Manual Transmission Synchronizers

If you’ve ever driven an older car with a manual transmission, you know that changing gears is not always smooth. You may struggle with the gear shifter, feeling like it’s sticking between gears or that it needs a little pushing to move. Or you may notice that the vehicle takes a moment to catch up when you change the gears, maybe even sputtering a little.

One improvement that has been made over the years is the addition of a synchronizer to the manual transmission. A synchronizer helps the manual transmission work more smoothly so that you can change gears easier and you can accelerate faster. By helping the transmission to work more smoothly, the synchronizer also helps in slowing wear and tear on your transmission, which can help you save lots of money in the long run.

How a Manual Transmission Synchronizer Works

The construction of a manual transmission is complicated. Essentially, a series of gears are positioned on an output shaft and are intertwined with gears on a countershaft. When you change gears, a slider, or shift sleeve, moves over the gear you have selected and locks it to the output shaft.

A synchronizer adjusts the speed of the shaft so that the gears align more quickly as you shift. The slider pushes against the keys or balls in the synchronizer, which then push against the blocker ring. That ring then pushes against the gear’s cone, and the friction it causes helps the shaft speeds to equalize. The notches in the block align when the shaft speeds are equal, and the slider teeth mesh with the block ring.

The whole process works more smoothly, giving you better performance and reducing the wear and tear on the transmission.

Double Clutching on a Manual Transmission

Double clutching was once used to achieve the same results that a manual transmission synchronizer produces.

In regular shifting, the driver pushes down the clutch and then changes the gear with the shifter knob. With double clutching, the driver pushes down the clutch and then uses the shifter knob to change the gear to neutral. The driver then pushes down the clutch again and shifts the vehicle into the desired gear.

Double clutching produces some of the same results as a synchronizer, helping the vehicle to shift into gear more smoothly and reducing some of the wear and tear on the transmission.

Protecting Your Transmission

Over time, your transmission will wear down no matter what you do. But taking measures to reduce wear, such as shopping for a vehicle with a manual transmission synchronizer, can help you preserve your transmission and save a lot of money in the long run.

You should also bring your vehicle in for regular transmission service. You should bring it in for the recommended maintenance, and you should bring it in as soon as you notice any issues with the transmission, such as the vehicle driving or shifting differently. Tim’s Truck Capital has an exceptional service department that will keep your vehicle running great with regular transmission service and other routine maintenance. We service all types of vehicles, including those with manual transmission synchronizers. Call our service department today to schedule an appointment for your vehicle.

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