Double-clutching

[Brakin80]

I've familiar with the term, as well as how one executes a double-clutch. My dad remembers always driving that way back in the day with his '62 tri-carb. What advantage/disadvantage would this have? What does it achieve (if anything) mechanically? Thanks

 

[bradal]

Brakin80: Double clutching is a shifting technique used primarily before cars had synchronizers. It is still used to help defeat faulty or missing synchros and also in racing practices. It involves depressing the clutch pedal twice with each shift - the first to initially depart the gear already selected the second after moving the gear lever through neutral, to select the next gear, all while depressing the accelerator pedal to match the speed of the engine with that of the transmission. Remember that the engine drops to idle speed almost immediately, while the transmission continues to be turned by the rear wheels at the same speed. So the object of double clutching is to prevent wear on the clutch and clutch components by matching the speed of the engine with that of the transmission and also to prevent gears from crunching as you select the next speed. I hope this helps some. AL Bradley

 

[Brakin80]

bradal: I learn something new everyday. thanks so much for your response.