converting manual to automatic transmission - click and go kit

[wildlingsonthemove]

hello! we have just got our camper and as it’s a manual, and we both have knee/hip issues, we had a friend tell us he converted his with a click and go kit.
has anyone done this and where do you buy the kit and have it fitted - no way we can do this as we would be so concerned about it going terribly wrong!

 

[jollyrodger]

Never heared of it, unless it's a disabled type adaption?. But..

 

[Figaro]

hello! we have just got our camper and as it’s a manual, and we both have knee/hip issues, we had a friend tell us he converted his with a click and go kit.
has anyone done this and where do you buy the kit and have it fitted - no way we can do this as we would be so concerned about it going terribly wrong!

Never heard of a click and go kit for auto transmission
It would be a huge job to convert a manual to auto and doubful it would be economic to do it
You better ask your friend about it ?

 

[ceejayt]

Can't help but I am intrigued - have tried googling Click and Go Manual to Automatic and nothing came up?

 

[wildlingsonthemove]

thanks for the warm welcome!

it has, from a video i found, which i can’t find right now, a click button that goes on the gear shift, which somehow talks to the clutch, when you need to change gear you press the button and it depresses the clutch…im like OMG i need that!!!

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[Figaro]

So are you still moving the gearstick yourself ? The button just disengages the clutch ?

 

[wildlingsonthemove]

yes from what i saw in the video

 

[ceejayt]

The link...


auto clutch

 

[jollyrodger]

A bit like the old pre select gearbox, but fitting as an accessory on a modern day vehicle could be expensive.
Interesting though.

 

[ceejayt]

Well, I never did! That's like magic, might take a bit of getting used to but what a clever idea

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[Just smiffy]

I used this company and he came and fitted it on my drive, it was around 7yrs ago and was around £1500 I think…once you get used to it it was very easy and it drove very well….

Autoclutch

 

[Just smiffy]

 

[Two on Tour]

Found this which describes how the Auto-Clutch works.

Edit: snap.

 

[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[Guigsy]

The Fiat Comfortmatic gearbox (the one that came before the ZF 9-Speed auto) was a robotised manual. It was a normal 6 speed manual gearbox, but with servos running the clutch and the gear selector. This looks even simpler as it's not doing the selecting or worrying about engine speed.

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[Just smiffy]

I might add that you still need a driving license for a manual, although it makes the vehicle an auto (switchable) it doesn’t mean you can drive if you have an automatic license…

 

[68c]

I once had an old small Renault auto. It worked with an electric clutch and two large solenoids which heaved on a shortened gear lever. The carb had two butterflies, one you controlled and one it controlled. A centrifugal speed sensor sent messages to a box of relays, no electronics. The relays closed the second butterfly, disengaged the clutch and then moved the stubby gearlever and re-engaged the clutch. Really odd if you were a passenger as it sounded just like someone making a normal manual change.

 

[tacr2man]

Another version is Duck clutch https://duckclutch.co.uk/ HTSH various types have been about for years

 

[TerryL]

Why didn't you buy an automatic in the first place, having the disabilities you mention?

Even now it might be better, quicker and cheaper to "swap" for an auto, m/h prices are pretty stable at the moment.

Oh and

 

[pappajohn]

Sounds easy doesn't it .. ..just add this green button to your gear-lever.
Says nothing about motors and actuators which may need modifications and hours of labour to fit.

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[Two on Tour]

Sounds easy doesn't it .. ..just add this green button to your gear-lever.
Says nothing about motors and actuators which may need modifications and hours of labour to fit.

" The cost of the system fitted is (either with gear lever or foot switch) £1395 + vat"

Autoclutch

 

[Figaro]

I can see it could be useful for some disabilities, but it's not really an automatic conversation is it.
More semi automatic

 

[poppycamper]

I have drove full auto vehicles.. absolutely no problems... this however I think would take some getting used too.

 

[pappajohn]

" The cost of the system fitted is (either with gear lever or foot switch) £1395 + vat"

Autoclutch

'kin hell!!!!

 

[pappajohn]

I have drove full auto vehicles.. absolutely no problems... this however I think would take some getting used too.

Agreed. I can swap between the two at the drop of a hat
No forgetting to use the clutch in a manual and remembering not to use the clutch (aka...the brake pedal ) in an auto but remembering to press the button and not the clutch would take me a long time to get used to

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[Blackadder]

If I drove nothing else I suppose I could get used to this system but, like most people, I also drive a car. I haven't owned a manual vehicle since 1985 and use my left foot for braking - an advantage on most automatics but causes chaos when I forget and do it in our Comfortmatic-equipped van. The ECU stops the engine! I can foresee all sorts of gearbox crashing and stalling if I had to remember to press a button. After watching the video I'm also not quite sure how controllable it would be on hill-starts - or even worse, getting up a set of Milenco Triples!

Why didn't you buy an automatic in the first place, having the disabilities you mention?

Even now it might be better, quicker and cheaper to "swap" for an auto, m/h prices are pretty stable at the moment

At first I couldn't understand why the OP had bought a manual in the first place but now I notice it's a Mercedes - haven't looked but I guess auto-Mercs are expensive and that's if you can find one.

 

[mikebeaches]

We really liked our last van, which had a manual gearbox. Had it for five years from new, but about 3 years in began to look at the auto clutch conversion.

In the end bottled it and changed the van for one with a confortmatic box. Never looked back, although would rather like a Fiat with the new 9-speed auto...

Happy with what we've got though.

 

[dazandandrea]

Cant you get more details from your friend that had it fitted.
Ie company that did it, cost , tome scale etc etc ?

 

[tonyidle]

Aeons ago Ford turned out a small car with that system. My Dad bought it nearly new and very cheap because of the two pedal control system. Whilst he bought it with the intention of converting it to manual he ran it for a couple of months as it was. He found it easy to use. The "button" on that version was a close to zero travel microswitch that was part of the gear knob. Resting a hand on it disengaged the clutch so gear changes were pretty natural whether your left foot performed a mid air dance or not.

 

[DumfriesDik]

I’m a wheelchair user and had a kit in the past to do the clutch.

I would suggest you talk to an adaptation company, you may save VAT.

You could have a word with https://www.bewickmobility.co.uk/