need Advice on synchro shifting- plus some hilarity.

[livesanuk]

When it rains, it pours. Janet (my 78 spider) had been home from the shop (brake job) less than 72hrs. I was driving her to a friend's home to have a look at the clutch cable & rotate the tires. (Clutch was replaced less than a year ago but during the past 2 days I'd noticed the clutch having occasional difficulty disengaging and the pedal seemed to have excessive travel.) A couple miles away I hear a "POP" and the clutch pedal disappeared. I'd never had this happen before but have assumed it was the cable.
Let me digress for a minute to share a funny anecdote. Hilarious, actually. According to my family. As I rolled to a stop and tried to get out I noticed the plastic orange button labeled "push" was missing from the seat belt. Unfortunately the belt was clipped tight with yours truly snugly behind it. "No problem", I thought as I reached for the utility tool on my belt. "If I could just..reach..my flashlight..ungh". Nope. Couldn't release it with the leatherman. Nor with any of my keys or any other object within reach I thought may fit. I was starting to get a bit claustrophobic. Hmmm. Wiggle out of this jacket. I hope no one sees me. This must look ridiculous! At last I'm partially free. Shoulder belt off. 5 min of struggling later and I'm seriously regretting the extra mashed potatoes and 2 pieces of pie. I'm strapped in tight enough to realize that if I remove my pants I could still possibly be trapped in this car until help arrived. And I'd have no pants on. Not worth the risk. Still really hoping no one could see me I strained & twisted as best I could to try & retrieve my cell phone which had fallen out of my pocket in the struggle and was now ringing LOUDLY somewhere directly under my seat. I could just feel it with my fingertips. Got it! But it wasn't my phone. It was an orange plastic button labeled "push".
Anyhow, I need to get Janet about 3 miles with no clutch. I've heard and seen synchro shifting and need a quick lesson. Do I ease it in gear? Push hard?

[So Cal Mark]

don't force it, match the engine rpm with the speed the tranny is spinning. It's still pretty hard on the tranny. For only 3 miles I'd just leave it in 2nd and cruise along. If you have to stop, shut the engine off, then restart it in gear

[ventura ace]

So, did the orange plastic button get you out of the bind . . . or did you wiggle out of your pants?

You're situation sounds dangerous! If you had a need to exit the car quickly, would have been trouble for sure. I love the early spiders' Kangol seat belt design -- hook with a magnetic latch. Really simple and practically impossible to get trapped by a 'stuck' latch.



Alvon

[livesanuk]

The button worked, thankfully. I didn't have to go sans pants. When I tell the story to a non car-buff they inevitably cut me off & say, "You had a leatherman. Why not just cut the seat belt?" ...Gasp! Slice up my car?!? Never even crossed my mind. They don't get to ride in it anymore.

[mdrburchette]

Wow, what a visual...thanks for the laugh!

[mbouse]

for a moment there i was expecting you to wake up from a dream/nightmare...

you really drive your spider with no pants on? wait... i dunn wanna know.

which type of belt receiver do you have? i may have a replacement.