drive, but never caught on very well. Overcomplication of the system. Either stick shift, or automatic. Not a big need for an overcomplicated and trouble prone "something in the middle".

But again, neat to drive. Very weird and unnatural. lol

 

This can be done. I had a buddy years ago with a Toyota 4x4 with a 5 speed and he was a paraplegic. He had an air shift set up hooked up to the pedal that worked very well. He left the pedal in case something happened and someone else had to drive it. The unit could be disconnected very easily iirc.

 

Don't some large semi-trucks have autos similar to this, essential an air shifted trans. I think they just automaticly let of the gas, adjust engine rpm to match and shift instead of using the clutch.

Kevo

 

The over/under used air or vacuum to shift it. You did have to adjust RPM/speed co-ordination.

 

Yep...I sell Mack truck parts, and our version is called "Mdrive"
Basically a manual trans that shifts itself.
Ford has what they call a dual clutch automatic, which is the same type of thing.
The important thing to remember is that these are computer controlled transmissions...I think it'd be difficult to accomplish without that.

 

what about the paddle shifter set up in open wheel racing and rally racing cars? How are the clutches operated in them?

 

When I was racing there were guys that had "clutched " automatics. They had a clutch in front of the auto, and it worked as normal, then you shifted the transmission like an auto. They could leave at a high rpm, then shift the auto for a non interrupted shift. Pretty neat. Seen Clutched Turbo and Clutch flights.

 

I have ridden in a road tractor with auto air shift, would even down shift ,really slick......guy ask me if I wanted to try it out but I was afraid I would grab the shifter and screw it up lol....I normally do not use the clutch once Im rolling any ways....

 

The modern computer controlled "manual" gearboxes are pretty slick. I'm most familiar with those used by BMW and VW. They are SMG transmissions, or Sequential Manual Gearboxes. These are actual manual transmissions that are computer controlled by servos. In the case of older BMWs, there is a 6 speed manual, and an SMG version of the same transmission, or a juice automatic available for the same model car. The difference is the SMG box doesn't have any shift detents to "lock" the particular gear selection. The 6 spd manual (a fairly rare option) has become very desirable to convert conventional juice automatics to manuals, so the prices for the manual transmissions have gotten stupid. The SMG equipped cars were pretty common, so there are lots available. Well, somebody figured out how to drill the front case to add the detents (balls/springs), effectively converting the SMG to a conventional manual. A benefit is the SMG transmissions are usually in much better condition, syncro-wise, because the computer perfectly rev-matched the engine to the speed, rather than a driver working the syncros hard to accomplish the same gearchange.

My girfriend's VW GTI has an DSG 6 speed (direct shift gearbox) which is, again, a manual gearbox, not a slushbox. It can be paddle-shifted, or left in "drive" to row its self through the gears. There are several "modes" like sport, comfort. It is a dual clutch setup, where one clutch operates 1st, 3rd, and 5th, and the other clutch does the even gears. This way, the "next" gear can be pre-selected and ready for the next gearchange, up or down. Again, the computer controls everything, whether paddle shifted or left in drive. It is strange to feel it downshift through every gear every time you slow down and stop in traffic for a stoplight. Pressing the brake pedal under a certain speed "clutches" the car, dis-engaging the driveline. I'm used to bringing the revs up a bit and "brake-torquing" an automatic for a quicker launch off the line, but this provides the opposite response from the VW. The foot on the brake disengages everything, so there is a big delay to get things rolling again. Its hard to break old habits!
These computer-shifted cars today are amazing with the speed, accuacy, and rev-matching abilities that no human can duplicate, plus they seem quite reliable. Technology!
-Donny