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Re: Teens & clutches OT

To: Carl W French <cfrench@cybertours.com>
Subject: Re: Teens & clutches OT
From: David Councill <dcouncil@imt.net>
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 17:48:09 -0600
I have my son learning to drive my rusty 71BGT with an almost new clutch 
(less than 10k miles). Due to the excessive rust, I figure he can't do too 
much damage.

I was never worried too much about wearing the clutch - first, they just 
have to learn to let up slowly on the clutch while gradually giving the car 
gas. The first several times, they will probably just kill the engine due 
to letting up on the clutch too fast or not enough gas, before they get the 
hang of it.

Getting the technique down should be short term and could cause a small bit 
of wear, but I don't think it will be significant unless the teen is a very 
very slow learner.

The other part of the wear issue is to train them to only use the clutch 
when changing gears - and to put the car in neutral without keeping the 
clutch engaged when stopped. That is where the wear will come in.

Teach them technique and stress proper use and you should have little if 
any problems.

However, I feel your pain. My son has been fairly conservative so far but 
it still doesn't help my adrenaline level.

David
67 BGT
71 BGT

At 06:13 PM 7/31/2000 -0400, you wrote:
>   OT a little but I have procured an old Rabbit for my son with a four
>speed and I am having difficulty in explaining how to do something I can do
>in my sleep. Can anyone put shifting into words or know of a URL I could
>get to for help on this. We now have a brand new clutch and I do not want
>to kill that one before it's time.
>
>Carl


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