Half Clutch position

patkim · 31st January 2008, 20:45

The motor training schools tell you about the Half Clutch position. However in my Alto Lxi I find it very difficult to keep such Half Clutch position. The moment slight vibration starts and if I don’t release the break at that point, the engine stops.
Is this normal for cars? Is it that the training school vehicles are modified w.r.t. clutch break sensitivity?
Thanks..

Rehaan · 31st January 2008, 21:32

Hi Patkim,

When they say "half clutch" they do not mean that you have to release the pedal exaclty 50% of the way.

Every car's clutch feel is different. With some cars the clutch engages in the first 10% of pedal travel, whereas in others it could be the last few mm of releasing the clutch.

The trick is to go slow, and trust your feel. Even at the slightest engagement of the clutch you can afford to leave the brakes on a slope and the car will not roll back.

Releasing the clutch too much with the brakes pressed can put a lot of stress on your engine and wear out your clutch quite quickly as well.

So in short, "half clutch" does not literally mean half-way. Be smooth and slow and when you feel like it is begining to engage, let go of the brakes slowly.

cya
R

viper316 · 31st January 2008, 23:36

Hi,

Half clutch is the thin line between engine shut down and still. if you keep releasing the clutch slowly you would reach a point in the slow upwards where you dont have to apply breaks at all.

lambuhere1 · 1st February 2008, 14:00

One way of knowing the half clutch position is to hold your gear lever when releasing your clucth. As and when the clutch bites into the engine, you can observe two things.

1. Engine Noise changes ( You need to tune your ears to it)
2. Gear stick vibrates, indicating the bite of the clutch.

At this moment keep your clutch pedal at the same position and you can confidently release the brake pedal smoothly, now vehicle will NEVER roll back. Move to accelarator pedal, slowly pushing it and simultaneously releaseing the clutch a bit more. You vehicle should move forward. Hope this helps in your learning process to know the bite point

ankit.jhamb · 1st February 2008, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by patkim

The moment slight vibration starts and if I don’t release the break at that point, the engine stops.
Is this normal for cars? Is it that the training school vehicles are modified w.r.t. clutch break sensitivity?
Thanks..

the vibration is because maybe you are not pressing the accelerator,
you must use both the clutch(release) and accelerator(press) simantaneously,

bblost · 1st February 2008, 14:54

goto HowStuffWorks.com

find the article on How clutches work.
You will get the idea.

Note: I did not give a direct link, because IMHO this website is a MUST EXPLORE.

jayz · 29th February 2008, 05:47

In my swift, the clutch gets engaged towards the last 10%, i would prefer it to be a little more towards the half position, can this be done?

theMAG · 29th February 2008, 06:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayz

In my swift, the clutch gets engaged towards the last 10%, i would prefer it to be a little more towards the half position, can this be done?

Yes. Ask your service station to reduce the play of the clutch.

jayz · 29th February 2008, 07:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG

Yes. Ask your service station to reduce the play of the clutch.

When i enquired with the service guy, he was tellling that its a cable mechanism and cannot be adjusted and was saying that all the swifts will be having the same position. Is this true?

vikram_d · 29th February 2008, 08:04

The service guy does not know what he talking about. Get the clutch play adjusted in such a way that the clutch bites when the pedal is half way through its travel.

jayz · 29th February 2008, 08:17

Ok guys i will take it another service station and see if they can fix it.Thanx for the replies.

rranjith_kum · 29th February 2008, 08:36

i don't understand why this service guys usually say it can't be done(though it can be) incase they don't know how to do it ???

are they worried about customer loosing hope on them ???

simply_sunny001 · 29th February 2008, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayz

When i enquired with the service guy, he was tellling that its a cable mechanism and cannot be adjusted and was saying that all the swifts will be having the same position. Is this true?

clutch play has got nothing to do with cable thing.

The cable should be terminating holding a half rotary kind of metal shaft(i dunno exact name).

The cable is joined onto the metal shaft using the loops on the cable and there play can be adjusted easily by just rotating the cable.

similar like the brake adjustment of enfield bullet.

can be a DIY job if you wish.

mitravisaya · 29th February 2008, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_sunny001

can be a DIY job if you wish.

I had a similar problem with 'too high' engagement point of the clutch in my wagon R and I got it adjusted at the service station two times but still it's too high for me (I have to release the clutch more than half way). After doing it the second time, the service guy told me that it was the max it could be adjusted.

I'd like to know how far it could be adjusted within the safe limits. Some DIY references would be highly appreciated. I find that driving is easier if the point is rather within the first 50% of pedal travel.

jayz · 29th February 2008, 22:38

@simply_sunny001: tried finding the clutch cable but couldn't figure out how to adjust it, any help...

31st January 2008, 20:45	#1
patkim Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NA Posts: 17 Thanked: 0 Times	Half Clutch position The motor training schools tell you about the Half Clutch position. However in my Alto Lxi I find it very difficult to keep such Half Clutch position. The moment slight vibration starts and if I don’t release the break at that point, the engine stops. Is this normal for cars? Is it that the training school vehicles are modified w.r.t. clutch break sensitivity? Thanks.. Last edited by Rehaan : 31st January 2008 at 21:26. Reason: Formatting tags removed.
	() Thanks

31st January 2008, 21:32	#2
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,190 Thanked: 36,045 Times	Hi Patkim, When they say "half clutch" they do not mean that you have to release the pedal exaclty 50% of the way. Every car's clutch feel is different. With some cars the clutch engages in the first 10% of pedal travel, whereas in others it could be the last few mm of releasing the clutch. The trick is to go slow, and trust your feel. Even at the slightest engagement of the clutch you can afford to leave the brakes on a slope and the car will not roll back. Releasing the clutch too much with the brakes pressed can put a lot of stress on your engine and wear out your clutch quite quickly as well. So in short, "half clutch" does not literally mean half-way. Be smooth and slow and when you feel like it is begining to engage, let go of the brakes slowly. cya R
	() Thanks

31st January 2008, 23:36	#3
viper316 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: BeNgAlUrU/PoNdY Posts: 61 Thanked: 2 Times	Hi, Half clutch is the thin line between engine shut down and still. if you keep releasing the clutch slowly you would reach a point in the slow upwards where you dont have to apply breaks at all.
	() Thanks

1st February 2008, 14:00	#4
lambuhere1 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: @ Driver's Seat @ Posts: 730 Thanked: 108 Times	One way of knowing the half clutch position is to hold your gear lever when releasing your clucth. As and when the clutch bites into the engine, you can observe two things. 1. Engine Noise changes ( You need to tune your ears to it) 2. Gear stick vibrates, indicating the bite of the clutch. At this moment keep your clutch pedal at the same position and you can confidently release the brake pedal smoothly, now vehicle will NEVER roll back. Move to accelarator pedal, slowly pushing it and simultaneously releaseing the clutch a bit more. You vehicle should move forward. Hope this helps in your learning process to know the bite point
	() Thanks

1st February 2008, 14:54	#6
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,275 Thanked: 17,862 Times View My Garage	goto HowStuffWorks.com find the article on How clutches work. You will get the idea. Note: I did not give a direct link, because IMHO this website is a MUST EXPLORE.
	() Thanks

29th February 2008, 05:47	#7
jayz BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 130 Thanked: 0 Times	Can we adjust the position of the clutch engagement In my swift, the clutch gets engaged towards the last 10%, i would prefer it to be a little more towards the half position, can this be done?
	() Thanks

29th February 2008, 08:04	#10
vikram_d Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,422 Thanked: 1,188 Times	The service guy does not know what he talking about. Get the clutch play adjusted in such a way that the clutch bites when the pedal is half way through its travel.
	() Thanks

29th February 2008, 08:17	#11
jayz BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 130 Thanked: 0 Times	Ok guys i will take it another service station and see if they can fix it.Thanx for the replies.
	() Thanks

29th February 2008, 08:36	#12
rranjith_kum BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Coimbatore/ Aachen Posts: 692 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	i don't understand why this service guys usually say it can't be done(though it can be) incase they don't know how to do it ??? are they worried about customer loosing hope on them ???
	() Thanks

29th February 2008, 22:38	#15
jayz BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 130 Thanked: 0 Times	@simply_sunny001: tried finding the clutch cable but couldn't figure out how to adjust it, any help...
	() Thanks