Hey what's up? I'm kinda new to this forum so just bare with me. I recently bought an 05' Civic Reverb, 5 speed. I'm trying to learn how the clutch system works... My main question is regarding slipping. Is slipping when the clutch plate hits the flywheel and the fact that they are turning at different speeds when they first contact? So therefore, would you always slip your clutch everytime you shift for a second? I'm kinda confused about this. I know you're supposed to press the clutch in fast so there is no slip, but how do you get little or no slip when you put it into gear? Is this why you hit the gas at the same time to get the flywheel moving about the same speed? Thanks for the help.
There are 3 parts to the system and hopefully I will explain this correctly.
You have :
- flywheel
- clutch disc
- pressure plate
The clutch disc and pressure plate are a combo and this combo is what most folks call the clutch.
The pressure plate is bolted to the flywheel and the clutch disc is sandwiched between the 2. In normal driving the pressure plate is pressing the clutch disc against the flywheel. When you press in your clutch pedal, the linkage in the tranny presses the release bearing against the pressure plate. This relieves the pressure on the clutch disc so that it is no longer being pressed against the flywheel. So they are both spinning, but now the flywheel is spinning at crankshaft speed and the clutch disc is spinning at tranny shaft speed.
The clutch disc has splines in its center that mate to the splines on the tranny shaft, and this is what connects these 2 together.
The "slipping" occurs when you release the clutch pedal and the release bearing is taken away from the pressure plate, and the pressure plate again presses the clutch disc into the flywheel. The stiffer the pressure plate, the harsher the engagement. The grippier the clutch disc, the harsher the engagement. A little slip is fine as it allows for smooth engagement, but obviously a lot of slipping will prevent the flywheel and clutch disc from "hooking up" and behaving like they are supposed to.
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Slipping is usually when your already in gear and on the gas, and the clutch "slips" under load. For example push you hands together and try to slide them apart while pressing them together, after enough pressure they just give way and they slip apart, best way I can think to explain it. What your talking about while shifting could be considered burning the clutch. Its not a good thing. You shouldnt have to press the clutch in fast to ensure you dont burn it. Just practice pushing and releasing your clutch pedal smoothly along with your gas pedal. Try to avoid stretching out the time that it takes to get the clutch to engage cuz thats when its burning the most. It should be quick and smooth, not fast and jerky or slow and streched out. The best way to learn shifting is to watch othe people and listen to the engine as they shift.
Like kommon said, a little slip or burn is ok. It happens every time you press that clutch but its only for a split second, but the longer it takes you to release that pedal, the longer it burns.
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Unless your 88-91 CIvic/CRX is RHD and the 4&5 letters in your VIN are "EF", you DONT have a EF.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cblaster
So basically if you shift the gears smoothly with no jolts or anything you know your're not slipping or burning the clutch?
Well, kinda. The jolts are from releasing the pedal to fast and it causes the clutch to engage to fast and doesnt give the flywheel and clutch disc time to smoothly press together. But if you release to slowly the flywheel and disc take too much time to press together and it will burn, but it can feel like a smooth shift, just stretched out. Kinda difficult to explain a good shift, its something thats easier shown.
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Unless your 88-91 CIvic/CRX is RHD and the 4&5 letters in your VIN are "EF", you DONT have a EF.
Ok I gotcha. So its fast and smooth, but not too fast. My next question is... when you just use the clutch to inch forward, I'm guessing that is causing a lot of slippage since only some power is going to the transmission? Is there a better way to inch your car forward? Also, when I'm on a hill... people say you can balance the clutch and gas to stay still. I've tried this and discovered that I can keep the car still just by taking the clutch out so far (i'm guessing this is again b/c i'm slipping just enough power to the wheels to hold it there?). Is this also bad for the car? If so how do u hold it on a hill without the brake? Thanks again.
simple question for you? why would you use the clutch to hold the car on the hill? Thats what the brakes are for. It takes several hours to replace a worn clutch disc and 20 minutes to replace worn brake pads... Which would you rather use up?
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A trick to try on a hill is to pull up your e-brake and then start to go. As the car takes off release the e-brake. After awhile, you won't even need the e-brake to do this....
Ya I heard that trick before... which brings another question. Wouldn't that hurt your e-brake? And is it bad if you drive with your e-brake on? Stupid question I know... I'm just curious if it can wear out (similar to a clutch plate) Thanks.
I do it because I'm new at driving a stick and if I don't get the car to hold I'll roll back. Sad as that is, I know.... Any advice?
ahh... that explains it.... One word... practice...
Either go find a hill that you can practice on or go find an empty parking lot... throw it in reverse, and get it rolling (as if rolling down a hill). Then try to throw it in first and get the car moving forward without stalling or stopping. Its all about how well you work the clutch pedal and that just comes with practice/experience...
Ok, so let me get this term slipping right... it is when the clutch plate and flywheel connect but are both turning at different speeds? Thus causing them to wear down?
Haha go me! So is this why double clutching is so good. Because it gives you time to rev the flywheel and get the speeds better matched???
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