Start your box w/ no clutch...

[jwade]

Ran across this the other day. Pretty cool mod to say the least...and the most inexpensive mod to date.

Just when you think you have done it all....Now no need to depress the clutch anymore to hear that "click" before the key will let you turm to start...

Just be careful the car is in neutral!

http://boxsters.addr.com/hacks/clutch_switch.htm

[Bobiam]

It won't be "inexpensive" the first time you forget to check the shifter position in a parking lot!!!!!!!!!!
All cars used to lack the interlock between starter and clutch....but they had big chromy bumpers back then. I wouldn't mod it.....

[blue2000s]

I do this with all my cars. It reduces the stress on the crank while starting. I just added the habbit of flopping the shifter before turning the starter (kind of like making the habbit of pressing the clutch )

[Stroked & Blown]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

...It reduces the stress on the crank while starting....

Can you explain that?
My thinking is that the the input shaft and other transmission components that are active while in neutral (trans pump?) would be a higher load than when the clutch is depressed. Though the difference is probably minimal.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Stroked & Blown

Can you explain that?
My thinking is that the the input shaft and other transmission components that are active while in neutral (trans pump?) would be a higher load than when the clutch is depressed. Though the difference is probably minimal.

"The clutch sits in between the transmission and engine. It's bolted to the flywheel, and the flywheel is bolted to the crankshaft. Each time the clutch pedal is pushed in, the throw-out bearing pushes an amount of force on the pressure plate to dis-engage the clutch. This force applied to the pressure plate obviously puts an amount of force on the crankshaft."

"when starting the engine with the clutch pedal down, it's putting amount of force on the crank, and since the engine was off, there has not been any oil flow or oil pressure at all, possibly resulting in excessive wear on the thrust bearing. "

From: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/342560-crankwalk-depth-explanation.html

[Stroked & Blown]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

"The clutch sits in between the transmission and engine. It's bolted to the flywheel, and the flywheel is bolted to the crankshaft. Each time the clutch pedal is pushed in, the throw-out bearing pushes an amount of force on the pressure plate to dis-engage the clutch. This force applied to the pressure plate obviously puts an amount of force on the crankshaft."

"when starting the engine with the clutch pedal down, it's putting amount of force on the crank, and since the engine was off, there has not been any oil flow or oil pressure at all, possibly resulting in excessive wear on the thrust bearing. "

From: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/342560-crankwalk-depth-explanation.html

Ah, lateral crankshaft bearing load from the TO. Makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

[J Tinsby]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

"
"when starting the engine with the clutch pedal down, it's putting amount of force on the crank, and since the engine was off, there has not been any oil flow or oil pressure at all, possibly resulting in excessive wear on the thrust bearing. "

When starting there is minimal oil pressure while cranking, but any good oil will leave a microscopic film wherever it was. Otherwise we'd be replacing rings, bearings pistons cams etc all the time!

But I submit that the 'damage' to the thrust bearing caused by the short time it takes to fire the engine, is far worse when you sit at a traffic light with the car in gear and the clutch disengaged.

That's why when sitting a light I never have the car in gear, the clutch is engaged and my foot isn't resting on the pedal. When the light changes yellow for the oncoming traffic I slide into gear and am ready for the green.

Back in the day, British cars used a carbon release bearing, rather than a true bearing with balls in it. People used to come into the shop for a new clutch when all it needed was a new carbon bearing. In all my cars. over 40 of them, I have never replaced a clutch, release bearing or pressure plate or thrust bearing using the method I described above.

My 2 cents!

[tnoice]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

I do this with all my cars. It reduces the stress on the crank while starting. I just added the habbit of flopping the shifter before turning the starter (kind of like making the habbit of pressing the clutch )

This is good until a mechanic bumps the starter while it is in gear. Had this mod on one of my previous vehicles and had a mechanic smack a tool box with the car because it was left in gear and caused damage! Highly do not recommend this mod. It just takes once, and really?!?! How hard is it to push in the clutch to start the car?

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by tnoice

This is good until a mechanic bumps the starter while it is in gear. Had this mod on one of my previous vehicles and had a mechanic smack a tool box with the car because it was left in gear and caused damage! Highly do not recommend this mod. It just takes once, and really?!?! How hard is it to push in the clutch to start the car?

I've been doing this for 15 years, never had a mechanic damage one of my cars. Cars didn't have this switch in the 80s. I guess people were expected to know how to drive all by themselves until 1990.

Even if the mechanic did, it would be covered by his insurance and I could use a a respray of my front bumper.

[stephen wilson]

This reminds me of when a broken timing belt left me stranded in a '94 Integra. I had no way to get it on to the trailer, so I shoved a wad of paper behind the clutch switch, so I could run it on with the starter!