This traditional drivetrain setup uses a friction clutch to couple the engine to the transmission input shaft, and a series of selectable gear sets synchronized by hand movement. It provides direct, mechanical power transfer without the parasitic loss of a torque converter. While largely replaced by automatics in passenger cars, it remains popular in sports cars, heavy trucks, and motorcycles.
The synchros in this manual transmission are completely shot in second and third gear.
Also heard as
- standard transmission
Related terms
Clutch pedal
The floor-mounted control operated by the driver to engage or disengage the clutch.
Gear shift
The lever and linkage assembly used by a driver to select transmission ratios.
Four-on-the-floor
A four-speed manual transmission with a floor-mounted shifter.
Three-on-the-tree
A three-speed manual transmission operated by a shift lever mounted on the steering column.