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MG MGA - Heat, Toe

Hi Guys
Can someone please enlighten me on the actual operation of "Heal, Toe" when changing gears...
Do you have to have special levers?
My syncro is worn in 2nd and would love to learn to change down while braking into a corner...
Thanks, Dave
David Godwin

Its pretty simple and does take some practice. The MGA pedal set up makes it a bit difficult but can be done. If you have a Paddy Hopkirk trottle pedal, it helps.

My personal preference is to have the ball of my foot on the brake while the right side of my foot on the trottle. Depress the clutch with left foot, rool your right foot and blip the trottle like a race car and slide the car into gear. You will find a correct rpm to make it easier. If you syncro is out you may need to double clutch.

The heel in toe method is just that... either your heel is on the brake and toe on the trottle or via versa.

I drive all of my cars this way. Really fun when you driving in a more spirited manner.
skip

Dave. Skip has explained it fairly well. I use the right side of my foot to blip the throttle. Modern usage is as Skip has described, a slight blip to the throttle as you are passing through neutral. The older technique, which I learned, is what Skip describes as "double clutching" which was considered a very important part of the process back in the days when transmissions did not always have syncros on all gears.

When double clutching, the clutch is depressed, the gearshift is shifted into neutral, the clutch is released for a second, depressed again, the gearshift is shifted into the correct gear and the clutch released. This is what is done (without any blipping of the throttle) when shifting into a higher gear and helps to manually syncronise the gearchange.

When downshifting from a higher gear to a lower gear, the same practice is followed with the addition of the throttle being blipped while the gearlever is in neutral and the clutch pedal released. This brings the engine rpms up to help match the speed of the lower gear.

This practice may be done at any time, not only when applying the brakes. When used with the brake, the toes or ball of foot are on the brake pedal and maintain a constant pressure. The heel or the side of the foot blips the throttle, releases the throttle and the same brake pressure is maintained throughout the maneuver. Takes a little practice, but with sufficient practice it becomes second nature and you find yourself doing it without thinking.

Les
Les Bengtson

Thanks guys
That sounds difficult but exciting - something else to learn. I bought a race prepared A 3 weeks ago and have a real problem shifting into 2nd gear. Will practice on the road first, as trying the heal/toe movement at 100mph will be real scary! Being 6 foot tall is a bit of a problem already...
Dave
David Godwin

If you want a Paddy Hopkirk pedal, I may be able to find one somewhere...kept it from years ago "just in case"!
Gary Lock

raises a question. have a problem downsshifting from 3rd into second . unless my rpm is around 12, I feel the gears grinding when downshifting, unless at about 1200 rpm. could someone explain this phenomenon

michael
michael dvorkin

David, heel and toeing becomes second nature. I didn't realise the synchros on my race car were beat until I drove it normally back to the pits - whenever I was racing, I didn't NEED synchros as I always heel and toe - double clutch downshifts.
Bill Spohn

Bill
Do you have the standard pedals and how do you avoid kneeing the steering wheel - mine is a 14.5 inch moto lita?
Dave
David Godwin

This thread was discussed between 25/05/2006 and 27/05/2006

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