Honda Car Forum

Help. I'm trying to teach my kids how to drive a manual transmission, (so
they don't always have to drive the new Accord.) Any advice would be
appreciated.

Steve-who'll probably be replacing a clutch soon




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On Fri, 21 May 2004 19:29:08 -0700, "Steve Braun"
<sjbraun@dakotacom.net> wrote:

>Help. I'm trying to teach my kids how to drive a manual transmission, (so
>they don't always have to drive the new Accord.) Any advice would be
>appreciated.
>
>Steve-who'll probably be replacing a clutch soon

Drive uphill with lots of stop lights.

"ttjjekk119234" <ttjjekk119234@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cggta09tb0q95qrebhnicg1r614s699udq@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 21 May 2004 19:29:08 -0700, "Steve Braun"
> <sjbraun@dakotacom.net> wrote:
>
> >Help. I'm trying to teach my kids how to drive a manual transmission, (so
> >they don't always have to drive the new Accord.) Any advice would be
> >appreciated.
> >
> >Steve-who'll probably be replacing a clutch soon
>
> Drive uphill with lots of stop lights.

in a beater. at night, no traffic.

"Steve Braun" <sjbraun@dakotacom.net> wrote in message news:<40aebb4b$1_6@corp.newsgroups.com>...
> Help. I'm trying to teach my kids how to drive a manual transmission, (so
> they don't always have to drive the new Accord.) Any advice would be
> appreciated.
>
> Steve-who'll probably be replacing a clutch soon
Well, it's a skill, so he will stall it several times. Give him a
nice straight away to pull away on. You don't want to have to turn
and fool with the clutch at first. It took me a while to realise that
the car had to move 5-10 feet before I could let the clutch out
completely. As you get better this can reduce quite a bit. Blipping
the throttle on downshifts takes some practice too. At first it
seemed like I wanted to blip the throttle to release the gear and then
again to engage the next gear. Practise, practise. Double clutching
heel and toe (actually side of foot) downshifts if fun because I like
fiddling with the err, fiddly bits. Save that for week two
Roadie Roger

"Steve Braun" <sjbraun@dakotacom.net> wrote in message
news:40aebb4b$1_6@corp.newsgroups.com...
> Help. I'm trying to teach my kids how to drive a manual transmission, (so
> they don't always have to drive the new Accord.) Any advice would be
> appreciated.
>
> Steve-who'll probably be replacing a clutch soon
>


I think going to a flat place or even a slight downhill grade and teaching
to slowly modulate the clutch without gas to get moving helps a lot,
especially if they already drive automatics and are familiar with the rest
of the driving dynamics. If they do this about 20 times in a row, they
almost always get it, starting at least, the rest usually comes OK
afterwards. I just had a kooky thought, maybe one could temporarily raise
the idle for such a lesson, HAHA. A big torquey manual are the best for
learning, I learned on a work F150 with a special 'granny' gear where you
always started in 2nd for driving and was just about impossible to stall.

eerrrr I don't know why he will need to utilise double clutching - didn't
that become obsolete with the introduction of synchromesh? I don't know.
I thought most American cars were Manuel (stick shift) anyway? I hate
driving autos myself - boring. Actually I have always wondered, is the
clutch still on the left on American cars? or is it the reverse of min and
you use your right foot to put the clutch down?
my advice mate would be to buy a knackered old car and get him to learn on
that, hopefully that will save your clutch for a little longer!
"Roadie Roger" <roadierogerbugsplat@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3fc2f65c.0405212257.73aab972@posting.google.c om...
> "Steve Braun" <sjbraun@dakotacom.net> wrote in message
news:<40aebb4b$1_6@corp.newsgroups.com>...
> > Help. I'm trying to teach my kids how to drive a manual transmission,
(so
> > they don't always have to drive the new Accord.) Any advice would be
> > appreciated.
> >
> > Steve-who'll probably be replacing a clutch soon
> Well, it's a skill, so he will stall it several times. Give him a
> nice straight away to pull away on. You don't want to have to turn
> and fool with the clutch at first. It took me a while to realise that
> the car had to move 5-10 feet before I could let the clutch out
> completely. As you get better this can reduce quite a bit. Blipping
> the throttle on downshifts takes some practice too. At first it
> seemed like I wanted to blip the throttle to release the gear and then
> again to engage the next gear. Practise, practise. Double clutching
> heel and toe (actually side of foot) downshifts if fun because I like
> fiddling with the err, fiddly bits. Save that for week two
> Roadie Roger

I agree with MAT, head for an open parking lot and have your kid release the
clutch WITHOUT using the accelerator. Even with a slight uphill grade the
car won't stall if the clutch is disengaged smoothly.



"MAT" <marcoatRM_SPAM@DEL_SPAmsnotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4tudnf706ZVe2DLdRVn-jw@comcast.com...
>
> "Steve Braun" <sjbraun@dakotacom.net> wrote in message
> news:40aebb4b$1_6@corp.newsgroups.com...
> > Help. I'm trying to teach my kids how to drive a manual transmission,
(so
> > they don't always have to drive the new Accord.) Any advice would be
> > appreciated.
> >
> > Steve-who'll probably be replacing a clutch soon
> >
>
>
> I think going to a flat place or even a slight downhill grade and teaching
> to slowly modulate the clutch without gas to get moving helps a lot,
> especially if they already drive automatics and are familiar with the rest
> of the driving dynamics. If they do this about 20 times in a row, they
> almost always get it, starting at least, the rest usually comes OK
> afterwards. I just had a kooky thought, maybe one could temporarily raise
> the idle for such a lesson, HAHA. A big torquey manual are the best for
> learning, I learned on a work F150 with a special 'granny' gear where you
> always started in 2nd for driving and was just about impossible to stall.
>
>


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"LBJGH" <bite_mee@hotsnail.back> wrote in message
news:IoIrc.102531$0qd.24500@twister01.bloor.is.net .cable.rogers.com...
> I agree with MAT, head for an open parking lot and have your kid release
the
> clutch WITHOUT using the accelerator. Even with a slight uphill grade the
> car won't stall if the clutch is disengaged smoothly.

unless its a really heavy car with no torque, or the idle is adjusted too
low.

If that was the case Mike I wouldn't want my kids driving the car.

> > I agree with MAT, head for an open parking lot and have your kid release
> the
> > clutch WITHOUT using the accelerator. Even with a slight uphill grade
the
> > car won't stall if the clutch is disengaged smoothly.
>
> unless its a really heavy car with no torque, or the idle is adjusted too
> low.
>
>


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MAT <marcoatRM_SPAM@del_spamsnotmail.com> wrote:
> I think going to a flat place or even a slight downhill grade and teaching
> to slowly modulate the clutch without gas to get moving helps a lot,

Slowly let the clutch out, no gas, and watch the tach.
Keep the RPM steady to get a feel for it.
I can run slowly up through the gears that way.
This method requires a large empty parking lot, but that's where the other
driver's training was being done anyway.

Downshifting with no clutch is a good way to teach RPM matching.

--
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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5