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What is Double-Clutching and how do I do it?
I've heard alot about double-clutching and I don't drive a manual (yet), and I'm wondering what exactly it is and how you do it?
| | Reply » What is Double-Clutching and how do I do it? |
http://www.standardshift.com/faq.html
| | Reply » What is Double-Clutching and how do I do it? |
A double clutch (also called a double declutch) is a driving procedure used for vehicles with an unsynchronized manual transmission. Before the introduction of synchronizers and automatic transmissions, double declutching was the only way to drive an automobile. Due to the difficulty involved in learning the technique, it has largely fallen into disuse. However, drivers of large trucks still use double clutching, as those vehicles are usually equipped with the older, more efficient, and more durable unsynchronized gearboxes.
The purpose of the double clutch is to match the speed of the rotating parts of the gearbox for the gear you wish to select to the speed of the input shaft being driven by the engine. Once the speeds are matched, the gear will engage smoothly. If the speeds are not matched, the gears will "crash" or grate as they come into mesh. A modern synchromesh gearbox accomplishes this automatically.
When shifting up on a double-clutched vehicle, the clutch pedal is pressed and the gearbox shifted into neutral. As the engine idles with no load, the rpms will decrease until they are at a level suitable for shifting into the next gear. The driver then depresses the clutch again and shifts into the next gear. The whole manouver can, with practice, take no more than a fraction of a second, and the result is a very smooth gear change. However, in order to downshift, engine revs must be increased while the gearbox is in neutral. This requires the driver to shift into neutral, apply throttle to bring the revs up to a suitable speed, and then shift into gear. This operation can be very difficult to master, as it requires the driver to gauge the speed of the vehicle accurately and is often conducted as cars in front slow down.
A related technique is called Heel-and-Toe, during which the brake and accelerator pedal are pressed by the right foot while the clutch pedal is pressed by the left foot. Note that Heel-and-Toe can be used with any downshift clutch operation, not just with double-clutching. Though difficult, mastering Heel-and-Toe in conjunction with Double Clutching is essential for high performance driving (e.g., Rallying) where straight-cut gearboxes are often used to minimise the wastage of power.
| | Reply » What is Double-Clutching and how do I do it? |
Rev matching still has value because synchro rings still wear if you shift a lot without matching.
| | Reply » What is Double-Clutching and how do I do it? |
For you kids out there this was the standard of progression up thru the ranks. First you learned to double clutch and when you were good enough to master that you went clutchless except for starts.  And if you got it wrong everyone knew. Very nice explanation by Fester.
| | Reply » What is Double-Clutching and how do I do it? |
Double clutching is still a good skill to know and use, as you can really save your synchros (particularly the oft-used second gear synchro) a lot of wear by doing so. I double clutch most of my downshifts just for fun and for the sake of my transmission's longevity.
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What is Double-Clutching and how do I do it?