. . . . and nearly getting killed.


Click blue link dummy

 

dude was smooth as hell, "we're gonna try that again, lets back it up"

I would have been like.... *Checks over shoulder while thinking to myself* Did anyone just see that?

 

Wow, that's crazy.

 

That could've been soooo much worse.

 

meh, only weighs 1764 pounds. lol

 

Good point!

 

Love the comments "Never leave a manual in gear;" he trusts his parking brake a lot more than I do.

 

I had a truck roll back once. driveway wasnt steep enough to get it going fast enough to do any damage, but it was in the street.
ever since then, I put my cars in gear.

 

With a manual car, I always put it in reverse when I park it if I'm going to be backing out after starting it the next day. Easier to do when the fluids are warm than otherwise.

 

No idea where I got the practice from, but I was always: 1st on flat or uphill & R for downhill

 

+1

 

Reverse when parking downhill seems like it should be common knowledge but this is actually the first I've heard about it. Interesting.

 

That could have been bad. I always park in gear but also as the comment on it says I have gotten in the habit as well of always moving the shifter left and right just before I start the car so I don't forget to take it out of gear.

 

I always leave it in gear. This happened to me once. But now I jiggle my stick anytime I get in the car.

 

I start it in gear, clutch in then throw it in neutral and give 'er a jiggle just to be sure before letting the clutch back out.

 

This whole situation coulda been avoided with a clutch pedal starter interlock momentary switch that most modern MT cars have.
The clutch must be fully depressed for the starter to work, hence avoiding the car driving off after starting.
I've been around a few 917's in Amelia, and their electrical system is pretty simplistic.

 

an idiot neighbor of mine who worked on the same farm as I did, got in a truck and turned the key without pushing in the clutch. Since the vehicle was parked about 1' away from the barn door it lurched forward and went right through the doors. No such safety features back then.

 

I've only ever done it on an older [2001] motorcycle.
Luckily, it always hit the starter for 1 cycle, then started in earnest, so I was able to catch it before it lurched to the ground.

 

^ surprising a 2001 motorcycle didn't have a neutral/clutch starter interlock. My 1985 Honda Interceptor has them.

 

It's a 2001 Indian Scout (Harley Sportster clone-ish). No neutral safety switch, or really anything beyond a speedometer (off ~15%), a few idiot lights, & 88 cu in of torque.

 

^ oh yeah, that does sound minimalistic


One reason to start with the clutch in besides being in neutral is it's less load on the starter since the input shaft to a gearbox has mass and friction.
Not a huge difference, but if it's cold out (MT fluid thickens) and a battery is less than optimum it makes a difference.

 

It's a great cruiser, pretty comfortable for a couple hours in the saddle. With fixed pegs, it's definitely not a corner carver. Father-in-law had it hop the rear wheel when he dragged a peg on a cloverleaf exit ramp