Saving my (expensive) clutch.

Jim Yanik wrote:

> I'm not too sure about using the HB for slowing to avoid speeding tix,

It does work to a certain extent. I tend to use this technique in VA in
order to minimize the risk of a police officer pulling me over on the
suspicion of using a RD. It doesn't take that long to reduce my speed
by 10 mph or so.

> making the rear slide out except on dirt(road rallies) and slick
> surfaces(ice,snow,wet pavement),as you don't get a lot of braking force
> with it.

I'd be hard pressed to lock up the rear wheels at speed on dry pavement
with the hand brake.

Jim Yanik wrote:

> "Harry K" > wrote in
> oups.com:
>
> >
> > Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> >> In article >,
> >> says...
> >>
> >> >NEVER use the clutch to hold position on hills.
> >> >That is what the handbrake is for.
> >>
> >> Handbrake?? What if your car has a footbrake? I've done fine just
> >> using the regular brake and some quick foot action.
> >> --------------
> >> Alex
> >
> > Same here. I can't recall when I last saw a car other than the sport
> > types with a real handbrake. I always wonder about that when this
> > subject comes up and also when people talk about using the handbrake
> > to slow down so a cop doesn't see the brake light or using it to make
> > the rear slide out in cornering.
> >
> > Harry K
> >
> >
>
> What kind of cars have you guys been driving?
> Every Honda/Acura I've owned has had a handbrake,and I believe other
> "foreign" makes have them,too,sport or plain old sedans.
>
> Of course,I suspect the American brands still don't have handbrakes.
> Those are just parking brakes,useless for anything else.
>
> (what do you guys call "real" handbrakes?)
>
> I'm not too sure about using the HB for slowing to avoid speeding tix,or
> making the rear slide out except on dirt(road rallies) and slick
> surfaces(ice,snow,wet pavement),as you don't get a lot of braking force
> with it.

It'll spin the car though.

See 'handbrake turn'.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature...g/index-4.html

I know you Yanks are a bit dumb about this stuff and especially Jim Yanik in
particular.

Graham

Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
> >NEVER use the clutch to hold position on hills.
> >That is what the handbrake is for.
>
> Handbrake?? What if your car has a footbrake? I've done fine just using
> the regular brake and some quick foot action.

Don't you guys know how to do the two foot tango with 3 pedals?

Left foot goes on clutch AND brake, right foot on accelerator. As the
left foot releases, you're engaging the clutch and releasing the brake,
all in one motion. Give it a little gas as you normally would when
starting and you don't roll back.

Larry Bud wrote:
> Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> > In article >,
> > says...
> >
> > >NEVER use the clutch to hold position on hills.
> > >That is what the handbrake is for.
> >
> > Handbrake?? What if your car has a footbrake? I've done fine just using
> > the regular brake and some quick foot action.
>
> Don't you guys know how to do the two foot tango with 3 pedals?
>
> Left foot goes on clutch AND brake, right foot on accelerator. As the
> left foot releases, you're engaging the clutch and releasing the brake,
> all in one motion. Give it a little gas as you normally would when
> starting and you don't roll back.

Now that is a technique I have never tried and can't really see how it
would work. I always used the right foot on brake and accelerator.

Harry K

Larry Bud wrote:

> Don't you guys know how to do the two foot tango with 3 pedals?
>
> Left foot goes on clutch AND brake, right foot on accelerator.

I don't know what model car you drive, but I've never driven a model
where the clutch (held down to the floor) and brake pedal are close
enough to do that with one foot.

> Give it a little gas as you normally would when starting and you don't roll back.

I can do this even up a 10 percent grade if I so desired, but I just
use the hand brake. This is because my routine is to engage the
handbrake when stopped at traffic lights and leave my foot off the main
brake (it saves the drivers behind me from the glare of my brake lamps).

Jim Yanik wrote:

> wrote in
> ups.com:
>
> > I've just began driving my first manual, and was reading beginner's
> > guides online when I came accross one that stated, "one should never
> > rev the engine while letting the clutch out."
> >
> > And thought, wait, that's exactly what I've been doing.
> >
> > My modus operandi from starting from a dead stop has been to:
> > 1. Find catch-point (release clutch nearly all of the way)
> > 2. Rev engine
> > 3. Release clutch
> >
> > I find this especially lovely on hills, to keep from rolling back when
> > I let go of the break.
> >
> > But after reading this I fear I may be subjecting my clutch to undue
> > wear and tear.
> >
> > Can anyone help?
> >
> > - Ron
> >
>
> NEVER use the clutch to hold position on hills.
> That is what the handbrake is for.

NO.

Learn how to REALLY drive a manual transmission; then get back to us.

Larry Bud wrote:

> Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> > In article >,
> > says...
> >
> > >NEVER use the clutch to hold position on hills.
> > >That is what the handbrake is for.
> >
> > Handbrake?? What if your car has a footbrake? I've done fine just using
> > the regular brake and some quick foot action.
>
> Don't you guys know how to do the two foot tango with 3 pedals?
>
> Left foot goes on clutch AND brake, right foot on accelerator. As the
> left foot releases, you're engaging the clutch and releasing the brake,
> all in one motion. Give it a little gas as you normally would when
> starting and you don't roll back.

NO.

Learn how to REALLY drive a manual transmission; then get back to us.

Jim Yanik wrote:

> "Harry K" > wrote in
> oups.com:
>
> >
> > Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> >> In article >,
> >> says...
> >>
> >> >NEVER use the clutch to hold position on hills.
> >> >That is what the handbrake is for.
> >>
> >> Handbrake?? What if your car has a footbrake? I've done fine just
> >> using the regular brake and some quick foot action.
> >> --------------
> >> Alex
> >
> > Same here. I can't recall when I last saw a car other than the sport
> > types with a real handbrake. I always wonder about that when this
> > subject comes up and also when people talk about using the handbrake
> > to slow down so a cop doesn't see the brake light or using it to make
> > the rear slide out in cornering.
> >
> > Harry K
> >
> >
>
> What kind of cars have you guys been driving?
> Every Honda/Acura I've owned has had a handbrake,and I believe other
> "foreign" makes have them,too,sport or plain old sedans.
>
> Of course,I suspect the American brands still don't have handbrakes.
> Those are just parking brakes,useless for anything else.
>
> (what do you guys call "real" handbrakes?)
>
> I'm not too sure about using the HB for slowing to avoid speeding tix,or
> making the rear slide out except on dirt(road rallies) and slick
> surfaces(ice,snow,wet pavement),as you don't get a lot of braking force
> with it.

NO.

Learn how to REALLY drive a manual transmission; then get back to us.

> > Don't you guys know how to do the two foot tango with 3 pedals?
> >
> > Left foot goes on clutch AND brake, right foot on accelerator.
>
> I don't know what model car you drive, but I've never driven a model
> where the clutch (held down to the floor) and brake pedal are close
> enough to do that with one foot.

My '86 Vette, but I've done it in other vehicles.

Harry K wrote:
> Larry Bud wrote:
> > Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> > > In article >,
> > > says...
> > >
> > > >NEVER use the clutch to hold position on hills.
> > > >That is what the handbrake is for.
> > >
> > > Handbrake?? What if your car has a footbrake? I've done fine just using
> > > the regular brake and some quick foot action.
> >
> > Don't you guys know how to do the two foot tango with 3 pedals?
> >
> > Left foot goes on clutch AND brake, right foot on accelerator. As the
> > left foot releases, you're engaging the clutch and releasing the brake,
> > all in one motion. Give it a little gas as you normally would when
> > starting and you don't roll back.
>
> Now that is a technique I have never tried and can't really see how it
> would work. I always used the right foot on brake and accelerator.

What's so hard to see? When you're stopped, the clutch AND brake pedal
are fully depressed, causing you to stop. As you release BOTH at the
same time, the clutch takes over and makes it so you don't roll
backward.