GEAR CHANGING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 18

GEAR CHANGING

EFFICIENT METHODS HELP TO MOTORISTS. On most cars, changing up is usually so easy that there is very little excuse even for the new driver, to clash his gears. To those motorists who have any difficulty, the following procedure should be practised until a perfectly silent change can be effected:—Press the clutch full out, and at the same time close the throttle, which is usually done by lifting the foot from the accelerator pedal. With the clutch still out, move the gear lever slowly into neutral, pause for a 6eooßd or so, and then gently push the lever into higher gear. Now, let the clutch in fully, and at once open the throttle. The amount of time to pause between disengaging the low gear and engaging the higher one, will depend upou the particular car, but the own-er-driver can soon gauge this to a nicety. Most cars are fitted with a clutch stop, which lias the effect of slowing down the lay-sliaft very quickly so that the pause between geara jy naturally shortened. In some cases the clutch stop is set to slow the layshaft so quick!? that the gear-lever can be put practically without a pause from neutral into the position for tho next higher gear. - Some cars, however, are not fitted with a clutch stop, and in such cases, it is often easier to change up by the method of “double de-clutehing.” The procedure is as follows :*— Suppose you are in first gear, and wish to change into second. De-clutch fully; close

the throttle, and pull lever into neutral. Now let in your clutch again tor an instant; -de-clutch again; pull your lever into second; let in your clutch, and speed up. The reason of these operations is easy to follow. On closing the throttle, the engine naturally slows down quickly, but the clutch, having no stop, and particularly if it is heavy, will .-slow down much less quickly. Now,' if after de-clutching and putting your lever into neutral you let in the clutch agiiin, the friction between the clutch and the engine fly-wheel -will brake the former, so that, when you de-clutch again immediately afterwards, the clutch and the layshaft . will have been forcibly slowed down, and the second gear will engage quite easily. Even with cars not having a clutch stop, it is not usually nenecssary to double de-clutch when changing ..up between each speed. This depends upon the difference between the various gear ratios, and the owner-driver will soon find out for himself whatmethod is necessary to give him a sil-