21–30 of 59 posts
Each decade that passes, fewer people report knowing how to drive manual carburetor chokes.
Everybody who has a piece of small power equipment with a manual choke knows how to operate any other thing with a manual choke. I suspect that the number probably peaked in the last 20yr.
It was a cold morning, and wouldn't start.
The issue wasn't not knowing how to use a choke, but not knowing that it had a manual choke.
What do people do about long hills and mountains in an automatic? I've not driven an automatic that doesn't have a manual mode in mountains. Maybe it's not that big a deal to ride the brakes the whole way down? Do modern CVTs have some sort of manual override?
Each decade that passes, fewer people report knowing how to drive manual carburetor chokes.
Everybody who has a piece of small power equipment with a manual choke knows how to operate any other thing with a manual choke. I suspect that the number probably peaked in the last 20yr.
Arguably, the generator is an anachronism, but a comparably powered battery + solar cell would be $10,000’s, and the generator was << $1000.
They’re unpredictable, too eager to shift down even in torque-y engines, annoying going up hills where they’re too eager to shift up.
The only time I really appreciate an automatic is in a big diesel car. Manuals are painful in heavy diesels, especially in start stop traffic.
The article seems like a short fluff piece with the ultimate conclusion of: Why? It's easier. I've driven manual transmission vehicles for most of my adult life, my last 4 cars have been automatic. My wife isn't willing to learn how to drive one. The single thing I prefer about manual transmission vs automatic: direct throttle response If you tap the throttle, the vehicle responds to it. If you take your foot off the…
Each decade that passes, fewer people report knowing how to drive manual carburetor chokes.
Each decade that passes, fewer people report knowing how to drive manual carburetor chokes.
Everybody who has a piece of small power equipment with a manual choke knows how to operate any other thing with a manual choke. I suspect that the number probably peaked in the last 20yr.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Random question from someone who knows little about transmission, but aren't CVTs closer to giving the best of both worlds? I've driven automatic transmissions all my life, but I've really enjoyed my CVT transmission because I can go into a seven-speed manual mode (that I mostly only use for engine braking).
Reviews of many CVT equipped vehicles are pretty consistent in complaints about the transmissions. Have been looking at 5 different brands and while they offer better mileage, there are many complaints about gearing and reliability.