Double declutching

[Chris71]

Hi,

Can someone explain exactly how you should double declutch on a down change. As I udnerstand it, you

• clutch down
• into nuetral and clutch back up, so you've properly 'engaged' neutral
• raise the revs to spin up the layshaft
• clutch down
• back into (lower) gear and clutch up again

Having not tried it for a while, I seem to be having great difficulty doing this, but if raise the revs a second time, whilst the clutch is pressed down as you're going back into gear (ie during the penultimate step on the list above) it seems to work well. Produces a characteristic double blip of the throttle as you go down.

Am I really double declutching that way, or is it just leaving it to the syncromesh?

[Chris71]

Why not?

I drive old (pre-synchromesh) cars every so often and also, I'm told the IAM favour doing so.

Slightly off topic, but I've tried heel and toe'ing numerous times and never got it even vaguely right! On the very rare occasions I've managed to contort my foot to get pressure on both pedals, I found it very difficult to judge the ammount of pressure I was applying to the brake!! Think I need pedal extensions....

[Chris71]

So, changing the subject a little, if you have normal size 10 or 11 shoes and pendant pedals, what would be the normal way to heel and toe?

I've tried it with my toes on the brake pedal, trying to bring my heel round to blip the throttle, but found it very difficult to maintain a steady pressure on the brake. The brakes on the car in uqestion were very well servoed and I found it impossible to do without accidentally jabbing the brake a little harder at the same time and sending myself flying forward

Needless to say this was done slowly on a very quiet road...