Help starting off in 1st gear
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Florida
Originally Posted by RACER,Nov 14 2006, 05:34 AM
If you let out the clutch very, very slowly, you can engage the clutch without ANY gas at all, but that takes a very long time, as your clutch pedal is slooooowly coming up off the floor. The engine is spinning at idle, but for a long time, thus, may not be good for it. If you are pointed downhill, then no problemo.
The Honda S2000 is a low displacement engine compared to some of the bigger, torquey engines out there, and does not have a lot of torque at low rpm's due to it's high reving nature. engaging the clutch at 800 engine rev's (unless you are pointed downhill) is a
in this car. 1,500-1,600 rev's is about as low as you want to engage this clutch unless you want to bogg the hell out of your engine and wind up in ping city.I am simply saying that if I were to start from a stop I keep the engine speed at that same RPM with a balance of throttle input and clutch engagement...in theory (and practice) it's the quickest way to engage the clutch 100% with the lowest amount of wear...
Just imagine me starting from a stop normally but I give it gas at the same time as letting off of the clutch while the RPM's are maintained at that ~1000 RPM...
I know I am going way into it at this point...
To be honest, when it comes down to it - you should just drive the car how you feel comfortable because that's the only way that you will enjoy driving and if needed you can always modify your driving style down the line or just replace a clutch here and there...
My bottom line suggestion - just enjoy the car and if anything breaks it's usually fairly easy to repair.
Lastly, yeah - I'm not saying that the engine RPM's ever go below idle RPM (causing knocking) when I am taking off - I am simply saying they stay there until that idle MPH when the car just coasts with the clutch fully out and then it's all throttle (and smiles) from there.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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I just turned 25 actually! It sounds like I am doing it right when I start off at lower rpm's. The clutch and overall characteristics of this car are a bit different then what I have driven in the past. I mentioned the 2500 rpm start b/c I was reading a few other other threads, and people mentioned that rpm point as a starting place.
So it sounds like I should be engaging the throttle at 2k rpms. However, should I applying more gas as I let the clutch out, or just let the clutch out fully as it enganges and keep the gas pedal at the same point? Unless of course I want to accelerate at a faster pace after I've let the clutch out all the way.
Cris P.
So it sounds like I should be engaging the throttle at 2k rpms. However, should I applying more gas as I let the clutch out, or just let the clutch out fully as it enganges and keep the gas pedal at the same point? Unless of course I want to accelerate at a faster pace after I've let the clutch out all the way.
Cris P.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Culpeper Virginia
In general letting the clutch out as quickly as possibly while staying smooth and fluid without the rpms going about 2,000 or dropping below 1,200 will be the best normal launch in the S2000.
I did find the S2000 harder to launch smooth than my Prelude and certainly harder than my old MR2. The clutch engagement is very high on the pedal travel and that adds to this difficultly. Practice makes perfect. Most people who ride with me comment that my shifting is as smooth as an automatic car.
I did find the S2000 harder to launch smooth than my Prelude and certainly harder than my old MR2. The clutch engagement is very high on the pedal travel and that adds to this difficultly. Practice makes perfect. Most people who ride with me comment that my shifting is as smooth as an automatic car.
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From: Queen City, NC
fwiw, I usually engage around 1200-1500 rpms - just after I start gassing the engine I release the clutch and the car hooks up very smoothly.
All it takes is practice - once you know your car and clutch you can quickly get into first and on your way, and shouldn't be revving to 2k just to go imo.
Good discussion in here though.
All it takes is practice - once you know your car and clutch you can quickly get into first and on your way, and shouldn't be revving to 2k just to go imo.
Good discussion in here though.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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There is no exact measure for acceptible clutch use. If your foot comes completely away from the clutch pedel between each shift, that is acceptable.
Ten drivers driving over the same terrain will have ten different patterns of clutch wear.
I guess if this were a compitition that would give the grand prize to the driver who had the least clutch wear after 10K, concentration would be continiously on clutch slippage even though this might not be the best or most comfortable way to drive the car.
If your not excessivly slipping the clutch, your probably o.k.
Ten drivers driving over the same terrain will have ten different patterns of clutch wear.
I guess if this were a compitition that would give the grand prize to the driver who had the least clutch wear after 10K, concentration would be continiously on clutch slippage even though this might not be the best or most comfortable way to drive the car.
If your not excessivly slipping the clutch, your probably o.k.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Culpeper Virginia
I've seen people burn up a clutch in 20,000 miles while other (same model) drivers can go 100,000 miles on a clutch. Some drivers NEVER quite master manual transmission driving while others get it in a day.