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Leamreject

Member Since: 19 Dec 2020
Location: Middle Earth - Leamington Spa
Posts: 956

The best gear for normal driving

I have owned my 2.4 90HT for a few months now and although I don’t use it daily I have taken to pulling off in second gear because first is to short for an unladen vehicle.

I am confident I’m not over slipping the clutch and use first if the road isn’t suitable for second I.e. on a gradient etc.

Does anyone else do this and what are your thoughts or opinions? Ride like you stole it!!
If I’m not on a bike it’s because only a 4x4 will do…
2011 2.4 Puma 90 HT

Last edited by Leamreject on 5th Jul 2021 12:50pm. Edited 1 time in total

5th Jul 2021 10:29am

Farmerben

Member Since: 16 Jan 2017
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 604

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Keswick Green

I do most of the time if I'm on the flat. No problems so far in nearly 70k miles. https://instagram.com/bentheoandrews

5th Jul 2021 11:00am

JoolsB

Member Since: 28 Mar 2020
Location: The North
Posts: 160

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Orkney Grey

Me too, been fine for the last 2 years

5th Jul 2021 11:02am

rockster57

Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver

When unladen I used to do that all the time in my previous 2.4 90HT on standard 235/85x16 tyres I had very little additional weight from “accessories”. Second felt right for moving away on the level or down an incline. Never experienced problems.

Now drive a 2.4 110SW and whilst the gearing feels the same, I’m conscious of the greater unladen weight of the larger vehicle. Hence I have reverted to first gear to get the wheels in motion. And that’s basically all I use first for - to overcome initial inertia. I then short shift into second. Never found that method necessary in the 90 though.

5th Jul 2021 11:08am

rockster57

Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

When I first saw the title of your thread I thought you might be asking about top hat and tails?

5th Jul 2021 11:12am

Bluest

Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 3997

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

1st gear pull away all the time for me. Use the anti stall and no throttle to get the clutch engaged, then power away.

On a separate note, the anti stall is a really great feature for a number of reasons, hill starts and slow speed manoeuvring are all brilliant, having the the ability to load the transmission against the brake without fear of stalling has a number of uses off road too. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS

5th Jul 2021 11:36am

ChrisCSL

Member Since: 10 Aug 2019
Location: Berks
Posts: 185

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

Yep. Agree on the benefits of anti-stall. It's a great thing to have, amazing how well it works pulling you uphill on idle. Handy if stuck in traffic too, a few less pushes of the clutch peddle.

I use 2nd gear to pull away from rest on a flat if I want to get away quickly like a busy roundabout or to whizz in front of another vehicle. With the Alive tune it takes off pretty quickly

5th Jul 2021 2:42pm

seriesonenut

Member Since: 19 Nov 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 1205

So does the anti stall work all of the time in high range? I thought it was a low box first feature? 2010 XS USW
1957 Series One 88 diesel
1958 Series One 88 4x2

5th Jul 2021 6:10pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16893

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

seriesonenut wrote:
...does the anti stall work all of the time in high range?...

Yes.

seriesonenut wrote:
...I thought it was a low box first feature

You're thinking of the idle jack, which is an entirely different thing.

5th Jul 2021 6:12pm

Ianh

Member Since: 17 Sep 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 1782

It works if in first or second in high or low range. I love it in slow moving traffic, it’s just like having an auto box.

5th Jul 2021 6:14pm

seriesonenut

Member Since: 19 Nov 2014
Location: Essex
Posts: 1205

well you learn something every day. Having thought about it I cant remember a time I stalled it. Clearly I have been getting some help but did not realise it

2010 XS USW
1957 Series One 88 diesel
1958 Series One 88 4x2

5th Jul 2021 6:49pm

scotty38

Member Since: 21 May 2011
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 571

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Aintree Green

Was always second for me too, unless uphill. When I bought it I got the 1/2 day offroad experience and the instructors there said the same. Never any issues with it in the 10 years I had it until some light fingered %$£&^%$ had away with it....

5th Jul 2021 6:53pm

Rashers

Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3351

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey

And for those people who didn't know what 'Idle Jack' was, I will save you the search

https://www.defender2.net/forum/post493899.html

Use second for pulling away sometimes, not always.

5th Jul 2021 7:04pm

ChrisCSL

Member Since: 10 Aug 2019
Location: Berks
Posts: 185

Thanks for that Rashers. Idle Jack was a new one on me

7th Jul 2021 5:12pm

Rashers

Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3351

Me too

7th Jul 2021 6:08pm

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