Inner Workings of Automatic and Manual Transmissions

We All Know the Inner Workings of the Automatic and Manual Transmission, but for Those Who Are New, This Is Worth Sharing

You are likely familiar with the automotive transmission. Planetary gears, synchromesh, yadda yadda. Whether it’s years of working on them or years of enjoying them, you know your way around a gearbox. But we all have to learn from somewhere. If you have a new enthusiast in your life, the video above is a great visual guide to teach them the inner workings of both transmissions.

Automatics are becoming increasingly complicated these days, with numerous planetary gears making 9- and 10-speed transmissions a reality. Planetary gears work along with clutch packs and a torque converter to utilize the engine’s power. Modern automatic transmissions allow you to select your own gears, and are proving to be quicker than their manual counterparts.

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Still, ask any enthusiast about manual transmissions, and they’ll tell you they can’t be beat. They are simpler, and often times stronger as a result. Gearing is changed through sliders and levers, and engine output is controlled by a clutch. It takes a bit more effort to properly use a manual transmission, as the driver has to match engine and transmission speeds in order to drive smoothly. Master this technique, though, and you’ll understand why manual transmissions are “better.”

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Via [Motor Authority]