1915 clutchless 2 speed gear change technique

[MickTess]

Hi all, new to this very early machinery and I'm trying to make sure I treat the gearbox gently but correctly in use, can you tell me how to make the gear changes as smooth as possible on my little 1915 350?

I assume once I've bumped her off in low range and am tootling along, I back both the advance/retard and throttle off, select high range and resume normal lever settings? Or should I slide her into neutral with short gap between changes to and up. Is it "normal" for the old girl to give a bit of a jolt when it engages?

I've gathered you don't change back to low range unless you are pretty well coming to a stop.

Thanking you in anticipation.

[graeme]

Hi Mick
You are pretty much on the right track, but you don't need to retard the spark to change up, and you pull the valve lifter in as you would a clutch if it had one. And yes you momentarily put it into neutral before selecting high gear. You may find you need to select low from time to time to get up a hill also, but in normal running not at all once you're on the move.
Cheers, Graeme

[MickTess]

Ah, so glad I've got it close to correct technique - now I just need time/place to practise, not really easy in a suburb environment;)
Thanks Graeme - hope to do a national rally one day.

[Black Sheep]

I leave the ignition fully advanced. For changing up, slip it into neutral, pull in the valve lifter and when the engine is just about to stall, ease the gear into high. Should be no jolt.
For changing down, ease the throttle back a bit and ease the gear into neutral. The engine revs should rise just enough for you to gently feel the gear lever into low then off you go.
Note the use of the words ease, gently and feel. All quite important. 

[veikko1]

Very interesting discussion. Thanks from advices Graeme, and Black Sheep!
Regards Veikko1