Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

Hello,

A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
transmission.

He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
shakingly.

Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
my general knowledge regarding transmission design.

Thanks,

Serban

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:

> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>


There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
stopped) and you'll see.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:

> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>


There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
stopped) and you'll see.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:

> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>


There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
stopped) and you'll see.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:

> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>


There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
stopped) and you'll see.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Serban
>

Yep - it's possible (not at all easy) with any manual transmission. However,
as anybody who has accidentally hit the reverse slot while trying to
downshift will attest, it is accompanied by a horrible grinding of gears and
lots of resistance. What the driver is trying to do is to get the gears in
the transmission to stop spinning forward at high speed and start spinning
backward. The tranny won't actually go into reverse until the gears mesh,
and that isn't going to happen without a fight. Reverse gear is not
"synchro'd" - provided with a synchronizer to quietly coerce the gear speeds
to match - in any modern transmission I know of, so it would take some real
determination to get it into reverse. Why anybody would do that and then let
out the clutch so it would make a difference is anybody's guess.

Short answer - it would warn you mightily with harsh noises if you try.

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Serban
>

Yep - it's possible (not at all easy) with any manual transmission. However,
as anybody who has accidentally hit the reverse slot while trying to
downshift will attest, it is accompanied by a horrible grinding of gears and
lots of resistance. What the driver is trying to do is to get the gears in
the transmission to stop spinning forward at high speed and start spinning
backward. The tranny won't actually go into reverse until the gears mesh,
and that isn't going to happen without a fight. Reverse gear is not
"synchro'd" - provided with a synchronizer to quietly coerce the gear speeds
to match - in any modern transmission I know of, so it would take some real
determination to get it into reverse. Why anybody would do that and then let
out the clutch so it would make a difference is anybody's guess.

Short answer - it would warn you mightily with harsh noises if you try.

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Serban
>

Yep - it's possible (not at all easy) with any manual transmission. However,
as anybody who has accidentally hit the reverse slot while trying to
downshift will attest, it is accompanied by a horrible grinding of gears and
lots of resistance. What the driver is trying to do is to get the gears in
the transmission to stop spinning forward at high speed and start spinning
backward. The tranny won't actually go into reverse until the gears mesh,
and that isn't going to happen without a fight. Reverse gear is not
"synchro'd" - provided with a synchronizer to quietly coerce the gear speeds
to match - in any modern transmission I know of, so it would take some real
determination to get it into reverse. Why anybody would do that and then let
out the clutch so it would make a difference is anybody's guess.

Short answer - it would warn you mightily with harsh noises if you try.

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
> transmission.
>
> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
> shakingly.
>
> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Serban
>

Yep - it's possible (not at all easy) with any manual transmission. However,
as anybody who has accidentally hit the reverse slot while trying to
downshift will attest, it is accompanied by a horrible grinding of gears and
lots of resistance. What the driver is trying to do is to get the gears in
the transmission to stop spinning forward at high speed and start spinning
backward. The tranny won't actually go into reverse until the gears mesh,
and that isn't going to happen without a fight. Reverse gear is not
"synchro'd" - provided with a synchronizer to quietly coerce the gear speeds
to match - in any modern transmission I know of, so it would take some real
determination to get it into reverse. Why anybody would do that and then let
out the clutch so it would make a difference is anybody's guess.

Short answer - it would warn you mightily with harsh noises if you try.

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns98D34F7F432A1tegger@207.14.116.130...
> "gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
>> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
>> transmission.
>>
>> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
>> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
>> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
>> shakingly.
>>
>> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
>> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
>> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
>> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
>> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>>
>
>
> There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
> center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
> stopped) and you'll see.
>
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Cool! It probably saves a lot of gear grinding. My last work truck had
reverse right beside fourth gear. I had to concentrate on downshifts from
fifth or it would reward me with the "you are an idiot" sound.

Are all Honda manual trannies made that way?

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns98D34F7F432A1tegger@207.14.116.130...
> "gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
>> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
>> transmission.
>>
>> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
>> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
>> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
>> shakingly.
>>
>> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
>> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
>> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
>> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
>> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>>
>
>
> There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
> center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
> stopped) and you'll see.
>
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Cool! It probably saves a lot of gear grinding. My last work truck had
reverse right beside fourth gear. I had to concentrate on downshifts from
fifth or it would reward me with the "you are an idiot" sound.

Are all Honda manual trannies made that way?

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns98D34F7F432A1tegger@207.14.116.130...
> "gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
>> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
>> transmission.
>>
>> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
>> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
>> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
>> shakingly.
>>
>> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
>> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
>> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
>> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
>> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>>
>
>
> There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
> center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
> stopped) and you'll see.
>
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Cool! It probably saves a lot of gear grinding. My last work truck had
reverse right beside fourth gear. I had to concentrate on downshifts from
fifth or it would reward me with the "you are an idiot" sound.

Are all Honda manual trannies made that way?

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns98D34F7F432A1tegger@207.14.116.130...
> "gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish Toyota
>> Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his automatic
>> transmission.
>>
>> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
>> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times. The
>> van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked away,
>> shakingly.
>>
>> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the fifth
>> into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having forward
>> movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me from doing
>> such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do this, just for
>> my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>>
>
>
> There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into the
> center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with the car
> stopped) and you'll see.
>
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Cool! It probably saves a lot of gear grinding. My last work truck had
reverse right beside fourth gear. I had to concentrate on downshifts from
fifth or it would reward me with the "you are an idiot" sound.

Are all Honda manual trannies made that way?

Mike

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in
news:if-dnVxJ5KL0VVDYnZ2dnUVZ_ragnZ2d@sedona.net:

> "Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
> news:Xns98D34F7F432A1tegger@207.14.116.130...
>> "gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
>> news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish
>>> Toyota Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his
>>> automatic transmission.
>>>
>>> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
>>> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times.
>>> The van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked
>>> away, shakingly.
>>>
>>> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the
>>> fifth into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having
>>> forward movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me
>>> from doing such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do
>>> this, just for my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>>>
>>
>>
>> There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into
>> the center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with
>> the car stopped) and you'll see.
>>
>>
>>
>
> Cool! It probably saves a lot of gear grinding. My last work truck had
> reverse right beside fourth gear. I had to concentrate on downshifts
> from fifth or it would reward me with the "you are an idiot" sound.
>
> Are all Honda manual trannies made that way?
>



As far as I know.

All the modern manual transmissions I've ever driven have had some sort
of lockout for reverse.

Some examples:
1) Reverse is off to one side, out of the forward gear shift pattern
2) Push the shift lever down while moving to Reverse
3) Pull the shift lever up while moving to Reverse
4) Pull a small two-finger handle up while moving to Reverse
5) Move lever to middle of Neutral before moving to Reverse


I drove an old Ford pickup once with a three-on-the-tree. There was no
Reverse lockout, so you had to be careful going from 1st to 2nd,
especially once the linkage developed a bit of slack.
Column 3-speeds are usually arranged this way:
R2
13

Some trivia here:
Most 4 and 5-speeds are arranged something like this:
13
24R

135
24R

But some manufacturers did this very oddly, notably International, which
once made truck gearboxes that had patterns like:
25R
341
If you didn't pay any attention to the plate on the dash with that
pattern embossed on it, you weren't going anywhere fast!


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Silly question regarding manual tranny
 

"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in
news:if-dnVxJ5KL0VVDYnZ2dnUVZ_ragnZ2d@sedona.net:

> "Tegger" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
> news:Xns98D34F7F432A1tegger@207.14.116.130...
>> "gigelus2k3" <popescu.serban@gmail.com> wrote in
>> news:1171088687.172699.194190@q2g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> A coworker had a weird accident where he was driving his oldish
>>> Toyota Sienna and tried to apply some engine brake with his
>>> automatic transmission.
>>>
>>> He was able to push the shaft up into Reverse; neddless to say, he
>>> lost control and the car swerved hard and rolled over a few times.
>>> The van was totalled, of course, but fortunately the driver walked
>>> away, shakingly.
>>>
>>> Now, the question is: is it possible to push the stick from the
>>> fifth into reverse on my 2000 Civic manual tranny while having
>>> forward movement? Or is there some mechanical stop that prevents me
>>> from doing such a stupid thing? Not that I would ever want to do
>>> this, just for my general knowledge regarding transmission design.
>>>
>>
>>
>> There's a mechanical block. From 5th, you have to move the lever into
>> the center of the neutral pattern, then into Reverse. Try it (with
>> the car stopped) and you'll see.
>>
>>
>>
>
> Cool! It probably saves a lot of gear grinding. My last work truck had
> reverse right beside fourth gear. I had to concentrate on downshifts
> from fifth or it would reward me with the "you are an idiot" sound.
>
> Are all Honda manual trannies made that way?
>



As far as I know.

All the modern manual transmissions I've ever driven have had some sort
of lockout for reverse.

Some examples:
1) Reverse is off to one side, out of the forward gear shift pattern
2) Push the shift lever down while moving to Reverse
3) Pull the shift lever up while moving to Reverse
4) Pull a small two-finger handle up while moving to Reverse
5) Move lever to middle of Neutral before moving to Reverse


I drove an old Ford pickup once with a three-on-the-tree. There was no
Reverse lockout, so you had to be careful going from 1st to 2nd,
especially once the linkage developed a bit of slack.
Column 3-speeds are usually arranged this way:
R2
13

Some trivia here:
Most 4 and 5-speeds are arranged something like this:
13
24R

135
24R

But some manufacturers did this very oddly, notably International, which
once made truck gearboxes that had patterns like:
25R
341
If you didn't pay any attention to the plate on the dash with that
pattern embossed on it, you weren't going anywhere fast!


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/