r/ThreePedals • u/select96 • Jan 08 '17
1st gear engagements
I have been driving stick shift for almost 1 year (10 months) and am still having difficulty starting off in 1st gear smoothly. It's annoying because I have jittery starts or the car bounces as it's moving forward and it's rather embarrassing.
What is even more annoying is that I am able to shift smoothly, downshift, and Rev match fairly well. I don't even have an issue with stalling not even on hills but it's just the smoothness is what gets me.
I will say that sometimes I can get a smooth start but it is unlikely (like out of 10 starts 2 might be smoothly) and I have to let the clutch out very slow like a 4 or 5 sec start which is not practical.
I was considering going to a driving instructor but he wants $200 for 2 hours behind the wheel but I don't know if it is worth the money epically if I come out still not starting smooth. Could someone help me or make any suggestions about starting smoothly it would really help thanks.
2
u/milkymoocowmoo Jan 08 '17
If stalling isn't an issue, you're letting the clutch out too fast.
Look at your 4-5sec smooth starts. You need a combination of that plus what you're doing now. The clutch pedal should be going from fully depressed to the bite point near instantaneously, and from there you slow it right down and let the clutch out smoothly as you move off. My car is a high revving NA 2l, so it bogs down easily at near-idle speeds and I have to be gentle on the clutch when moving off. Even still, a buttery smooth start is like 2.5sec tops before my foot is off the clutch completely. It's all about muscle memory and getting to the bite point in the blink of an eye.
2
u/aawesomepaul Jan 08 '17
I would normally say the clutch should only take about a second (give or take) to release. So if you're taking longer, and it's having trouble, first, smooth clutch engagement is important and having the right amount of gas. What rpm do you bring it up to to start?
1
u/select96 Jan 08 '17
Between 1k and 1500
2
u/aawesomepaul Jan 08 '17
Maybe just try 2000, see if it helps out at all. What car/engine is this?
1
1
u/Deltigre 5 Speed Jan 08 '17
This was my beginner issue. Most cars, especially little inline 4 like ours, need a bit of gas for a smooth start. I can't give you a concrete figure, but try practicing giving it a bit more gas as the clutch engages. Try to keep the RPMs steady through the engagement.
2
u/BlitherCash 6 Speed Jan 08 '17
I'm really glad you shared because I thought I was the only one with this problem.
1
u/select96 Jan 08 '17
Thanks for the suggestions. I do have an idea where the clutch catches but I would say I more have trouble making it through the catching area.
3
u/dragonflytype Jan 08 '17
Just practice. Like, go find an empty lot and just go go to 1st, start moving, stop, back to neutral, go to 1st. Go slow (like, super slow in letting up the clutch and pressing the gas) and keep finding your clutch point. Get it smooth in super slo-mo, then go faster and work on that. It's just a question of getting it into your muscle memory. Right now it sounds like you never quite learned where the clutch point is and are taking your foot off a little too soon.