Rascal Van Enthusiasts

marc4242

I reversed my laden van back up my driveway. I slipped the clutch for maybe 20secs and there was smoke coming into the cab and that horrible burning clutch smell. Obviously I won't do this again, but how much damage am I likely to have done here?

Gra

Chances are that you will be ok but that sort of treatment is not to be recommended Exclamation

gsxrnitrous

(Obviously I won't do this again, but how much damage am I likely to have done here?)

About 180 quids worth, according to my local garage.
My new clutch does bite like a good'n though.

marc4242

The van still appears to go ok, but will be gentle in future. What exactly is happening when a clutch gives off smoke?

gsxrnitrous

The smoke is the remains of the abrasive material used to make up the clutch plate/s, burning from being slipped.

Normal clutch use just wears the material a minute amount each time the clutch is engaged or slipped.
But when it is slipped for too long under strain, the material gets beyond it's temperature range, and starts to burn/melt away.
It will have just taken a few more miles off the clutch.

Mine gradually got more sensitive over about a month, until one day on the way to a job it started to slip in traffic. I drove home very carefully that day.
Very Happy

The trick up a driveway is to let the clutch right out before you reach the incline.
As long as the clutch is engaged is should be able to carry
a full load uphill in reverse, as the gearing is so low on these,
plus reverse is generally the lowest gear in the box.