how to use clutch
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Texas City
Hi Rastamansar,
The short answer is yes, by all means hold the clutch in while you come to a stop. If you're still in gear, you'll obviously need to do that anyway. Based on others response to your question, I assume you mean as apposed to putting the transmission in neutral and releasing the clutch. You can do it that way but there's no real need for it. When you're holding the clutch peddle down, the part you're really putting wear and tear on is called a throwout bearing. I wouldn't worry about it too much however as it's a tough little bearing and it's doing what it's designed for. Besides, getting that parking ticket doesn't take enough time for any of this to be significant in terms of wear and tear.
Bad for the car? No, but slowly easing the clutch out the way you describe will introduce more wear. If you're in stop and go traffic, this is unavoidable. It's not something you really need to worry about. The clutch and throwout bearing will take many miles of this without problems. Just understand that they are wear items, just like your windshield wipers, brakes, and tires and they will go eventually but generally speaking, this isn't something you should have to worry about for many miles down the road.
Why would you want to do this? 
It would be extremely hard on the clutch and something to be avoided at all cost. Those gears in the transmission are there for a reason. Don't be shy about using them. You definitely won't be saving yourself anything with this.
Maybe. It depends on the clutch you're talking about. I don't doubt that there are aftermarket clutches available for the S2000 that are heavier duty than the OEM version but there's no reason the factory clutch shouldn't last a "very" long time if it's not abused. BTW, that 0 - 50 start in third gear you asked about would very definitly be abusing the clutch!
One other thing I'd recommend as a matter of course. When you're driving the car and "not" shifting gears, your left foot should be on the floor. Many people tend to keep the left foot on top of the clutch pedal while driving. They think this reduces their reactions times or something. Ever seen a driver going down the road and their brake lights never go off? This is someone who keeps their foot on top of the brake pedal all the time. They think they're not riding the brakes but they're wrong as the continuously lit brake lights testify. The leg muscles get tired and they eventually start putting pressure on the peddle. The end result is added wear on the brakes. It also heats the brakes up which reduces their capacity when they are really needed. The same can be said of the clutch. You'll be putting very light pressures on the clutch peddle which you won't ever feel. The clutch will start slipping, probably not enough for you to notice, and it will "significantly" reduce the life of the clutch.
FWIW,
Drive Safe,
Steve R.
Originally posted by rastamansar
a) when your, say, coming into a parking garage in first gear to grab a ticket from the machine, do you put the clutch in and hold it in while you roll to a stop, then slowly let it out again after you have ticket? (just example). In other words, do you keep clutch pushed in during brief stops at red light, drive through, etc.
a) when your, say, coming into a parking garage in first gear to grab a ticket from the machine, do you put the clutch in and hold it in while you roll to a stop, then slowly let it out again after you have ticket? (just example). In other words, do you keep clutch pushed in during brief stops at red light, drive through, etc.
[b) to prevent the lugging when coming out of 1st and 2nd, I ssssslllowy let out clutch. Is that bad for car?
[c) finally, can someone describe in painful detail the procedures of starting at dead stop and going smoothly to 50 mph or so in third gear?
It would be extremely hard on the clutch and something to be avoided at all cost. Those gears in the transmission are there for a reason. Don't be shy about using them. You definitely won't be saving yourself anything with this.
[d) do aftermarket clutches last longer than oem parts?
thanks, this will help me.
thanks, this will help me.
One other thing I'd recommend as a matter of course. When you're driving the car and "not" shifting gears, your left foot should be on the floor. Many people tend to keep the left foot on top of the clutch pedal while driving. They think this reduces their reactions times or something. Ever seen a driver going down the road and their brake lights never go off? This is someone who keeps their foot on top of the brake pedal all the time. They think they're not riding the brakes but they're wrong as the continuously lit brake lights testify. The leg muscles get tired and they eventually start putting pressure on the peddle. The end result is added wear on the brakes. It also heats the brakes up which reduces their capacity when they are really needed. The same can be said of the clutch. You'll be putting very light pressures on the clutch peddle which you won't ever feel. The clutch will start slipping, probably not enough for you to notice, and it will "significantly" reduce the life of the clutch.
FWIW,
Drive Safe,
Steve R.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 132
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From: Boston
Rev matching by blipping the throttle should only be necessasary when downshifting --if you shift fast enough. You don't have to be 'lightning quick' but don't take your time either.
When you downshift, the engine will be turning slower than the transmission wants to (the reverse of the an upshift situation) so you need to increase engine speed to match the engine revs to the transmission revs.
If you take too much time rowing the gear lever, your engine revs will drop too far, and then a 'blip' of the throttle will be necessary to match the transmission speed to the engine speed.
Letting the clutch out can get progressively faster as you progress through the gears. You can let out the clutch faster on a 5-6 up shift than you can on a 1-2 upshift. Some slip in the lower gears is necessary.
Yes you could start in a higher gear (other than first), but the combination of engine speed and clutch slip would not be healthy to the clutch friction material (think of brake pads-close realitive).
In additon, close ratio transmissions (more common in hi-performance engine applications) will require more frequent shifting than a wide ratio transmission. The idea is the gearing is matched to keep the engine in its power band for more time, so the spread of useable engine revs is kept within a narrower band.
Smooth shifting is a combination of clutch, throttle, and gear lever operation. If one or the other is too fast or too slow, a jerky ride will result
Regards
Frank
When you downshift, the engine will be turning slower than the transmission wants to (the reverse of the an upshift situation) so you need to increase engine speed to match the engine revs to the transmission revs.
If you take too much time rowing the gear lever, your engine revs will drop too far, and then a 'blip' of the throttle will be necessary to match the transmission speed to the engine speed.
Letting the clutch out can get progressively faster as you progress through the gears. You can let out the clutch faster on a 5-6 up shift than you can on a 1-2 upshift. Some slip in the lower gears is necessary.
Yes you could start in a higher gear (other than first), but the combination of engine speed and clutch slip would not be healthy to the clutch friction material (think of brake pads-close realitive).
In additon, close ratio transmissions (more common in hi-performance engine applications) will require more frequent shifting than a wide ratio transmission. The idea is the gearing is matched to keep the engine in its power band for more time, so the spread of useable engine revs is kept within a narrower band.
Smooth shifting is a combination of clutch, throttle, and gear lever operation. If one or the other is too fast or too slow, a jerky ride will result
Regards
Frank
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Phoenix
[QUOTE]Originally posted by jankemi
The total time the clutch is partially depressed should be no more than 2 seconds starting out in first, an less than a second for any other gears. If you are slipping the clutch on 1-2, 2-3 shifts, you are shortening the clutch life.
The total time the clutch is partially depressed should be no more than 2 seconds starting out in first, an less than a second for any other gears. If you are slipping the clutch on 1-2, 2-3 shifts, you are shortening the clutch life.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Hagerstown
if you are letting the clutch out slowly and giving it gas there is friction and that causes wear on the clutch but just drive your car mor and get to know it and if you know it well enough than you shouldnt have problems
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Sydney
Although not exactly on the topic of clutch use, the aim is to get into the correct gear quickly. One thing I found that prevented me from accidentally shifting into the wrong gear was the chaning the position of my hand slightly on the gearshift.
The following is on a right hand drive car (although maybe exaggerated a bit) and should work on either an upshift or downshift:
shift pattern
1 3 5
|---|---|
2 4 6
x = gearknob
((x = is the shape of my left hand, thumb up, palm and fingers cupped inwards.
(x) = palm on top of the gearknob fingers pointing down over the front of gearknob.
x)) = palm pointing outwards, thumb down towards floor
Shifting into 1st or 2nd = x))
Shifting into 3rd or 4th = (x)
Shifting into 5th or 6th = ((x
Of course this would be different on a left hand drive car.
M@
The following is on a right hand drive car (although maybe exaggerated a bit) and should work on either an upshift or downshift:
shift pattern
1 3 5
|---|---|
2 4 6
x = gearknob
((x = is the shape of my left hand, thumb up, palm and fingers cupped inwards.
(x) = palm on top of the gearknob fingers pointing down over the front of gearknob.
x)) = palm pointing outwards, thumb down towards floor
Shifting into 1st or 2nd = x))
Shifting into 3rd or 4th = (x)
Shifting into 5th or 6th = ((x
Of course this would be different on a left hand drive car.
M@
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,403
Likes: 1
From: Lusby, MD
Wow, this solved a huge problem for me, I guess due to my disengaging the clutch at redlights and stops thats why I went through two throwout bearings. I am always pushing the clutch in when I stop until it's time to move again. Thanks for the help guys.
Ryan B.
Ryan B.