Reversing with the clutch only...

Bishmilla

Wondering if anyone can help me... I am absolutely useless at reversing as the car just seems to run away with me at high speed. My dad told me that you can reverse using just the clutch and you don't need to put your foot on the accelerator at all, at least on flat ground, so now I have mastered it. But I was just wondering of this is considered coasting and would if be wrong to do it in the test?

FanadMan

Always thought coasting was moving with clutch pressed completly.

But I could be wrong.....it's been known to happen

TheChizler

Nope, that would only be bad going forward for more than a few seconds, fine while reversing. It's only coasting when the drive is completely disconnected from the wheels.

**Timbuk2**

It's fine. In first or reverse gear you can use what is called clutch control, which is moving without taking the clutch out fully - i.e. holding it near the biting point in order to move slowly - very important for when you are reversing around corners, or reversing into a parking spot, etc. It is ok to use clutch control with a combination of acceleration as well.

In any other gears apart from 1st and reverse, the clutch pedal needs to be either fully pressed or fully released, it can't be somewhere in between!

ADIDriving

Good use of the clutch: Using the clutch to manouver the car very slowly. Perfectly acceptable during your test.
Bad use of the clutch: Coasting in the form of leaving your foot on the clutch too long while driving, eg; staying on the clutch as you go forwards around a corner in a second gear speed.

UDP

Bishmilla wrote: »

Wondering if anyone can help me... I am absolutely useless at reversing as the car just seems to run away with me at high speed. My dad told me that you can reverse using just the clutch and you don't need to put your foot on the accelerator at all, at least on flat ground, so now I have mastered it. But I was just wondering of this is considered coasting and would if be wrong to do it in the test?

The reason the car takes off for you when reversing is you are pressing the accelerator. do not press the accelerator until the clutch is fully out and only if you wish to go backwards faster. always let the clutch out slowly when reversing so that you have control. If when you have the clutch half out you find your self going to fast them just press it back in a small bit again. Understanding what the clutch actually does from a mechanical point of view would greatly help you understand why you should reverse this way. You may need to use the accelerator while letting out the clutch if reversing up a hill (to give more power as such) but you probably will not be doing this.

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Hr7GYIcUc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Let me know if you have any questions

Cathalog

Don't you do damage to the cluth if you hold it halfway (known as "riding the clutch"?) for too long?

Alanstrainor

Cathalog wrote: »

Don't you do damage to the cluth if you hold it halfway (known as "riding the clutch"?) for too long?

Not really. Clutch is a wear and tear item. It will wear down regardless. Holding it out halfway, when the engine is idling is not going to cause any undue wear. It's the best way of handling the car in slow moving circumstances.

Cathalog

Ah, interesting. I've always been told not to leave it on the biting point when stopped in traffic etc. 'cause it wears it down by many people (even an ADI)

Alanstrainor

Cathalog wrote: »

Ah, interesting. I've always been told not to leave it on the biting point when stopped in traffic etc. 'cause it wears it down by many people (even an ADI)

There is a difference here though. Your ADI is absolutely right. But holding the clutch out sitting still at a set of lights is not the same, as gently bringing the clutch out to reverse around a corner, or do any other low speed manoeuvres.

Bringing the clutch out to the biting point at a set of lights, serves no purpose, and only wears the clutch. But doing the same, when you want the vehicle to move slowly is perfectly fine.

Bishmilla

Hey all,

Thanks so much for clearing this up for me, it's a great help to me!

ADIDriving wrote: »

Bad use of the clutch: Coasting in the form of leaving your foot on the clutch too long while driving, eg; staying on the clutch as you go forwards around a corner in a second gear speed.

I am so guilty of this! I really panic when turning off a main road on to a side road and having change down gears quickly especially if there is a line of traffic behind me. I was wondering is it ok to slow down in fourth gear and then change to second and then take the corner? Sometimes I am in such a panic I just take them in third. Or should I be in first gear...?

Bishmilla

UDP wrote: »

Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Hr7GYIcUc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thanks UDP, great video, it really clarifies things for me !

**Timbuk2**

Bishmilla wrote: »

Hey all,

Thanks so much for clearing this up for me, it's a great help to me!



I am so guilty of this! I really panic when turning off a main road on to a side road and having change down gears quickly especially if there is a line of traffic behind me. I was wondering is it ok to slow down in fourth gear and then change to second and then take the corner? Sometimes I am in such a panic I just take them in third. Or should I be in first gear...?

If you are on a main road, e.g. 4th or 5th gear, and you wish to turn left up ahead, check your mirrors to see what's behind you, signal left, start slowing down using the brake (your foot isn't on the clutch at this stage), just before the turn, you should be at an appropriate speed for the turn, clutch in and change to second gear (as in straight from 4th to 2nd), take the clutch fully out. Before turning check your mirrors again, especially your left wing mirror (watch out for cyclists!) then take the turn - you shouldn't be braking while taking a turn, so the clutch pedal and the brake pedal are both released fully!

Most turns like that require 2nd gear, but some of them are ok in 3rd gear (such as ones that are at an obtuse angle to the road, not a right angle). It is unlikely you'll ever need first for a turn like that - you would only need to change down to first if you had to stop (e.g. queue of traffic going leaving at the same junction).

If you find yourself habitually going around corners with your foot on the clutch, this usually means that you are in too high of a gear! If you find yourself going around corners with your foot on the brake pedal, it means you didn't slow down to an appropriate speed soon enough!

ADIDriving

Bishmilla wrote: »

Hey all,
Thanks so much for clearing this up for me, it's a great help to me!
I am so guilty of this! I really panic when turning off a main road on to a side road and having change down gears quickly especially if there is a line of traffic behind me. I was wondering is it ok to slow down in fourth gear and then change to second and then take the corner? Sometimes I am in such a panic I just take them in third. Or should I be in first gear...?

Don't be bothered by the traffic behind you. You need to slow down to make the turn then you are out of their way, so they won't mind.
Timbuk2 has gone through the full sequence. But the key point for you is that you slow down early enough to make an easy and complete gear change. It is perfectly acceptable to skip gears on the way down.

Jimbob 83

The most important thing when reversing is to use your mirrors ( to see what you are reversing around) alot and observe observe observe, you should be looking out your rear window every 3 metres