"burning a clutch"

[T3aM 83rD]

I just bought my first manual car and Im slowly learning how to drive it. I dont have plates on it yet so I was practicing going foward and reverse in my drive way (about 50 feet). I think im alright at it, the car only stalled out 2 times and I probably went foward and backwards 15 times.

Everywhere I read and everyone I talk to says, make sure you dont burn the clutch, What the hell is burning the clutch?

Another thing, I rev very little bit when taking off from a stop before I fully let the clutch go, is that a bad thing?

[qbodsyt]

don't ride the clutch, the key is modulation.

figure out where the "sweet spot" on the clutch is, where it begins to creep forward like an auto does when you let off the brake, and at that point begin to apply gas pressure in proportion to your clutch release. the key is not "riding" your clutch. a lot of nervous people and inexperienced people hover their foot over the clutch instead of resting it, and they end up pushing down on the clutch so its partially engaged. this will vastly reduce the effective lifespan of your clutch.

it's better to learn on someone else's clutch if possible, that way you don't have to pay to replace it

but seriously, the OEM clutch on the Accord is a really nice one, very firm but still responsive....you can really perfect driving standard on one of these

[palinix]

Welcome to the world of the clutch pedal. What car is it by the way?

Anyways, it sounds like you are progressing well. Learning to drive a manual is all about getting a feel for the clutch and having the required balance between clutch and the throttle.

Practicing taking off is probably the first thing you want to master. In the beginning you might find yourself revving it a little too much before releasing the clutch. That's pretty much normal. Once you get a better feel of how your clutch engages, you'll be able to start off with the minimum amount of throttle required for a normal driving. This will help a lot on slopes as well (going up), where you may have to place a load on the engine for an instant in order to start off.

Also, make sure that you only use the clutch when needed. 'Riding' the clutch will giving the car a little throttle will cause it to wear out quicker. Try to start of smooth... taking your foot off the clutch completely once you get going. Also keep clutch action minimal during gear changes. You don't have to try and make your shifts fast, just smooth.

Give yourself a couple of days and you'll have mastered it.

[KeeleDesign]

I just bought my first manual car and Im slowly learning how to drive it. I dont have plates on it yet so I was practicing going foward and reverse in my drive way (about 50 feet). I think im alright at it, the car only stalled out 2 times and I probably went foward and backwards 15 times.

Everywhere I read and everyone I talk to says, make sure you dont burn the clutch, What the hell is burning the clutch?

Another thing, I rev very little bit when taking off from a stop before I fully let the clutch go, is that a bad thing?

yeah man..
the best way i learned was having no one with me when i drove so i didn't feel imberresed.
haha like others have spoken don't just keep the clutch half way pushed in that will wear out an oem clutch fast.. it half way engages thus causing friction and so it's not fully engaged nor disengaged so that friction litterly burns and crystalizes your clutch plate.. you don't want that... i remember the first stage 3 clutch i got,, and ohh man,, it's like having to learn how to drive all over again,,, becasue stage three and up basically says i am in gear or out of gear there is no riding it.. so keep that in mind if you ever upgrade. also... hills will not be your friend at first.. remember thos stop lights ion an 45 incline,, well make sure no one is behind you and if there is and you are verry nervous try using the hand break while pulling forward so you don't roll backwards.. after a while you won't ecven realize you shift anymore..it comes more than natural in any situation.
hope that was some help. haha

[jdmfreak]

I remember when i learned stick. Having my dad yelling at me getting frustrated when it turned off then the uphill OMG i hated it! but eventually got it. I'd recommend learning by yourself or having a NICE friend or relative teach you.

[NAiL05]

1. Find an empty stretch of road practice going 1-2 and R as you mention. 1-2 upshifts need to be smooth or y our shit will jerk. I learned that driving my uncles old ass farm truck.

2. You will know when your burning the clutch. It will smell like rotten eggs or something in the cabin and if your revs are moving faster than the front wheels your burnin clutch. Just clutch in pull it out of gear.

3. Also when you start out in first you dont want too many revs that can contribute to disk wear a lil quicker.

4. As people mentioned you just have to find that spot and work off of it.

[T3aM 83rD]

thanks everyone, today i took it up and down the block a couple of times, only went to 2nd gear.

I think I got it down pretty good, but then its a totally different story when there is traffic around you.

When pulling into a driveway or say moving up only a couple of inches, you have to have give it some gas while still pressing the clutch alittle bit right?

One time when I was shifting into 2nd the car jerked a couple of times, what did I do wrong?

Another thing, the shifter is pretty hard to put into gear, even when the car is shut off, the car has a short shifter is that the problem? The person who I bought the car from said that onces you get use to it there is a sweet spot when you could just flick it into gear. I know that I've sat down in a couple of manual cars and moved the shifter from gear to gear and none seemed to be this stiff.

[turbomaxx]

lol you can always do it the idiot way like me and teach yourself when the parentals are gone. (assuming ur also like me in that u dont have ur license. hey at least i have my learners. lol.)


on second thought, dont do that.

[turbomaxx]

One time when I was shifting into 2nd the car jerked a couple of times, what did I do wrong?

let the clutch out a lil too fast. no worries, she can take it.

[m-tec93accord]

i remember the day i learned stick, a 1998 toyota supra 800hp beast

damn was that hard, i'd stall every time

[T3aM 83rD]

ok I got the insurance, plate, & inspection today to I finally got to drive it around. It is fun as hell, seems to be alot faster than my other auto cb7.

There were some tricky times but I was able to pull it off, the car shut off on me probably 3 times and I drove it around the whole day on the highway and alot of local. Another thing that got me was a couple of times instead of putting it into 4th I put it into 2nd.

Questions:
Let say im doing 60mph on the highway and im in 5th gear, traffic slows down, do I have to press the clutch while pressing the brakes? My impression is that at all times (except Neutral) you have to be pressing either the clutch or the gas.

Also do I slow down in whatever gear I was driving in, or do I put it into neural and then slow down?

[deevergote]

Pressing the clutch when braking is usually best... if you allow the car to slow down too much in gear, it could stall (and that's embarrassing at best!) If you're in 5th at say 70mph and you want to slow down to pace upcoming traffic at about 50mph, you can just brake and let it go down to 50... or downshift to 4th. If I can read the traffic, I often don't even brake, I just downshift and let off the gas until I get to the speed I want!

As for the clutch... think of it as a reverse brake. With the clutch pedal depressed, the clutch isn't grabbing anything. With the pedal released, the clutch is then the connection between the engine and transmission. Just as your brake pads grip your rotor, the clutch grips the flywheel and creates a positive link to the transmission.

Now, "burning the clutch" is what happens when you put too much power to it for it to grab initially. When the clutch can't grab, it slips... causing friction and heat... which wears the clutch quickly, and can even damage the flywheel. You'll probably do it once or twice, but it's not really something that is THAT easy to do!
"riding the clutch" is another, similar, thing. If you're driving around with the clutch pedal half depressed (a lot of people do this while coming to a stop, or slowing down) it will cause the clutch to only be partially engaged. Still creating friction, but not clamped down enough to lock in place. That will cause it to wear as well.

Get used to neutral. Neutral is your friend. When you aren't accelerating: clutch in, pop it in neutral, clutch out... don't forget to put it in gear again when it's time to go!

[shanleycb7]

what u can do is "downshift" or use the gears to slow you down. very usefull and saves allot brakes.

[palinix]

Questions:
Let say im doing 60mph on the highway and im in 5th gear, traffic slows down, do I have to press the clutch while pressing the brakes? My impression is that at all times (except Neutral) you have to be pressing either the clutch or the gas.

It's not so much about deciding whether to engage the clutch or hit the gas. It's more about keeping the engine at the right rpms and not letting it bog down and stall.

Ideally in a situation where you are slowing down from, say 60mph, you would want to gradually down shift, while apply the brakes. in some cases, you might be slowing down in order to stop. In other cases, you may simply be reducing your speed, after which you may continue applying the throttle and keep going.

Down shifting assures that you are in the correct gear to continue moving at that speed without hesitation.

Also do I slow down in whatever gear I was driving in, or do I put it into neural and then slow down?

The safest thing to do is to always keep the car in gear when it is moving.

Down shift gradually as you feel the car bogging down in each gear. Over time you will be able to tell exactly when you need to change gear.

Coasting along in neutral at higher speeds takes away some of the control a driver has over the vehicle and is generally not recommended.

[NAiL05]

what u can do is "downshift" or use the gears to slow you down. very usefull and saves allot brakes.

And wastes gas.