Clutch on a Stick Shift
 

Alan and I are having a disagreement right now. I just watched Army Wives and Claudia Joy was teaching her daughter how to drive a stick shift.

I don't drive, so please don't shoot me.

She used her hands and she said 'the right hand is the gas pedal, you depress that and you'll hear a revv kind of sound.

"The left hand is the clutch. You pull back on the clutch to change gears". So I'm listening and I turn to Alan (I had my headphones on so he didn't hear what I was hearing)

So I said "Alan, I just leaned how the clutch works on a car when you drive a stick shift". He said "do tell".

I said 'well, you use your right leg for the gas, your left leg for the brake, and your left hand to depress and pull back on the clutch, when you want to change gears.

He said "you're out of your mind, you use your LEFT LEG TO PRESS DOWN ON THE CLUTCH".

I then said; "how can you use your left leg if Claudia Joy just said: 'pull back on the clutch".


Alan said "it's a pedal and you pull back by lifting your foot up.

Now I just went on the internet and they are talkinga bout Pedal Arms.

So who is right and who is wrong.

Anybody out there drive a stick shift?? Is the clutch something you use with your left hand or your left foot.

Or are there different types of clutches??

Thanks much. (and save me from bopping him on his head).

lol

Generally you press the clutch pedal with your left foot - it has a spring / hydraulics so that the pedal comes up as you lift your foot off - similar to the brake pedal.

I suppose certain vehicles for handicap use can have hand levers - is that what she was talking about on the show??

The best way to learn shifting -
Sit in the car and practice doing it thru all the gears - with the motor off
press the pedals, pretend the engine is revving up, do a shift to the next gear- learn where they are etc - get the feel of everything...
Then-
It's really best to go to an empty parking lot and actually demonstrate & then let the trainee practice driving & shifting in a safe open area.

nope...right leg for gas and brake.

you never press on the gas and the brake at the same time. you will fail a driving test if you use both feet on an automatic. left foot is for the clutch only.

So Alan's right. (he said exactly what you said "that a handicapped vehicle can be adapted") He also said: "I can't wait t hear what they tell you on the forums".

He will not EVER LET ME LIVE THIS DOWN.

Oh god, I should have never watched Army Wives. I thought I had it right.

Oh well, got to go and get my head handed to me.

Let me predict something. I'm going over to him right now and say "you were right about the clutch". I'm guessing he'll say "so who's the expert now???"

let's see.....

lol

Just went over and said: 'you were right, I was wrong"

He is now mumbling to himself 'she's trying to tell ME how to drive a stick shift". BAH.

Kind of thought he might say Humbug, but he's not Ebenezer Scrooge.


lol

Thanks Jo.

Curious.

Not to worry. I'm not about to learn how to drive any stick shift in Brooklyn, NY.

lol

Yep yep. The lovely Jo is right. And the Claudia lady must have "misspoke".

Big empty space with no cars or casulties around. That's how I trained people in AF.

And you can shift without even using the clutch at all -

you listen to the rpms {revs} of the engine and get into the "shift zone" and when the rpms are just right you can change the gear to the next one.

it's a bit of a trick but once you learn it it's pretty easy
some cars do this kind of shifting easier than others

I learned it on my brothers motorcycles

Jo:

You said: "you listen to the rpms {revs} of the engine and get into the "shift zone" and when the rpms are just right you can change the gear to the next one."

I DO NOT DRIVE, AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID.


LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

You're lucky I know how to ride a bike.

mel

Melody,

Does your bike have gears????:D

I don't even have a bike. I can ride a bike though.

Haven't owned one in years.

I tried to learn how to skateboard once. Almost killed myself.

I used to roller skate all the time. My dad used to take me to the roller rink when I was a kid. Anyone remember going to the roller rink?

There was this guy playing the organ up top in some little alcove. Then they would announce "LADIES CHOICE". And they would announce "DOUBLES".

My god, that was over 50 years ago, and it's clear as a bell.