[Healeys] Fw: Why Don't depress the clutch ?

[M Lempert]

I agree with Peter and have heard the same about the throwout bearings.  I
 too was taught to depress the clutch before cranking, but this was before
 owning a British car. In fact, my old Supra required the clutch to be
 depressed before it would engage the starter.  It was my mechanic some 
years
 back that told me to always start these cars in neutral - clutch out. My
 first Healey was notorious for slow cranking and I found a dramatic
 difference when I stopped depressing the clutch - it would start much
 quicker with a stronger crank.  Even more of a problem was my E-Type, which
 at one time would hardly crank at all unless in neutral, clutch out.
 Mechanic also advised to go to neutral with clutch out when sitting for any
 period at traffic lights, etc.  He said the throwout bearings were too soft
 and would wear quickly otherwise.  I was at a Moss show up in NJ years back
 when a guy in a Healey next to me was having trouble due to a slow crank. I
 asked him if he had the clutch in and he responded "yes". I told him to let
 it out in neutral and try. It started right up. I could tell he was puzzled
 why.

> Mike L.

>>From: "Peter Schauss" <schauss at worldnet.att.net>
>>-  Depressing the clutch pushes forward against the crankshaft, putting an
>>extra load on the thrust washers at a time when there is no oil pressure 
>>to
>>lubricate them.
>>-  The graphite throwout bearing adds friction to the whole system and 
>>puts
>>slightly more load on the starter.