Cluch start in reverse??

Yellow_Festiva · 28-03-2009, 07:21 PM

While waiting for my dad to finish work I went over to 2 middle aged ladies in some sort of Suby. The bonnet was up, and they were looking under there while one was on the phone.

I asked what the problem was, and they said the battery was dead, and the NRMA was on the way. I didn't have access to jumper leads.

Their car was parked on a slight incline, facing up the incline.

Sooo.... can you clutch start a car in reverse same as you would in 2nd gear rolling fwd?? I know reverse gearing is a lot shorter than 1st, so would the car come to life then take off uncontrollably like a bat out of hell??

Not that I will come across the same situation again lol.

Jason

Unco · 28-03-2009, 07:27 PM

yes.

done it plenty of times in the past when i used to have a celica, a flat battery and a steep driveway.

Jesk · 28-03-2009, 07:29 PM

yeah you can do it no worries, done it in my festi and other little cars too

XR6_190 · 28-03-2009, 09:59 PM

Yeah, saw a bloke in a Commodore do it the other day, and my neighbor used to do it all of the time with his old POS Astra.

pauljh74 · 28-03-2009, 10:37 PM

Yes, I have done it a few times in the XE I had out of the short, steep driveway where I was residing a few years back. Only need a little speed to turn the engine over with the short reverse gear. The same would apply if you were facing downhill and chose 1st to turn it over.

Once you feel it fire, clutch back in, make sure it keeps revving and drive normally from there

BOSSGT302 · 28-03-2009, 11:42 PM

Yes, but when it starts going like a bat out of hell, remember to use clutch and brake to solve new problem. LOL

Zed7fiddy · 28-03-2009, 11:47 PM

yep, msot certainly can, my work ute (96 deisel hilux) has a POS electrical system, it needs to be jumped daily, so we NEVER park it on a flat. once we did, so we needed to jump it, and walaahhh jumped in reverse! doen it a few times now!

Yellow_Festiva · 29-03-2009, 01:02 AM

Haaaa ok no worries then. I may just practice it in the Festi myself when I have nothing better to do lol

Cheers,

Jason

brycieboy · 29-03-2009, 12:25 PM

im pretty sure your not ment to do it in reverse.... tho it can be done... but im sure someone once said to me that there is a possobility of winding the engin over backwards...

3vXT · 29-03-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnsuteau

im pretty sure your not ment to do it in reverse.... tho it can be done... but im sure someone once said to me that there is a possobility of winding the engin over backwards...

Ummm... when you shift into reverse the crank does start spinning the other way. Haven't you seen Titanic?

Mr Hardware · 29-03-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

I know reverse gearing is a lot shorter than 1st

Not usually. Reverse and 1st are often very similar.

I don't know whether bnsuteau or ken2903 are kidding, because the motor doesn't change its operation no matter what the transmission is doing. The motor doesn't care! the same direction of turn comes out of the flywheel no matter what your trans is doing.
Mate of mine used to do it in his LJ Torana all the time. No probs at all.

3vXT · 29-03-2009, 01:07 PM

Yes i was kidding lol.

(hence the italics)

Mr Hardware · 29-03-2009, 02:01 PM

oh sorry, i'm sick, my brain isnt working quite right.
do you think bnsuteau was kidding?

3vXT · 29-03-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

oh sorry, i'm sick, my brain isnt working quite right.
do you think bnsuteau was kidding?

Maybe not, i've heard it mentioned before.

Will an engine rotate backwards if your car is in reverse but rolling forward (on a steep hill i guess) with the engine off? surely something in the gearbox would let go first?

and if it was on a giant treadmill would it take off? kidding

gtxb67 · 29-03-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken2903

Will an engine rotate backwards if your car is in reverse but rolling forward (on a steep hill i guess) with the engine off? surely something in the gearbox would let go first?

i remember years ago in an f1 car, damon hill spun and the car went backwards while in gear, without his foot on the clutch. when the engineers found out they changed the engine in case it went backwards. certainly a grand prix car would have a stronger gearbox, but i assume you do not want it in drive going backwards or reverse going forwards
obviously if it is neutral or going in the correct direction for the gear, it should not be a problem

3vXT · 29-03-2009, 02:35 PM

Yeah the T5 in my BA feels like its made with paper mache, chopsticks and a big **** rubber band so i won't be trying any hill starts in either direction or gear

Unco · 29-03-2009, 03:34 PM

did you pay extra for the chopstick reinforcement?

i'm curious now, and it's doing my head in. if the engine did manage to spin backwards, with the ignition on... would it then start rotating the other way using the exhaust valve as intake and the intake valves as exhaust? imagine the damage that would cause.

this is what happens when you work night shift and wake up at 1.30pm and read threads like this.

86XFFairmont · 29-03-2009, 05:35 PM

you can start any manual car in either 1st or reverse (could do damage in rev), even when its stuck in gear and clutch is gone just to move it around just have to turn off to go back or forward