Clutch in or out at stop - survey

[AUSMHLY]

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about there are two types of people who drive a stick. Ones that at a stop, put the car in first and hold the clutch in and those who put the car in neutral and release the clutch.

Then the conversation went to is it OK to keep the clutch in at a stop. Comments on that?

So Healey owners, how many of us keep the clutch in or out?
Cheers, Roger

 

[Keoke]

Well Roger, if you or your friend, just love pulling the tranny to replace throwout bearings or a clutch then by all means put the car in second and hold the clutch in when stopped at signals. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif Seriously, use this method as little as possible---Keoke-/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

 

[100DashSix]

My friend would do this in his modern car, and I found it a great effort to keep from saying anything each time. That, and I can't understand how one doesn't find it uncomfortable to keep the clutch down constantly.

 

[Dave Russell]

[ QUOTE ]

So Healey owners, how many of us keep the clutch in or out?
Cheers, Roger

[/ QUOTE ]
Healeys & a few other cars use a carbon face throwout bearing. It has no actual bearings in it. See attached pic. The small part, throwout bearing, only has a carbon face that bears on the metal ring on the clutch release levers, or diaphram on later models.

Every time that the clutch pedal is depressed, a small amount of carbon wears off. The linkage should also be adjusted with enough free play to prevent bearing contact with the clutch when the pedal is out. The less time you push on the clutch pedal, the longer the carbon bearing will last.
D

 

[Keoke]

HI 100-6, yes it can be very uncomfortable holding a big Healey clutch in.However, talldrivers ,like myself sometimes are forced to ride the clutch in heavy traffic.The lost motion and time getting your foot on the clutch can result in a collision. Modern cars with their ballbearing throwout bearings are less susceptible to wear and subsequent failure although they sometimes do fail.---Fwiw---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
--- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
PS, I wish you would not post a photo of your neat well organised shop because mine looks worse than a junk yard!

 

[Editor_Reid]

I always put it in neutral and leave the clutch out until I need to engage first and pull away. There really shouldn't be any debate about this technique. It's just a matter of respecting the machinery.

 

[David_K]

Clutch out for me! Although my MGB has a rare aftermarket roller throwout bearing!

 

[AndrewMawson]

Interesting to discover yet another English / US English word usage difference - it's always been a 'clutch release bearing' over here.

As for riding the clutch - absolute no-no both for mechanical reasons and safety reasons.

 

[Dave Russell]

Throw the clutch out of engagement = release the clutch grip by pushing the pedal. As opposed to release the pedal which engages the clutch. IMO, throwout is more accurately descriptive. Whereas, release the pedal engages the clutch. We are still separated by a "common language".
D /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[JamesWilson]

Clutch out...
gearbox in neutral...
and here in the UK its common for drivers to use the parking brake too, particularly on hills....

 

[healeyneil]

When my daughter was taught to drive she was told to hold the car on slight hills by using the clutch ! arrrrgh !

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
When my daughter was taught to drive she was told to hold the car on slight hills by using the clutch ! arrrrgh !

[/ QUOTE ]

Did her Daddy teach her? On the Healey? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

For some masochistic reason my daughter wants ME to teach her.... I can't imagine anyone that would be worse....

While I'd undoubtedly make all sorts of foul ups in it, I'd not do that clutch trick....

 

[nevets]

clutch out always, even in stop & go traffic...a little trick someone taught me a long time ago - when idling at a stop light with the clutch out, as soon as you see the opposing light turn amber, depress the clutch and slip her into first gear...the instant the light turns green, you're ready to roll. I still do this. ofcourse this was before the advent of delayed green.

 

[PeterC]

Transmission in neutral, foot off the pedal, for all cars. Not only for the sake of the bearing, but also the disc lining wears only when disengaged. AND, the forward thrust you are exerting on the crankshaft thrust washers is extreme. Modern cars with "safety" switches are forcing you to push the crank forward before starting (and oil pressure).
Now, how about engine braking?

 

[Dave Richards]

Transmission in neutral, foot on the floor, for all my vehicles. I put the car in first when I see the opposing light turn yellow. Hey, do you think we could induce a manufacturer to make a ballbearing throwout bearing? It is "out of sight." Would there be a big advantage?

 

[John_Progess]

I was told that in the early days England used a yellow light in their traffic signals both before red and before green so you had notice when the light was about to turn green so you could release your emergency brake and put the car in gear. I have roller bearings in a couple of my LBC's but I still use clutch out.

John

 

[Dave Russell]

Dar,
Ball bearing release bearings are available aftermarket for some models. They are sometimes used with ultra stiff competition clutches. Pretty expensive though. The owners of some marques seem to be on an endless search for a better ball bearing release bearing, so just converting is not a sure fix either. The carbon type will last 90,000 miles or more if it is not "abused" & if it is adjusted to not be engaged when the pedal is not operated.

As Peter said, the crankshaft end thrust bearing will thank you also. Ever notice the engine idle slowing a bit when the clutch pedal is depressed. This is due to the friction load on the throwout bearing & the crankshaft thrust washers.
D

 

[Dave Richards]

Maintenance? Or obsession?

 

[Hondo Hernandez]

Tranny in neutral and clutch out when stopped or in stop and go traffic for me.

 

[AndrewMawson]

[ QUOTE ]
Dar,
Ball bearing release bearings are available aftermarket for some models. They are sometimes used with ultra stiff competition clutches. Pretty expensive though. The owners of some marques seem to be on an endless search for a better ball bearing release bearing, so just converting is not a sure fix either. The carbon type will last 90,000 miles or more if it is not "abused" & if it is adjusted to not be engaged when the pedal is not operated.

As Peter said, the crankshaft end thrust bearing will thank you also. Ever notice the engine idle slowing a bit when the clutch pedal is depressed. This is due to the friction load on the throwout bearing & the crankshaft thrust washers.
D

[/ QUOTE ]

Look at the clutch release bearing assembly for a 6 cylinder 2.6 litre Landrover - you'll find it is almost identical in layout to the Healey one except instead of the graphite surface there is a thrust race. Incidentally the distributor (except for advance curve) and oil filter assemblies are also the same as the BJ8