250 MG Tech | How to Not Destroy Your Clutch the Easy Way

[rockychessie]

John, You are a true gentleman sharing your time and knowledge for all of us MG enthusiasts. I appreciate every single video you make! It is comforting knowing we have a "guardian angel" looking out for us! Have a great holiday and cheers!

[JohnCareyJag]

I will try to remember this lesson! I have always held the clutch pedal down at stop lights but it's obvious that the release bearings will last so much longer if they are not used for idling.

[TheLastSoundNinja]

santa claus drvies a stick shift when hes not out delivering presents

[benhutcherson]

All the folks arguing about this, that and the other need to remember that John is an MG mechanic and while his advice is good in general, some of the things he says are specific to MGs.

First of all, the newest US market MG was made in 1980. None have a clutch interlock so all will start without your foot on the clutch.

Second, the graphite release bearing is what it is. It doesn't really matter-for purposes of this video-what type of release bearing your car has unless your car happens to be an MG.

And thanks, as always John, for giving us good advice and specifics on MG repair. I'm looking forward to your rolling tech sessions at MG2016!

[billthompson]

This technique not only saves your throwout bearing, but saves the crankshaft thrust half-washers on the 1500s too! The less you're on the clutch, the better!

[priyonjoni]

Taking off, changing gears, AND starting the car.

[TrevorMarty]

Wait a minute. It'll start in N. with out having the clutch in? Sweet! Thanks dudes. You guys have helped me tons.

[EXPIOWA]

100% agree. Also, it is not necessary to depress the clutch to pull a manual transmission out of gear. It will slide out freely when you rev match using the throttle. It saves a cycle every time you don’t push it in.

I also don’t let the car push the motor. Downshifting is not necessary where I live. In mountainous areas it is different and sometimes necessary but not here. It puts force the wrong way through the transmission. How is that possibly good for it? It isn’t. Does downshifting really look that cool anyway? Maybe, sometimes. ; ) Don’t make it a habit though.

Planning your decelerations with regard to traffic volume and traffic signals can reduce the need to completely stop a lot of the time. A well planned deceleration may only require third gear to recover traveling speed because you never had to come to a full stop. It saved the initial start load on the clutch plus the engagement of going into 1st and 2nd for the trough-out bearing. It saves fuel, break wear, tire tread frictional loading/ wear and may keep you from getting rear ended by Shelly because she refuses to stop texting and never got surprised by a vehicle in front of her stopping rapidly.

[FredMiller]

LMAO! I have had sticks for my entire driving career and am constantly preaching the VERY SAME MESSAGE! You are the bomb! Keep the videos coming!....

[mattperez]

Best guide on youtube in regard to this topic.  Thanks!

[TomofExeter]

Not going to argue with Sir John of Twist BUT. Also handy to depress the clutch when switching off in my experience. It lowers the rpm and prevents run-on.

[DaveTadlock]

I think I'm feeling the bearing crumble. There is a vibration in the clutch pedal while in neutral and depressing the clutch. Have felt it a couple of times. Car is scheduled to get it in to a shop. Will take your complete lube list, too. With a new clutch I'm having gaskets and seals replaced. Not sure what color to paint the engine. Should the motor mounts be replaced, too? I'm in KC and would like to make it to Fayetteville but not sure I can. I'm a new MGB owner and enjoy your videos.

[fintim]

Hi John!
Thank you for the very clear info how to use the clutch. As you know it is not easy to teach Mg drives or others how use the clutch. That is why ( even you dont like this) I changed the throw out bearing to clutch roller bearing (from Moss UK). It also works fine.

[ItsRiley]

Great video. Would love to know your opinion on downshifting

[georules]

Some states it's illegal to not have the car in gear when on the road - meaning you must have the clutch depressed at a stop.

[kevineinheuser]

Nice Metal guitar outro! "Don't do this" Da Da Daa na naaaa daaa

[spooledyou]

how do you expect people to start it in neutral when the car wont start unless you have the clutch pushed in

[jonathan]

I just bought the base where the fork and throwout bearing sits on, long story, well I bought it form Moss Europe, it looks great.

[nosay]

In England we call it riding the clutch, you can fail your driving test for doing that here. If you pass your driving test in an automatic, you can only drive an automatic so everyone here learns to drive in a manual change car so they have the choice. It tends not to happen so much, but a few do it.

[shoponline]

A lot of people use the clutch to prevent a rollback on a hill. Glad I figured out how to do
To do this without burning my clutch and without using the parking brake