Live Clutch Mod (LCM)

Good info. Thanks!

 

I hear ya and agree. And while it’s not really an issue, the crank thrust bearing probably would live better not having the clutch pushed at starts. It only has whatever oil is still there from last time you drove, so starting in neutral and getting oil with no thrust pressure from the clutch seems smart. Not that it matters much, but one of those things that may help someday.

 

Good point.

I know crank bearings work on pressurized oil film. Not sure about the thrust surface. Likely also.

 

Ah, you probably right.

 

Confirmed! Exactly what @BLtheP said. CC works as it should. Used it quite a bit on a run to the airport and back.

 

Just bumping this because it has been such a nice time with this mod.

One other benefit is that there's no need to push in the clutch to get into low range.

Just enjoying it.

 

I count on the clutch requirement to start to keep the car from being launched on startup while in gear by anyone else who might drive it and not realize it’s a manual…valet, tech, whomever…

 

I’m missing the point of this. You can use the CSC in the odd case you want to. Is this for someone who prefers to always start in neutral?

 

Yessir. Or, just not hit the clutch to start.

The LCM is purely an option for those that might want it. No downside for me and 100% reversible.

 

You're not wrong. But, it is easy enough to note. It's rare for anyone else to drive my Taco and never a valet. Hahaha!

 

This confuses me. Doesn't the truck need to be stopped but in gear to shift into low range?

 

No, needs to be 2-3 mph or less (stopped is fine and how I do it) and clutch needs to be in.

Now he doesn’t have to push the clutch in because the switch that detects that is tricked into thinking the clutch is always pressed.

 

Oh that's making sense now. I thought the clutch pedal had to be depressed in order to be stopped while in gear, not 'just because the switch has to be pressed'

 

Even my mid 90's Miata had this interlock, as well as a early 90's Thunderbird SuperCoupe my BIL had. So they started a long time ago. More Nadar-ism.

It was very common to disable this in Miatas due to excessive thrust bearing wear.

Truth. And for any of the youngsters who have only driven since the 90's they would have to learn a new habit to start safely, since the interlock is the only thing they've known.

Tough little Russian beasts. Still a lot of them running about in Cuba, because they are so easy to fix with bailing wire and duct tape.

Here's one a friend owns with custom wheels modified to fit. Note the lug pattern.

 

I can certainly see a reason for it, but just about any old hat would either be wiggling the stick or stepping on the pedal. That is my opinion anyway.

For me more than anything, I got used to the guilty pleasure of having it be live. Not so much of a lazy thing as a convenience thing. Sort like the remote start folks who are unhappy that the engine cuts out when the door is opened.


Even as a kid though, I would strip out the safety ground wires on lawnmowers and such. We had one that would kill the engine if it was put in reverse with the blade turning.

 

The T case is doing what the output shaft is doing, so the clutch as no real affect there.

But, there is no syncro on the LR gear set. Mine does not like it at all if there is any motion. I need to be fully stopped for it to go in properly.

Like @BLtheP said, I can just sit there and flick it in and out of LR though. Given that I also trimmed the tabs off of the knob so that I don't have to push it in to get to LR, it is a very different experience. Haha!

 

Yeah, it’s odd to me that it recommends 2-3 mph for going into low range. That has never worked well for me, in any vehicle. Nasty clunks or grinding. Mostly on my Jeep because I tried it there more than the truck, but same concept. I always just fully stop for the truck.

I’ve got a slightly different version of a clutch switch bypass that @daveeasa came up with, coming soon. Can’t wait. My YJ doesn’t have a clutch switch and so I’m used to flicking it into neutral for starts. But having to press the clutch is annoying.

I’ll just plug it back in when I need to take the truck in for tires or inspections. Just for the added safety against techs that potentially don’t drive manuals daily.

 

I would be nice if we could be moving along at 10mph or so to get in and out of LR, but I can at least understand why that is not possible. I did creep backward a couple times and didn't enjoy the sounds. Haha!


@daveeasa said that he had something for you. Pretty cool!


Habit forming is definitely the way I look at it.

 

That's interesting about LR and the bypass, makes sense tho. I like the added safety b/c my kids aren't that far from driving my truck and they are supreme idiots. And I'm a partial idiot sometimes too.

Cruise, as mentioned, is a different switch at the top of the pedalstroke vs this one at the bottom. I added cruise to my '05 so I'm familiar with that one. It's nice to be able to tap the clutch to cancel if you're busy eating and drinking on a long drive and come up on someone, though you fellas with newer trucks and that adaptive cruise have fancy options I don't have on any of mine.

I used LR for the final crawl to the ski spot last weekend, it was nice to have. AWD would be killer too.