HOW IT WORKS: Transmissions

The basic mechanical operation of a gearbox is explained on a drivetrain demonstrating the advantages of gearing, axles, clutch shifting, and the application of rotating power from the motor to the rear wheels.

[crowdozer]

It's always neat to me how much more informative these older informationals are. They do such a good job at starting from absolute scratch and making sure you 100% grasp every concept.

[calculon]

I love how videos like this start with the most basic mechanical principle and show each and every step up in complexity until you get to the final component.

[scubahick]

I didn't think levers and gears were connected logically like that, very informative.

[NourArt]

It's weird that nowadays we have the technology to make great CGI tutorials easily, but this video from 1936 is still the best one to explain transmission on the entire platform of YouTube.

[AeonFlexMusic]

I won't say that I am an expert now on transmissions, but, boy, I sure do feel empowered by the simplicity and effectiveness of this video. I've been thoroughly amazed.

[dickditty]

In the old days they were not afraid to "dumb it down" when they taught it, so many more peopled learned it. This thing is priceless!

[electronicsNmore]

Older videos like this are much better than modern videos.

[TheSterlingArcher]

It's amazing how even a bare bones transmission is so complex, the stuff we have today is just insane.

[halx]

I'm going to sound like an old crank here (get it?), but old videos like this really highlight how or education system is going to hell. Nobody showed me an easy-to-understand video like this when I was growing up.

[asheerkhan]

The examples they used to use. The relatable stories they used to tell. The physicality is all gone. Now it is all computer generated, the animations etc are all ideal. They used to get into the field, cut the casing of a gearbox if they have to take a shot to show us the power losses, wear and tear etc. They were the Legendary Engineers.

[garydunken]

Wish the modern day teaching are like the way explained in this video.

[Bellinghamster]

This should be required viewing in our schools. I am afraid to contemplate how many kids don't even know what a lever is.

[YoSoyGus]

This explained it better than those other fancy videos

[johnlewis]

I've looked at several videos on transmissions. This is by far the best. Starts with basic simple principles then builds on those ideas in an orderly fashion. Thanks for posting this.

[rudolfschenker]

This was obviously made in the mid-1930's, I didn't realize synchro-mesh had been invented yet by that time. I love how simply yet effectively this film makes you understand the basics of how it all works.

[juanhernandez-crgp]

I am a mechanic in this is a great learning tool for any young and new coming mechanics and either for those who don't know how to drive standard transmissions it makes it easy for someone to learn to drive on by knowing how it works thumbs up to those who made this video

[weeowee]

I'm 28 and just getting into cars and mechanics because of videos like this. I love this stuff, it's so cool how simple the principles are that make something so complex.

[thrakerzad]

Gives me chills how efficient this video is at teaching you about this and keeping it interesting.

[SugarFreeTargets]

I learned more from this 10 minutes video than I did in a year from high school.

[Vylkeer]

The synchronizer was perhaps the most fundamental addition to the manual transmission system. Nowadays it's fairly easy to shift between gears almost without having to worry about timing. You'll still have to try to match the engine's RPM with the car's speed and enviromental conditions (e.g. driving uphill or driving down a steep descent). In fact I'd never drive downhill at 60 MPH, as shown at the end of the video, and then go into 2nd gear, as at that speed, the engine's RPM will be too much high to be contained into a 2nd gear, a 3rd - 4th gear would be better suitable.