Shifting - and Pentosin Note

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

Someone said:

>The lower gears (3-2, 2-1) are more difficult to heel & toe than the
>higher gears, since the ratios are farther apart than say the 5-4 or 
>4-3 shift.

A quibble: gear spacing does not really make it harder to downshift; 
i.e., to move the lever; it DOES make it more of a challenge to match 
engine and driveline speeds when the clutch comes engages.

Another note: got some parts from Blaufergnugen today.  It it was a 
service tip - reminding their customers to check their Pentosin and 
make sure it hadn't turned to YEESH in the reservoir.  They assert 
that many rack rebuilds could be avoided by replacing Pentosin and 
lot allowing it to break down.

They recommend disconnecting the drain tube at the base of the 
reservoir, draining it, then cleaning the reservoir and screen.  
After that, they suggest turning the wheels with the engine off to 
void fluid from the rack.  I didn't think to look where they 
recommend disconnecting hoses for this - but I suspect I would not do 
it.  I think I could live with some old Pentosin in the system as long as I 
replaced most of it.

They also noted that if one did not evacuate the system, he/she could 
use a turkey baster equivalent to remove fluid from the reservoir 
about three times at 100 mile intervals and be reasonably sure that 
all fluid was fresh enough for continued use.  

By a strange coincidence, they noted that their type 7 Pentosin sells 
for $9.95, type 11 for $15.95 (if memory serves).   That puts them $7 
a liter under my local Hi/Lo parts store for type 11.

G'night....



*.......................................................*
Al Powell, Ph.D.                 Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.          Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843      
Http://agcomwww.tamu.edu/agcom/satellit/alpage.htm
*.......................................................*