atlantic route to gambia

[chrisue]

have just returned from gambia. i took a
12 year old pajaro through .carnet a must
had fun in mauri, for got to buy insurance
and got well stiffed. also no clutch for
600 km through mauritainia,took 9 days from
leaving plymouth.any one who would like
any info.can e-mail me direct.

[Toby2]

Okay so how do you drive with no clutch for 600kms - or were you being towed? Interested in this bush mechanics solution.

[Madrid_CapeTown]

Hi !!! . Due that I am always driving old bangers , and 60 years old jeeps which are always having trouble with clutch operation... etc.. etc.. I have learnt to drive with an non-operative clutch . It is relatively easy.

By a broken clutch I mean a clutch which can not be desengageed (i.e. a broken pedal , cable , hose , fork ,bearing etc... etc ) ,. but not a totally slipping clutch (which is the opposite issue , a much more worrying breakdown!) .


The biggest issue is to start moving on a flat surface.On most 4x4s , this is easily done by engaing low-ratio and 1st. then just start the engine , with the gear selected . More often than not , the engine will start , and ...voila! , the vehicle 's moving.

Then , it is just about performing the lost mistical art of "double declutching" , which is required for most heavy vehicles. That is , in beetween every gear change , putting the gear in neutral , then revvin' the engine at whichever rpm you guess it will be when the intended gear is engaged, and THEN , engage that gear . If the vehicle has a syncromesh gearbox (most ) , then by appliying a light pressure at the gear stick and variying the rpm , the gear will move itself into gear (as by magic) when the rpm are the right ones .

Try driving at home without pressing the clutch pedal !!.

It is surprisingly easy , and it takes a few minutes to get the feel for it .

The trick is never to allow the vehicle to stop moving , (as then one should stop the engine , and repeat the operation ) .Other tricks is parking the vehicle alwayss downhill , and start the engine , and then -when the vehicle is moving downhill- engage 2nd gear , and so -on .

However it should be noted that 1st gear is NOT syncronized in big 4x4s (most cars ?)_ , therefore making it very difficult to swift into 1st gear doing this trick.

Pls also note that Clutch operation and Engine Starter/battery are complementary (i.e. you can go on driving with either one , but not without both . A broken starter AND a broken cluth , is definitely a serious problem .


have fun !!

[chrisue]

traveller has it in one,just go like hell
and do'nt stop up hill in deep sand .
the seal had gone ,which we fixed later,
with a piece of ruber pipe and liquid metal.
easy

[Toby2]

I understand. When I asked the question I was thinking more in terms of a clutch that won't engage (slipping) which I've had before. Guess thats a bit harder to deal with.