Shifting A Manual In Water

[SiliconTi]

OK, everyone says do not shift a manual (put the clutch in) while in water because it will suck in water/ruin the clutch/etc.

OK, what is the actual deal? I can not figure out why it would be an issue unless you were in deep and muddy water - all that goo would cause premature wear on the flywheel/clutch/pressure plate/throwout bearing. Make sense - but is the bell housing sealed? I assumed water would get into it and dry out from the heat of the running gear with the clutch in or out?

I'm just trying to know what actually happens and the mechanics of it.

[ronjenx]

My thoughts on this, having 40 years of manual transmission driving behind me:
The bell housing is not sealed. Depressing the clutch while in deep water will allow water, mud, etc, between the pressure plate, disk, and flywheel. This can render the friction to nearly zero. You may not be able to proceed through the water to the other side.

[TBJK]

My thoughts on this, having 40 years of manual transmission driving behind me:
The bell housing is not sealed. Depressing the clutch while in deep water will allow water, mud, etc, between the pressure plate, disk, and flywheel. This can render the friction to nearly zero. You may not be able to proceed through the water to the other side.

X2 that...easily get crap between the pressure plate and flywheel causing uneven wearing or possibly warping the fly wheel. Or hell you could get trash stuck in the throw out bearing..Just my .02

[TBJK]

In otherwords I would be carefull not to freak you out or anything

[jkkat]

When i do need to shift i use the old no clutch method.

[Smelt_1]

I have to think this topic of clutching in water is overblown. I've done it on occasion and had my clutch (toyota)make it to 150K miles. My guess is that it would take some time for the bell housing to flood and maybe the water I was in was prettty clean or that the holes are small where the water seeps in. But if you are way deep and for any amount of time, and in dirty water, then obviously you may be in for some trouble.

[Mark Doiron]

I have to think this topic of clutching in water is overblown. I've done it on occasion ...
Where in San Diego County do you even find water to ford? I lived in Chula Vista for 18 years, and would testify on a stack of Bibles that there isn't any! Unless maybe you drive it in the ocean: Bad idea!

[Seryoga]

I have to think this topic of clutching in water is overblown. I've done it on occasion and had my clutch (toyota)make it to 150K miles. My guess is that it would take some time for the bell housing to flood and maybe the water I was in was prettty clean or that the holes are small where the water seeps in. But if you are way deep and for any amount of time, and in dirty water, then obviously you may be in for some trouble.

+1, i've done it many many times, hell, i do it every other weekend when off roading. If i get stuck, i'll try to go in reverse, if that doesn't work, then there is no need to keep trying it again and again. Just let someone pull you out, well, unless you are dumb enough to go by yourself. The only time i killed my throwout bearing was when being stuck in MUD for 40 minutes, and trying to rock the jeep back and forth.

[Brad2893]

I'd rather suck in a little water, still be driveable, and be able to get out than sit and worry about what MIGHT happen.

My two cents.

[Smelt_1]

Where in San Diego County do you even find water to ford? I lived in Chula Vista for 18 years, and would testify on a stack of Bibles that there isn't any! Unless maybe you drive it in the ocean: Bad idea!

Nowhere in San Diego...you are correct. But the Baja hwy get wacked often and tho only way to continue your trip is to either wait till the water drops and /or go for it. The trailer trucks will go first, and you watch them closely to see how deep the agua is. the scariest part is staying in the middle of the road, where if you go off the edge...then bye bye......minimum 2 foot drop off.
What about mission vally? of course they will bust you on that crossing.

There are different type of jeepers....some venture out and seek to get somewhere........and then there are some that just go out and try to find a mud puddle to get dirty with.

[Dubya]

+1, i've done it many many times, hell, i do it every other weekend when off roading. If i get stuck, i'll try to go in reverse, if that doesn't work, then there is no need to keep trying it again and again. Just let someone pull you out, well, unless you are dumb enough to go by yourself. The only time i killed my throwout bearing was when being stuck in MUD for 40 minutes, and trying to rock the jeep back and forth.

Same here. I was doing it forever before I learned that you "ain't spossed to."
Here is my TJ Rubi in a lil Michigan mud. After I got pulled out (to the delight of about 20 spectators!), I had to let my clutch dry out for about 2 hours... then it was fine and there were no other problems- shifted like it never happened.

http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc358/RubicusMaximus/100_1226.jpg
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc358/RubicusMaximus/100_1234.jpg

[yendor65]

I was in deep water with my old cj the first time i let the clutch out it spun a couple of times than finnally caught , the second time i dropped the clutch it spun a couple of times and then caught and sent the globe gear right out the bottom of the tranny....so if your clutch is slippin due to wet. ....take care

[brent_f70]

bought a new YJ several years ago.....1st night I had it I thought it was invincible....Started playing in a massive mudd hole, got stuck with stock tires....kept shifting and hoping. When 3 other jeeps hooked tandem and finally pulled me out I was not able to get it in gear b/c of all the mudd between the cluch and flywheel. The dealership fixed and cleaned it for free twice before I figured out excessive shifting in DEEP mud or water is a no no.

[Flyin'Squirrel]

the day i got my jk i drove it into "the pit" by a friends house. was full of water but only stick tested about a foot deep :naw:(dumbest idea, ever). drove in and was so deep in muddy water my elbow touched the water out the drivers window! ended up not being able to climb small muddy hill on other side so freaking out i reversed all the way back out! :whew:

thinking back must have been one lucky day cause i checked air filter and it was halfway soaked, no water up intake tube though :thumbsup:

ima try n find pics.....

[Jeepin Dad]

I had shifted in water before without any problems but it only takes once to really screw up the clutch. I got stuck in a mud hole and shifted while trying to get pulled out and ended up sucking in mud and screwing up the pressure plate, throwout bearing and slave cylinder, I also siezed my rear drive shaft in the same hole due to water and mud getting in the joint. After a $2k repair bill I have rethought my stance on deep mud holes and try to avoid them whenever possible.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/paingham/Rausch%20Creek%204-12-08/100_2486.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/paingham/Rausch%20Creek%204-12-08/DSC00734.jpg

[Dubya]

I had shifted in water before without any problems but it only takes once to really screw up the clutch. I got stuck in a mud hole and shifted while trying to get pulled out and ended up sucking in mud and screwing up the pressure plate, throwout bearing and slave cylinder, I also siezed my rear drive shaft in the same hole due to water and mud getting in the joint. After a $2k repair bill I have rethought my stance on deep mud holes and try to avoid them whenever possible.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/paingham/Rausch%20Creek%204-12-08/100_2486.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/paingham/Rausch%20Creek%204-12-08/DSC00734.jpg


Did they cover any of it under warranty?

[Jeepin Dad]

Did they cover any of it under warranty?

No :naw:, the clutch is only covered under warranty for 12k miles I had 16k at the time. I could of possibly got the drive shaft covered but it was on back order for 3 weeks so I drove over Quadratec and picked up a Tom Woods shaft and the dealership installed it at no extra cost since they had pulled the old shaft off to replace the clutch.