Question about the clutch

[scubawrstlr]

I have just had my first attempt at driving a manual. I'm not too bad with the shifting, but I can't start the thing worth a damn. I can start it just fine, but I have to launch it a little. I make the tires scream a little. Otherwise I can't do it. The car lurches like a mofo...and dies, but sometimes I can get it kind of. Anyhow, I know that I'll get it with practice, so I'm not too worried. However, my friend is an annoying bastard and wont stop screaming at me about the clutch getting burned out. So, how easy is it burn out a clutch? I jerked it like 6 times, and I made it squeel about 3 or 4 times. Which is better? Lurching it and hoping to get it to go, or letting the tires ware a little bit.

[AccordCodger]

Neither --- take alternative #3 (Actually, you already said it) --- get better at it! Unless you are an exceptionally slow learner (which I'm sure you're not), you won't kill the cluctch while you're still learning.

[blacknight]

Neither is better. Both put excessive strain on the clutch, axles, tranny, studs, and tires.

Try this. Rev it up to 2,000RPM's and then, SLOWLY ease out the clutch. But try to keep the RPM's up to 2,000 while easing out the clutch. Remember...SLOWLY. I say slowly because if done to quickLY one of two things will happen

1) The RPM's will drop too fast and you'll stal

2) The RPM's will drop to fast while the car is moving and the car will jerk like you're riding a bull in a rodeo.

Once you're used to the feeling of the clutch, try starting at around 1,500RPM's

[AccordCodger]

Aw heck - he can handle it, right scubawrstlr?

[scubawrstlr]

Yea, I will get it. The problem was, my friend has no rpm gauge so she said, 'just feel it', and her boyfriend (my best friend) kept freaking out saying I was giving it too much gas and letting it out too slow...but he deosn't even know how to drive stick.

I am buying an accord with a stick soon. Its in PA, so I'm driving this beast there with my friend and then selling him this, and buying the other accord. I will learn to drive stick really fast, I have to Thanks for all the help guys, I really have a great mental picture of how to do this now, and an RPM gauge will help tons. Wish me luck!

[flacopower]

hahahaha dude i went through the same thing a couple of weeks ago. so i can definetly relate. i learned from my dad, and he always told me to try and find the friction between the two... as you slowly start pushing in the gas and letting the clutch go there will be a point that you kinda fell them i guess you can say lock together. if you feel the car shake, that means you have let the clutch go to fast, if you hear the engine rev that means you put too much gas in... hope my advice helps

[scubawrstlr]

I have finally mastered stick! (Well I can get it started without any trouble.) Thanks for the comments guys, they really helped a lot.