How a Manual Transmission and Clutch Works

Detailed exploration of a front wheel drive manual transmission and clutch assembly.

CREDITS
Jacob O'Neal - modeling, animation, texturing, vfx, music
Wesley O'Neal - research, writing, modeling

PATREON
Help us keep making videos:

PRIVATE WORK
Need 3D illustration and animation? Let's chat:

WEBSITE
See more explanations of how things work:

SOFTWARE USED
We use Blender 3D to create these models. It's free and open source, and the community is amazing:

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:31 The Clutch
03:36 The gears
04:23 Synchronizing gears
07:48 Shift change assembly
08:13 Shift lever
09:14 Reverse gear
09:35 Neutral
09:58 Oil
10:13 Outtro

Correction:
0:10 Before commenting, check the top pinned "VIDEO CORRECTIONS" thread.

[animagraffs]

VIDEO CORRECTIONS (compiled from viewer comments):

Manual transmissions are common everywhere but the U.S., apparently. We're skilled researchers and this fact was absolutely not apparent before publishing, but it's good to know. Long live manuals.

From Shady Janzier:
You forgot to animate the flywheel/crankshaft center bearing and tip of the input shaft that goes into it. Those two are vital in keeping everything centered and functioning reliably. Without that concentricity, the input shaft would wobble and eventually warp;

[amac]

It blows my mind that this was thought of, manufactured, and utilized so often in all of our day to day lives and most don’t appreciate it

[jakob]

i’m no animator, but i have seen the inside of gearboxes. i feel like animating something so sandwiched, and tight is something much easier said than done. i’ve never seen an animation of something this mechanically technical so clear and concise

well done 👍

[sigma]

I'm not an auto enthusiest, but watching a video like this gives such appreciation to the brilliance of engineering and the beautiful design that takes place. Even more impressive is they figured this out without computers.

[neoclassic]

It's just stunning that people could figure out how to design and make something like this, and that they were able to come up with it so long ago

[tracksparny]

I'm in a mechanic field. Working as a tractor mechanic in India almost for two years, no one at my workplace would explain about all of this mechanical stuff.
I've got no traditional diesel mechanic course. These are the type of videos which are able me to learn about mechanical stuff. And I've got so much better knowing them.

[SoumilSahu]

It must be an odd feeling to make videos so good that you render all other videos on the same topic pretty much obsolete.

[arijit]

Finally. I anyways wanted an animation which showed modern manual transmissions. You know, the ones with cable based shifters and front wheel drive. Unsurprisingly, it was Animagraffs who made it possible! Kudos to you. You are simply amazing!

[jimbrown]

This is an excellent video. I'm a car enthusiast, former mechanical engineer and current educator and this is one of the best illustrated and explained videos of manual transmission function I've ever seen.

[thkrw]

Support for your creations! This is a work of art!

[estebanramirez]

Anyone ever stop and think about how absolutely brilliant someone had to be to come up with this from nothing? Like there are so many parts it's amazing how something we use everyday is so intricately made

[nostradormouse]

This is the best demonstration of how synchromesh works that I've ever seen! A lot of videos seem to brush past it but you really went into the details and now I understand it so much better.

Thank you for everything you do, I hope your passion for it never wavers

[sfab]

Bruh. So much props for this. I’ve worked on my own cars and done major engine work when needed. I have a complex understanding of most everything— but Transmissions always were so tough to understand. This got me from like 30% understanding to 80% in 10 min and that’s dammed impressive ! I’ll watch it a few more times and try to get to 100

[shanelamontagne]

I have watched 2 of your videos now... I am 49 years old and you have schooled me for all those years! I am impressed and really like your videos. I am a CAD designer and appreciate the modeling that goes into your animation.

[rammywarrior]

Up and coming self taught mechanic, I always wondered just how the clutch system worked with the transmission and now I know.
I fixed up 4 trucks, mostly engine things but never touched the insides of a transmission, this will no doubt help me maintain my grandparent's farm/family trucks in the future.
Much love from Canada.

[Aitelly]

Awesome Animation! From one small Blender Creator to another big creator. You have given us Hope.
Love your quote "It's possible to make a living with high quality honest work, "
We render in Eevee :)

[Z-Degrees]

I use videos like these ones to explain to new drivers (especially those wanting to learn about the differences between AT, MT, DCT, CVT etc) and this one knocks the rest I've used out of the park by 20 kilometres. This is the best one I've ever seen, well done!

[luIletpoints]

Thanks! Seriously so amazing. I love driving a manual and always had a vague understanding of what's hshappening, , however, the level of work that must go into making a video like this one (among the others that I've watched on your channel) is mind blowing to me. I really appreciate it and feel like the education you're providing is worth so much. That we can watch them free on YouTube feels like a crime :-) thanks again!

[meganw]

This video was so good I just spent 2-3 times longer than the runtime just taking notes and rewinding to re-watch clips. Absolutely incredible. I need more videos like this. I’m lucky to have found this explainer

[jesseberardi]

It is genuinely impressive how great this video is at explaining a rather complex mechanical system in an easy to absorb fashion. Fantastically done, thank you!