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Subject:Clutch Use
From:Mick Owens
Date:Tue, 29 Jun 1999 12:40:34 -0500

I've been reading the traffic regarding pressure on the clutch pedal while
in idle, and I offer the following.

I am the original owner of a 1973 Ghia Vert. It has ~95K on the ORIGINAL
clutch (all components). I do drive conservatively, and have always
"tapped" the transmission into neutral upon coming to a stop. By "tapped",
I mean easing up on the accelerator pedal and just tapping  the gear shift
lever into neutral without depressing the clutch pedal at all. I don't
really know it this has contributed to clutch component longevity or not,
but it seems logical to me that the less one uses a moving part, the longer
it may last.

Does anyone have a comment on this practice of tapping into neutral without
depressing the clutch pedal?

Incidentally, I am also the original owner of a 1981 Vanagon Westy.

Mick

Michael A. "Mick" Owens
Assistant Director for Administration
Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center
Science and Research Bldg. 1, Rm. 724
University of Houston
4800 Calhoun Rd.
Houston, TX
77204-5507
Voice: 713-743-3626 (office)
Voice: 281-280-9199 (home)
Fax: 713-747-7724
Email: owens@uh.edu

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