Craigss81689

Have been researching to see if anyone has found a way to make the first gear launch a little easier from a dead stop. I've owned several other stick shifts and non were as touchy as this car. I seen on one thread that it's because the car has a dual mass clutch or something like that. I'm just curious to know is there anything I could buy or change to make taking off in 1st gear a little easier. It seems that it requires more gas than any other manual. The car shifts perfectly smooth in every other gear though. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

yes, this car is horrible to master the clutch.
BUTT! once you do master it, 1st gear will be a breeze!!

it all has to do with seating position. if you arent seated correctly, you will ALWAYS get first gear wrong.

now, there is a mod to take out the check valve inside the slave cylinder, but I found that's not what causes me to shift stupid....

WDPanda

Once you do master it, it's very smooth.

srg818

It took me a while but I've mastered the gear changes. What position do you find is best?

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

I think the issue most of you guys had was finding the engagement point.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

why ask me?
seating position is personal.
I'm sure, you do not have the same length of legs that I do.

i am 5'6 and found that I have to be right up against the steering wheel.
cant gangster lean

srg818

Understood I like my seat a little further back with knee bend at a little more than 90 degree angle and seat height adjustment with my knee higher than butt. Coming from a 5 speed in the 6th gen Honda Accord I was wtf'ing for quite a while before realizing this is how the 3GTL beast is meant to be and must be tamed.

GreenSpades

My tip would be to try building a small amount of momentum before easing out the clutch and then adding gas. For example if the car is on a slight downhill release the brake when you know the cars in front of you will be moving soon (obviously only do this with enough space) and the car will creep forward. I find even 1mph or 2mph will help releive a lot of the jittery starting.

When you are in stop and go traffic stay at a lower speed and creep up to the next person without entirely stopping. And dont worry about the guy behind you who is riding your ass and getting pissed off, he is driving an automatic and wont have a problem getting going or doesnt even understand how a manual transmission works. I try to never come to a complete stop, this will also mean being accutely aware of your surroundings and car placement around you. You will get the hang of it after driving stop and go in traffic on the turnpike or I95.

For seating position try moving closer and more upright. I have a tendency to put it as low as it goes, because I am used to a sports car position, but for some the advantage of a higher seating position is better road view. Everyone has a different body form.

BROlando

I would agree. The engagement point is also adjustable.

I find that most shops set it super low to the floor because that's how people liked it in the 50's or something?

It is dis-advantageous to have it near the floor for so many reasons, however.

I didn't notice any difficulty driving after jumping out of my TSX (K20A flywheel/clutch), and jumping into my friend's TL-S 6MT. Maybe it was all that jumping tho.

I did notice when I first bought my TSX that it was near impossible to drive because someone set the master cylinder freeplay so loose that the clutch engaged right off the floorboard.

I also noted that I hated the way LUK clutches felt. I know its the OEM clutch on the J series. But for some reason, for my foot, they always start engaging low...and they're vague AF in feel.

AlanW

On my late '06 6MT, taking out the slave cylinder check valve made a big difference in the feel for me. Plus you can launch the car hard without smelling burning clutch afterward from that check valve delaying engagement & slipping under hard power.

I thought near ALL 3G 6MT owners removed the check valve.

Jackass

I am waaaaaay too lazy to do that.

Craigss81689

Very usefil information. Thank you!

DMZ

Coming from an '89 Accord SE-i with a 5 speed M/T, I can honestly say this 3G TL's clutch took some getting used to in the beginning.
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