Done that and can be done shifting up or down. But not with purpose of saving clutch. Come on cost of clutch is much less than a "kaput" gaer box at worst or even " worn out synchro-gear rings.
In theory the two gears inside your gear box have to be at same revs to slot in (further helped by synchro rings) The driving gear is rotating as per engine rpm's and the driven gear (while not slotted) is rotating with wheel rpm's. If you can get both at same rpm's you can slot in the gears to lock with each other. When you press the clutch this is what is happening. The engine side gear is free wheeling because of clutch and can easily slot with driven gear.
First to do a change to neutral you need to practice slight easing off accelerator and pushing the gear to neutral. This is easy part.
Second do get in to the next gear (say second to third) just wait a second in neutral and then push the lever towards third - all the while keeping off accelerator. As soon as gear revs match the gear will slot in to place.
Problem is doing in other direction (third to second) where you need to pump accelerator to rev up the engine and then let it slow down enough so that again revs on both side match up and gear slots in.
Have driven in emergencies on plains and even in hill but it is something to be done with extreme caution and only if you have practise.
BUT again this is no way to save the clutch and if that is the intention then you may save the clutch only to land up with much bigger bill of gear box. |