How To Drive A Motorcar
A Key To The Subtleties Of Motoring

HOW TO DRIVE A MOTORCAR greater is the leverage applied to that said universal joint ; therefore, we look on the layshaft (1) for the smallest wheel and on the primary shaft ('m) for the biggest wheel, so that the reduction from the layshaft to the primary shaft may be as big as possible for the low gear. It is easily seen that it is necessary for us to obtain this low gear to move the wheel (c) into engagement with the wheel (h), remembering, of course, that the wheels on the layshaft never change their position ; but the engine is running and therefore the layshaft is like- wise running because of the constant-mesh pinions, so that if we try to bring c into engagement with h under these circumstances trouble will ensue. Diagram showing gears in first speed- Therefore, we must declutch so that the engine can revolve without any portion of the gearbox revolving. We can now safely move the wheel (c) into engage- ment with the wheel (h), as both are stationary. A second or two must be allowed from the time when the declutching movement is made to permit the constant- mesh pinions to cease revolving, as there is a certain amount of momentum stored in the clutch member and these wheels which has to spend itself before they come to rest. Having moved the gear lever into the first speed position, and thus getting these two gear wheels into mesh, we can now let the clutch in gently, the result 86