Gear stick: Difference between revisions

{{More citations needed|date=March 2019}}[[ImageFile:ManualPeugeot Layout206 1999 Hatchback 1.1 TU1JP(HFZ) 02.svgJPG|thumb|TheA commonstandard five5-speed shift pattern (on a [[Peugeot 206]] knob)]]

Gear sticks are most commonly found between the front seats of the vehicle, either on the [[Center console (automobile)|center console]] (sometimes even quite far up on the [[dashboard]]), the transmission tunnel (erroneously called a console shifter when the floor shifter mechanism is bolted to the transmission tunnel with the center console to cover up the shifter assembly when used with a rear or front-wheel drive vehicle), or directly on the floor. Some vehicles have a [[Manual transmission#columnColumn-mounted shifter|column shift]] where the lever is mounted on the [[steering column]] —{{snd}} in vehicles with a manual four-speed gearbox such as 1950s Mercedes-Benz cars and all two-stroke [[Trabant]]s, this is actually a manual gear lever connected to the gearbox with a linkage. In automatic transmission cars, the lever functions more like a gear selector, and, in modern cars, does not necessarily need to have a shifting linkage due to its shift-by-wire principle. It has the added benefit of allowing for a full width bench-type front seat (though some models with bucket seating as an option include it). It has since fallen out of favor, although it can still be found widely on North American-market [[pick-up truck]]s, vans, emergency vehicles (both law enforcement and EMS –{{snd}} the column shifter is retained where a floor shifter is unfeasible due to mounting the mobile data terminal and 2-way radio), and "full-size" US sedans such as the [[Ford Crown Victoria]]. A [[dashboard]] mounted shift was common on certain French models such as the [[Citroën 2CV]] and [[Renault 4]]. Both the [[Bentley Mark VI]] and the [[Riley Pathfinder]] had their gear lever to the right of the [[right-hand drive]] driver's seat, alongside the driver's door, where it was not unknown for British cars to also have their [[Hand brake|handbrake]]. ([[Left-hand drive]] models received a column shift.)

In some traditionalTraditional [[four-wheel drive]] vehicles therehave canone beor amore secondadditional gear"shift leverlevers" whichto engagesengage a [[gear ratio|low-ratio gearbox]], (used on tough [[terrain]]. Further), a similar-looking lever called a [[transfer case]] (which switches between two- and four-wheel drive), or engage [[Differential (mechanical device)|differential]] locks;. these areSome notmore "gearmodern leverstraditional vehicles combine the low-ratio gearbox and transfer case into one lever," howeverwith 3 positions: 2H (for 2-wheel drive in the standard high-ratio gearbox); 4H (for 4-wheel drive in the standard high-ratio gearbox); and 4L (for 4-wheel drive in the low-ratio gearbox).

[[File:Volkswagen_Passat_Estate_B8_6-speed_gear_shifter.jpg|thumb|6-speed gear shifter fromin a 2015 Volkswagen Passat Estate]]

[[File:Schalthebel.jpg|thumb|Dog-leg gear lever in a [[Porsche-Diesel 218]] tractor (1959)]]

[[File:FIAT 500L gear shift.jpg|thumb|[[Fiat 500L]]6-speed manual gear shift within 6a speeds[[Fiat 500L]]]]

| [[File:Manual Layout.svg|125px]]

| This shift pattern is the most common five-speed shift pattern. This layout is reasonably intuitive because it starts at the upper left and works left to right, top to bottom, with reverse at the end of the sequence and toward the rear of the car.

| [[File:Manual Layout 2.svg|125px]]

| [[File:Manual Dogleg.svg|125px]]

| This shift pattern, sometimes called a [[dog-leg gearbox|dog-leg]] shift pattern is used on many race cars and on older road vehicles with three-speed transmissions. The name derives from the up-and-over path between first and second gears. Its use is common in race cars and sports cars, but is diminishing as six-speed and sequential gearboxes are becoming more common. Having first gear across the dogleg is beneficial as first gear is traditionally only used for getting the car moving and hence it allows second and third gears to be aligned fore and aft of each other, which facilitates shifting between the two. As most racing gearboxes are non-synchromesh there is no appreciable delay when upshifting from first through the dogleg into second.

This gear pattern can also be found on some heavy vehicles –{{snd}} such as lorries and tractors –{{snd}} in which first gear is an extra-low ratio for use in extreme standing-start conditions, and would see little use in normal driving.

| [[File:Manual Layout6.svg|125px]]

| This shift pattern is a typical pattern for a six-speed transmission. Six speeds is the maximum usually seen in single range transmissions, however many semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles have manual transmissions with 8, 16 or even 20 speeds, which is made possible due to multi-range gearboxes. In such a case, Reverse is placed outside of the "H," with a canted shift path, to prevent the shift lever from intruding too far into the driver's space (in [[driving on the left or right|left-hand drive]] cars) when reverse is selected. Higher number of speeds in automobiles are rare occurrences, although examples do exist, such as the [[Porsche 992|Porsche 911]], which is equipped with a seven-speed manual transmission (withsince the 2019 model an 8-speed [[dual-clutch transmission|PDK]] automatic[[transmission gearbox(mechanical device)|transmission]] is also available; the [[Porsche 911 (classic)|classic Porsche 911]] has only 5-speed manual available as manual).

| [[File:Manual Layout4d.svg|125px]]

| Shift pattern for a 4-speed car. Also found in column shift (Citroën DS/ID and Peugeot 404 from September 1967 onwards). In some British vehicles, namely the Triumph Herald, reverse is on the opposite side (left-left-up not right-down).

| [[File:Manual Layout 3.svg|125px]]

| [[File:Column4MT.svg|125px]]

SomeMost modern gearboxes, namely [[manumatic]]s, such as [[Alfa Romeo]]'s ''Sportronic'', and [[Porsche]]'s ''Tiptronic'', hashave a traditional automatic shift pattern toon the left or right side of the gear selector, along with a specialconnected positionlongitudinal togate with "+" and "-" positions on the leftother side in which movement of the stickshifter forwardsforward and backward increments the gears up and down, respectively. This can be useful in snow or dirt conditions, where it may be necessary to start from second gear.

== WeightedSee shift knobsalso ==