32,000miles with hand on shifter!

[tobaccogrower]

did a search on aftermarket clutches. noticed a couple posts that say not to drive with hand on shifter with the G56. i always drive with my hand on the lever. is this really bad? who else does it?

 

[tkerrigan]

Can cause the shift forks to be rubbing in their grooves all the time. Can cause sloppy shifting after a while.

 

[seafish]

Ive been meaning to ask this question for awhile, cuz I also drive with my hand resting lightly on the shft knob. Done it for 50k miles, and ne ill effects that I can feel. I did a little web search and the feedback seems to be as long as your not pulling or pushing on the gears, should be ok. I WOULD like to here what other TDR members say.



ALSO, I did find this info on mazda site, thought you guys might find it "useful"--:-laf:-laf



"Yes, this is a very bad thing to do. The natural oils in your hand leak through the shift knob and eventually make their way into the transmission, diluting the transmaission lube. Avoid touching the shift knob at all costs. "

 

[VZarich]

The best practice is to remove hand from the shifter knob and remove foot from the clutch when they are not being used. This practice will save excessive needless wear that will cost you money.

 

[seafish]

The best practice is to remove hand from the shifter knob and remove foot from the clutch when they are not being used. This practice will save excessive needless wear that will cost you money.

Well, I totally agree with you about the clutch, and I NEVER drive with my foot resting on the clutch pedal, nor even keep the clutch engaged at stop lights. However, with a clutch mechanism, it's obvious that even slight engagement will damage/wear the clutch parts prematurely.



I wish I knew how resting (NOT pulling or pushing) ones hand LIGHTLY on top of the shift knob could wear parts prematurely. Where's the wear??

 

[tobaccogrower]

that information should be posted on the sun visor! seems like it is important information.





imagine some guy that had his truck since new drove all the time with hand on shifter. say 100,000miles or so. has a problem with transmission and takes it to dealer. dealer explains problem is from hand on shifter and warantee is up. if i was that guy i'd go postal!



i guess it's hands off for me.

 

[TWhetten]

I have heard this is more of a problem with the 1st gen getrag equiped trucks. I have never heard of that problem with the newer transmissions, but then again I do have the tougher NV5600:-laf jk fellas

 

[TWhetten]

ALSO, I did find this info on mazda site, thought you guys might find it "useful"--:-laf:-laf



"Yes, this is a very bad thing to do. The natural oils in your hand leak through the shift knob and eventually make their way into the transmission, diluting the transmaission lube. Avoid touching the shift knob at all costs. "

thats some funny stuff right there:-laf:-laf

 

[B.G. Smith]

Can't comment on present day transmissions but I used to rebuild the old (40's and 50's) three speed GM and Ford transmissions. The gearshift stalk on the old floor shifts were longer and slanted to the rear more. Pressure (holding your hand on) the gear shift would eventually wear the shift fork or the groove that it runs in enough that the gears would not go completely into mesh and be held by the detents and would result in the transmission jumping out of gear, almost always high gear. bg

 

[S.Morris]

Resting hand on shifter will eventually wear shift forks... ... ... Have seen some high mileage road rangers that actually started to jump out of gear(actual cause was not going into gear far enough) because of wear on the fork. Shift lever has only a preset amount of travel... . if fork wears, it will not move sliding cluthes the full amount they need to properly engage.



My expanation may be as clear as mud

Steve

 

[CKelley1]

i have also seen it on high milage road rangers. 2,000,000+miles for one of our drivers that keeps his hand on the shifter and as morris said it is in the forks.

 

[Steev]

Likewise, I would stay away from those weighted shift knobs to improve shift feel - for just this reason.

 

[HPetrat]

There are actually 2 reasons for not leaving your hand on the shifter,



1. Drag on shifter forks causes premature wear on the forks/fork grooves (makes for incomplete engagement and popping out of gear)



2. Constant pressure on synchros causing premature failure of the synchros

(debris floating in oils, difficult shifts and or grinding)



HP

 

[SHobbs]

They also say DO NOT float the transmission too but, I have done it loaded or empty for 240k miles with no problems. I also rest my hand on the shifter too.

 

[Steev]

What does floating a transmission mean?

Google seems dumb about it.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

What does floating a transmission mean?



Google seems dumb about it.

It means timing engine RPM to transmission shaft speed, then shifting without using the clutch - some guys do it regularly, and I'm sure most would disagree, but I suspect it's more of a "macho thing" than any actual benefit or other reason - sorta like smashing beer cans on yer forehead... :-laf:-laf



I view it as much like Russian Roulette - far too much possibility for bad shift timing to damage syncros or chip a gear tooth - and for what?



As to hand lightly on the shifter, done it lightly - no actual force or pressure - for nearly 65K on my 5600 - still shifts like new, and if it DOES cause problems in a million miles or so, I'll let the then-current owner worry about it... :-laf

 

[B.G. Smith]

Shifting without depressing the clutch or "floating the gears". bg

 

[seafish]

also called "speed shifting".

 

[thashane]

what about when hitting a bump and the motor and transmission move separately from the cab, could that be a source of unnecessary wear?

 

[seafish]

what about when hitting a bump and the motor and transmission move separately from the cab, could that be a source of unnecessary wear?

Only if you try to keep them from moving by holding onto the shift knob--:-laf:-laf