Talk:Clutch control

message: I have no reference for this, so I haven't put it in the article, but it is interesting to note the difference between British and Australian hill starts.  In order to pass a British driving test you have to perform a contortion, and look over your shoulder, while revving the engine and slipping the clutch. I described this to an Australian friend and he was appalled at this ill-treatment of the clutch.  "If you did this on an Australian driving test", he said, "you would definitely fail". Can anyone confirm this? Biscuittin (talk) 20:44, 23 July 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Hill starts 

message: From the article: 
:"Typically with motorcycles and in motor sport, the clutch is often used to facilitate the use of resistance from the engine spinning at high speeds to decelerate the vehicle more quickly, often accompanied with normal braking. This is achieved by placing the vehicle in a gear that would ordinarily be too low for the current speed and momentum of the vehicle and by partly engaging the clutch. When this happens momentum energy from the inertia of the vehicle is taken away to spin the engine as close as possible to it's maximum capability. As the vehicle is decelerating the clutch can be further released to transfer more energy to keep the engine spinning as quickly as possible. Once the clutch is entirely released this cycle proceeds downwards through the gears to further assist deceleration. If the clutch is controlled improperly while this is being attempted damage or extra wear to the engine and gears is possible, as well as the risk of wheels locking up and a subsequent loss of proper vehicle control."
The assertion in the first sentence is absolute nonsense. Also, as far as I know, downshifting is performed in order to keep the vehicle in gear through turns and deceleration so that it will be in gear when/if more power is required.
Although downshifting can be used to decelerate the vehicle via engine braking, it can never cause the vehicle to decelerate more quickly. On any vehicle, the brakes are normally powerful enough to lock up the wheels (which is why we have antilock brakes)--that is, the brakes, by themselves, without assistance, have more stopping power than can ever be used. Using engine braking in addition to normal brakes will not allow a vehicle to stop faster than simply using normal brakes, unless some outside influence has reduced the effectiveness of the braking system. (The reason for this is simply that, if your wheels do not slip as you apply engine braking, you could have instead simply applied the service brake harder.)
Is there some strange exception to this that I'm not aware of? ...can we at least get some source for this paragraph? --and then change it so that it doesn't break any known laws of physics? J.M. Archer (talk) 21:41, 28 August 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Deceleration 

message: How about an explanation of "dropping the clutch"?
:What's to be explained?  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.191.42.175 (talk) 00:29, 16 July 2012 (UTC)
replies: text: How to do it without shattering your input shaft maybe? Or why dumping the clutch is incredibly hard on the hardware and only adviseable on racing vehicles not intended to last all that long? 74.240.230.64 (talk)  —Preceding undated comment added 10:55, 25 September 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Dropping the clutch" 

message: "Drivers can frequently be observed slipping the clutch when they are trying to stay stationary on a hill without using neutral and the brake. They apply the clutch to climb a bit, then release to roll back, then apply again, etc. so that the car stays in about the same place. With enough practice, alternating is no longer needed. Applying the correct amount of clutch pressure and throttle causes just enough force from the engine to counter gravity and keep the vehicle stationary (See Balancing the clutch)."
I'm sorry, but I highly doubt drivers can 'frequently' be observed doing this, because if they did, transmission shops would have gilded waiting areas from all the money they'd make on clutch replacements. This sort of abuse will fry a clutch in as little as 10,000 miles, voids the warranty on new cars, and is generally absolutely terrible driving practice indicative of someone who needs to quite literally start from scratch as far as driver's education is concerned. 74.240.230.64 (talk)  —Preceding undated comment added 10:54, 25 September 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Balancing the clutch is terrible!