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

HOW TO DRIVE A MOTORCAR shifting lever (g). In operating the first and second gears, however, we have already been moving the lever (f), so that coming back from second to neutral we disengage d from i and lea.ve the wheels (e and h) like- wise out of engagement. We now have to pick up wheel (e) and bring it into en8^gement with wheel (j), and to do so it is necessary to pick up the striking baa.- (g), which, of course, means coming through the gate. We do so. Now we will assume that wheels (j and e) have 30 teeth and 30 teeth respectively. . Therefore the two wheels want to be re- volving this time at just the same number of r.p.m. in order to make a perfect change. The procedure is very similar, with this difference, when we were in second we found the primary shaft, and therefore the wheel (e), revolving at 355 r.p.m.’ wmlst the layshaft (1) was doing'500 r.p.m. But it will be remembered that when we declutched, the car, through the medium of the tailshaft, still continues to- drive the primary shaft and with it, of course the wheel (e). If we assume this slowing down process which takes place when the clutch is disconnected to bring the speed of the primary shaft down to 150 r.p.m then it is requisite for the wheel (j), being the same diameter as e, to be revolving at just the same speed. Consequently, a slightly longer pause is requisite in order to give the layshaft time to slow down a little more proportionately than it did before, and this is happily again provided by the action of going through the gate. Do not, therefore, be in too great a hurry to pass through the gate when going from second to third. On letting the clutch in again to pick up the drive on the third speed, we find wheel (a) once more doin^ 1000 r.p.m., wheel (b) doing 500 r.p.m., and (j), being fixed.to the same shaft, likewise doing the same num- ber, j and e being respectively 30 and 30 teeth, we get the same result of 500 r.p.m. for the wheel (e). ’ We now want to go into top gear, which is commonly known as the direct drive. Just at the back of the wheel (a) are seen what are termed dog clutches, and 90