Is that darn clunk normal? Video explanation!

[gkamer]

This is for the benifit of new owners/riders. You old hands already know all this stuff. I’ve read posts on here (one was even from me) and other forums from new owners/riders of Spyders asking if the loud clunk sound you hear when shifting from Neutral to First or Neutral to Reverse is normal. This video from Shawn Smoak gives a pretty good explanation and demonstration of what’s happening and why. It starts at about the 1:58 minute mark and goes on until roughly the 5:55 mark. Everything thing before and after is pretty much unrelated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eglzxAo0weU

 

[FrogmanDave]

I've read it explained here many times but am still always amazed at how violent it sounds. Especially sitting in the garage with walls to echo the sounds. This video is an excellent explanation of it! A picture is worth a thousand words but a video is worth a million. Thanks for the video Greg!

 

[2dogs]

I have 14RT SE6. I've discovered that if I allow the tach to rise to it's highest point right after it starts up and without giving it any gas, the tach needle will drop down just a touch. At that point (approx) with your foot on the brake immediately shift into first and there will be no clunk. You'll be hard pressed to even hear it engage. It takes practice, but it works. After that, shift into reverse if you have to back out of the garage and there will be no clunk.

 

[FrogmanDave]

I have 14RT SE6. I've discovered that if I allow the tach to rise to it's highest point right after it starts up and without giving it any gas, the tach needle will drop down just a touch. At that point (approx) with your foot on the brake immediately shift into first and there will be no clunk. You'll be hard pressed to even hear it engage. It takes practice, but it works. After that, shift into reverse if you have to back out of the garage and there will be no clunk.

I just went out and tried this on my 2022 RTL. The engine is cold. First, there is no noticeable drop in RPM's after start. Second, I tried 5 times giving it a little more or less time after start and the clunk is just as bad no matter what. I sure wish this would have worked for me. I hate that clunk!

 

[Peteoz]

Wow….fascinating…..thanks Greg :thumbup:

Pete

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I have 14RT SE6. I've discovered that if I allow the tach to rise to it's highest point right after it starts up and without giving it any gas, the tach needle will drop down just a touch. At that point (approx) with your foot on the brake immediately shift into first and there will be no clunk. You'll be hard pressed to even hear it engage. It takes practice, but it works. After that, shift into reverse if you have to back out of the garage and there will be no clunk.

I'll try your method .....however if I let the revs drop to 8-900 rpm's ... ( takes about 45 seconds ) the clunk is diminished by 50% ..... JMHO .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[2dogs]

I just went out and tried this on my 2022 RTL. The engine is cold. First, there is no noticeable drop in RPM's after start. Second, I tried 5 times giving it a little more or less time after start and the clunk is just as bad no matter what. I sure wish this would have worked for me. I hate that clunk!

NO THROTTLE! The RPM needle drop is only as small as the width of the needle itself, at least on my machine it is. It took me quite a few times to get it down right but it works very well on my 14. The first time I found it was purely by accident. WHAT THE HELL, WHERE'D THE CLUNK GO? HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? Well, I experimented for days after that trying to get it down and finally, I found the sweet spot. It's not easy to catch at first. It takes practice and I still miss it half the time. But it's there if you search for it. At least on mine it is. Here's my take on why........with the cold oil (10w40) you have a split moment when the oil gets to moving everything at the same revolution and the shifting paw is able to easily engage the shifting dog w/o the clunk. Watch Greg's youtube again and you'll see what I mean. Good luck.

 

[2dogs]

I'll try your method .....however if I let the revs drop to 8-900 rpm's ... ( takes about 45 seconds ) the clunk is diminished by 50% ..... JMHO .... Mike :thumbup:

Mine occurs almost instantaneously. It's easy to miss and tricky to catch. When I catch it perfectly and w/o the clunk I have to give a little gas to make sure I got it. Actually I feel it rather than hear it it's so quiet.

Now just watch. I'm probably going to miss it for next two weeks now just because I said that. LOL

 

[FrogmanDave]

Now just watch. I'm probably going to miss it for next two weeks now just because I said that. LOL

:roflblack:

 

[Peacekeeper6]

I'm lucky that my driveway has a slight slope to the street. I eliminate the Neutral to Reverse clunk by pushing my Spyder 3 feet out the garage door and let the slope take me to the street.

I only deal with the Neutral to First clunk then ....