take off

[swynx]

ok so im teaching my sister how to drive a clutch, but she cant seem to get it right, so, give me some ideas of what to tell her on how to get the ranger moving, i was thinking of telling her to slowly let out the clutch, inch by inch untill it starts moving, but ive never tried that my self, and dont know if that would kill the motor, when i was taught i was in mud started the truck and slammed on teh gas then just bcome accustomed to driving a clutch

 

[KELLY88]

As long as it worked then teach it how you learned it. Other than that just stay patient. Most of us know how frustrating it can be when first learning to drive stick.

 

[exbass94]

When I was learning, I found it easier to give it gas first, with the clutch still pressed all the way down. Then I started to let the clutch out slowly until it started to catch, and continued to let it out slowly to get moving. Yes, it took a few seconds longer to get going from a stop, and starting off on hills was a little more difficult, but over time, I got used to the clutch and can now let it out right before that "grab point" and then give it gas. You should have her learn on mostly flat roads until she gets used to it and can sort of feel the grab point, then have her practice on hills.

 

[Dishtowel]

Have her slip the clutch a bit. Growing pains.

As soon as she can feel the truck moving DONT MOVE HERE LEFT FOOD till she counts to 5. Then move it out the rest of the way, SLOWLY. I dont support the abuse the throttle to get moving strategy. I feel it eats more clutch than what I described.

Perhaps go to "how suff works.com" and show her the model of a clutch, might help her visualize.

 

[MAKG]

Tell her to floor the right pedal and pop the left.....

You'll need SOME throttle or you'll just stall the engine.

 

[Southern3.0]

Perhaps go to "how suff works.com" and show her the model of a clutch, might help her visualize.

Thats a good idea.

when my dad tought me he just rode shot gun and laughed at me when ever I stalled it.

 

[Delford]

Ease the gas on and ease the clutch out. If it's a stiff clutch like on my 92 Ranger I'd find someone with a riceburner who'd let you borrow it to teach her (better yet, they might teach her). Hondas, Nissans, Mazdas, etc, are a lot more forgiving and then she can transition to the Ranger. My son learned on my Ranger in an empty corporate parking lot (Saturday - no one working). He did OK until I made him try to start uphill. That ended that session. Then later he got in a friends Honda Civic and drove it like he'd been born with a manual shifter in his hand. Since then, he will drive the Ranger, but really doesn't like the stiff clutch. My daughter gave me whiplash and a blinding headache - she never did learn.

 

[MAKG]

I learned clutch on a deserted country road on the coastal terrace (= flat). Then I drove to my grandmother's apartment with it. She lived across the street from the Archdiocese -- a place called (appropriately) Cathedral Hill in San Francisco. She directed me right up Gough St. That one has stairs in the sidewalk and stop signs every block.

Miraculously, the clutch survived it. As did the back of the car. And I didn't back into the Bay even once.

Though it's not how I learned, I'll suggest she practice keeping the engine at 2000 RPM throughout the friction point.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I learned in my dads F-350, it has low enough gearing and enough torque to take off in fourth on a flat road with some throttle. A typical car wouldn't be quite so easy to teach in, they are geared high and usually don't have much for low end torque.

I did get the clutch/shift rythem down on my CT-70 trailbike before I moved up to a regular vehicle though.

 

[Dishtowel]

You'll need SOME throttle or you'll just stall the engine.

Agreed, It has been my experience that when you give the learn'y permission on the throttle they abuse it.
AND I did most of my learning in a tractor trailer, lol, where you only have to clutch first gear, you SHOULDN'T need throttle to lift off, and you use the throttle to control the rest of the drive.

clicclic...(turbo whistle)... clicclic...(turbo whistle)...clicclic...(turbo whistle) ... 6or7 more time, lol.

I can no-clutch many transmissions after I drive across town and learn it's throws.

 

[motohead771]

I grew up riding dirt bikes since i was six, so I had a pretty good idea of how to shift a car when I started. When I teach people I tell them to hold the RPM at about 2000 then slowly let out the clutch, then if on a hill once the clutch starts to engage I tell them to give at a touch more throttle.

 

[tanbuddy]

Put it in 2 low, you shouldnt have any issues stalling then, even without the throttle.

 

[canyoncritter]

Put it in 2 low, you shouldnt have any issues stalling then, even without the throttle.

best advice right there. in a flat area, put it in low &first and have her get use to the feel of the clutch just letting it out.



also get yourself a neck brace,teaching a person to drive a clutch can result in whiplash

 

[chico4554]

i teach with no throttle at first. It lets the driver feel the clutch grab more. When they can get it moving without the throttle you can go from there. When on a hill ill have them take the clutch out until the rpms go down to about 700-800, then when they let off the brake, the car wont roll backwards causing panic. I taught my girlfriend stick in my 4 cyl mustang and that thing was a hard stick to drive. No torque and the clutch was tough. First time I drove my brothers 5.0 i learned what torque does for a manual. His car was so much easier to drive.

 

[Simple_serf]

I learned on farm equipment...the transition to a truck wasn't too bad. I bought the P'up and drove it. I stalled plenty, but nobody got killed. I taught my exgf....that wasn't too bad. I tried teaching my friend Jess before we drove to Seattle, Just in case she had to do some of it. I think she would have done ok.


The best way to learn, IMO is to just go and do it.