Is it possible to drive without riding the clutch in India?

sachinayak · 26th July 2009, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLK

The rule is, apart from the 1st gear (when starting from standstill), you should not need to slip the clutch in any other gear.

What if the traffic scene is so bad, that even 1st gear is too high. I mean you are crawling at really insanely slow speed? One option is to let the traffic move ahead and then cover the distance in one shot. Or to ride the clutch and keep up with the crawling traffic.

The first option never works, coz if you let any space build up between you and the vehicle in front, be assured the space will be "encroached" in no time.

johy · 26th July 2009, 09:07

I used to "ride" the clutch when learning and this continued when I had my first car, the Santro. But then over time I got used to taking my foot off the clutch completely. I started this habit first in the highways/open roads and then gradually in city traffic. I now manage to keep my foot off the clutch 99% of the time. I think it is more of a habit than a need. Of course, some of my drivers, still ride the clutch and it may be the reason I might need a clutch change sooner than later.

phamilyman · 26th July 2009, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers

It takes practise NOT to ride the clutch -else go for an AUTOMATIC!!

Boss,

from a senior member like you its a dangerous advice.

Let me give you my example. Daily 2km of crawl (sub 5kmph touch n go speed).
The VDi does not move at anything less than 10 kph.

How will someone not overuse the clutch?

gpa · 26th July 2009, 09:50

IMO, 'riding the clutch' should not arise at all. If you use the clutch for its primary purpose which is 'shifting gears' then no matter how bad the traffic, you will not ride the clutch. Also, it does help if you can leave a little earlier than usual if driving to work to beat the morning rush hour traffic. Does save your machinery and also does wonders for your FE.

aaggoswami · 26th July 2009, 10:05

Depends upon driving conditions.
If its 0.5 feet or 1 feet at a time, one has to use the clutch. This is bumper to bumper traffic for long distance which is becoming the grim reality in almost all Indian cities. Avoid rushover to save time and resources. Else the clutch overuse issue is a practical thing that is bound to happen.

This is true for 1st gear rides, one cannot accelerate to gain enough speed for even 2nd gear. Hence the problem.

The prefect answer is NO. Its not possible to drive without riding the clutch in India.

headers · 26th July 2009, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Boss,

from a senior member like you its a dangerous advice.

Let me give you my example. Daily 2km of crawl (sub 5kmph touch n go speed).
The VDi does not move at anything less than 10 kph.

How will someone not overuse the clutch?

Sir, its better to walk the distance in such a case! LOL

BTW, a probable solution could be to just use the 1st gear to move the car and slip to neutral..the car will crawl with the traffic with you managing the brakes.

I understand what you mean anyways and its damn irritating! BTW, what is the FE if your VDi ?

CBlazer · 26th July 2009, 10:47

Well, I learnt the hard way. I guess I picked up my habit in my two-wheeler days and had to force myself to give it up when I had to replace my Omni's clutch. But since then I've consciously made sure I don't ride the clutch (there are some very rare situations when I have to).

It has worked with various cars I have driven since then. One of the things I do is to shift to neutral at very low speeds whenever safe/possible. IMO there is no fixed recipe and you'll need to make adjustments depending on the car.

OT: I'm totally psyched at the thought of letting professional/hired drivers drive my car because I've found a vast majority of them using the clutch as a pseudo-brake.

MileCruncher · 26th July 2009, 11:22

In all my cars, I make sure I remove my foot from the clutch moment I'm done shifting. In cases of extremely slow crawl, I engage first to give it motion, immediately shift to neutral to let my car coast. This has yielded till date very good result for me and my Uno is still on the first clutch at 1.07L Kms.

And this is something that one learns on its own and cannot be taught.

debugged · 26th July 2009, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

In all my cars, I make sure I remove my foot from the clutch moment I'm done shifting. In cases of extremely slow crawl, I engage first to give it motion, immediately shift to neutral to let my car coast. This has yielded till date very good result for me and my Uno is still on the first clutch at 1.07L Kms.

And this is something that one learns on its own and cannot be taught.

Well, being a new driver, I get tons of advise not to ride the clutch.

I learnt driving in an old Santro and was quite comfortable taking the leg off the clutch the moment the gears were changed. And though I make a conscious effort now to keep this habit, I doubt it would be possible with my Swift Diesel in the bangalore bumper to bumper traffic. Slot into first gear and Slightly release the clutch and even before i take the right foot off the brake and try to press the accelerator, the car has already covered the few feet gap between me and the car in front.

I try to leave before the peak hour traffic in the morning, (thats before 8 mind you and even then I get stuck in traffic by the time i cover the 13 km and reach my office near Brigade Road) but in the evenings, its always peak hour from 5 to all the way after 9 in my route. With the overbridge construction going on the Outer Ring Road, things have only gotten worse. I'm just hoping that I dont ruin my machine.

vinaydas · 26th July 2009, 21:34

in bumper to bumper traffic i think its very difficult if not impossible to not ride the clutch.
after speeds of around 20km + i think i can confidently remove my foot of the clutch in the palio but jerks cannot be avoided.

aerohit · 27th July 2009, 09:14

Riding clutch, bumper to bumper traffic, self destructive society

I wonder, why are we even driving, if we are unable to drive normally.

neoonwheels · 27th July 2009, 10:00

I wonder how you do NOT ride clutch when you need to crawl at 5-10 KMPH? You can not use accelerator at this speed anyway? You can hardly avoid using clutch in such situation.

headers · 27th July 2009, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers

BTW, a probable solution could be to just use the 1st gear to move the car and slip to neutral..the car will crawl with the traffic with you managing the brakes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoonwheels

I wonder how you do NOT ride clutch when you need to crawl at 5-10 KMPH? You can not use accelerator at this speed anyway? You can hardly avoid using clutch in such situation.

Sir, you could try the above!

neoonwheels · 27th July 2009, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by headers

Sir, you could try the above!

Worth trying out. Lets see if it works out but then again I need to keep shifting to 1st every now and then.

theMAG · 27th July 2009, 10:23

It is VERY possible to drive in city traffic without riding the clutch. You need to learn how to torque the car by just releasing the clutch - without engaging the accelerator; 1st gear works best with this technique.

Try it a few times and you'll get the hang of it. Very useful for clutch life especially in the one application where clutch riding is common - stop/start/slow-moving.

The other obvious rule is to not have multiple drivers for a car - clutch usage is always different between drivers.

26th July 2009, 09:07	#17
johy BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Siliguri Posts: 992 Thanked: 634 Times View My Garage	I used to "ride" the clutch when learning and this continued when I had my first car, the Santro. But then over time I got used to taking my foot off the clutch completely. I started this habit first in the highways/open roads and then gradually in city traffic. I now manage to keep my foot off the clutch 99% of the time. I think it is more of a habit than a need. Of course, some of my drivers, still ride the clutch and it may be the reason I might need a clutch change sooner than later.
	() Thanks

26th July 2009, 09:50	#19
gpa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,790 Thanked: 345 Times	IMO, 'riding the clutch' should not arise at all. If you use the clutch for its primary purpose which is 'shifting gears' then no matter how bad the traffic, you will not ride the clutch. Also, it does help if you can leave a little earlier than usual if driving to work to beat the morning rush hour traffic. Does save your machinery and also does wonders for your FE.
	() Thanks

26th July 2009, 10:05	#20
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,997 Thanked: 3,000 Times	Depends upon driving conditions. If its 0.5 feet or 1 feet at a time, one has to use the clutch. This is bumper to bumper traffic for long distance which is becoming the grim reality in almost all Indian cities. Avoid rushover to save time and resources. Else the clutch overuse issue is a practical thing that is bound to happen. This is true for 1st gear rides, one cannot accelerate to gain enough speed for even 2nd gear. Hence the problem. The prefect answer is NO. Its not possible to drive without riding the clutch in India.
	() Thanks

26th July 2009, 10:47	#22
CBlazer BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 598 Thanked: 18 Times	Well, I learnt the hard way. I guess I picked up my habit in my two-wheeler days and had to force myself to give it up when I had to replace my Omni's clutch. But since then I've consciously made sure I don't ride the clutch (there are some very rare situations when I have to). It has worked with various cars I have driven since then. One of the things I do is to shift to neutral at very low speeds whenever safe/possible. IMO there is no fixed recipe and you'll need to make adjustments depending on the car. OT: I'm totally psyched at the thought of letting professional/hired drivers drive my car because I've found a vast majority of them using the clutch as a pseudo-brake. Last edited by CBlazer : 26th July 2009 at 10:48.
	() Thanks

26th July 2009, 11:22	#23
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,491 Thanked: 1,319 Times View My Garage	In all my cars, I make sure I remove my foot from the clutch moment I'm done shifting. In cases of extremely slow crawl, I engage first to give it motion, immediately shift to neutral to let my car coast. This has yielded till date very good result for me and my Uno is still on the first clutch at 1.07L Kms. And this is something that one learns on its own and cannot be taught.
	(1) Thanks

26th July 2009, 21:34	#25
vinaydas BANNED Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,399 Thanked: 148 Times	in bumper to bumper traffic i think its very difficult if not impossible to not ride the clutch. after speeds of around 20km + i think i can confidently remove my foot of the clutch in the palio but jerks cannot be avoided.
	() Thanks

27th July 2009, 09:14	#26
aerohit BANNED Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: India Posts: 985 Thanked: 1,011 Times	Riding clutch, bumper to bumper traffic, self destructive society I wonder, why are we even driving, if we are unable to drive normally.
	() Thanks

27th July 2009, 10:00	#27
neoonwheels Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 2,070 Thanked: 1,882 Times View My Garage	I wonder how you do NOT ride clutch when you need to crawl at 5-10 KMPH? You can not use accelerator at this speed anyway? You can hardly avoid using clutch in such situation.
	() Thanks

27th July 2009, 10:23	#30
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,196 Thanked: 1,821 Times View My Garage	It is VERY possible to drive in city traffic without riding the clutch. You need to learn how to torque the car by just releasing the clutch - without engaging the accelerator; 1st gear works best with this technique. Try it a few times and you'll get the hang of it. Very useful for clutch life especially in the one application where clutch riding is common - stop/start/slow-moving. The other obvious rule is to not have multiple drivers for a car - clutch usage is always different between drivers. Last edited by theMAG : 27th July 2009 at 10:26.
	(1) Thanks