YACT: Hand resting on shifter

[SilverTorch]

Are the VW guys just goofy or what?

 

[maziwanka]

you shouldn't rest your hand on the shifter. you can damage the syncros in the long run....

 

[SilverTorch]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
you shouldn't rest your hand on the shifter. you can damage the syncros in the long run....

Really? Never heard that one before

 

[Aharami]

i stroke the shifter when im driving. does that matter?

 

[Firus]

I guess it's the same as how you should not keep your foot rested on the clutch between shifts. It puts unecessary pressure on the Throwout bearing

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Firus
I guess it's the same as how you should not keep your foot rested on the clutch between shifts. It puts unecessary pressure on the Throwout bearing

I doubt it can affect anything nearly as fast as riding the clutch will cause it to blow.

I'm a bad one for resting my hand on the shifter, but I've never really had a problem (on a 150K mile car that's now 20 years old)

 

[AdamSnow]

When I'm by myself I always have 1 hand on the shifter... even long hauls... I just like it there...

When the girlfriend is with me, I hold her hand...

So I guess... I just like holding stuff

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Aharami
i stroke the shifter when im driving. does that matter?

Not if you let the hitchhikers shift the gears....

 

[Jzero]

I'm going to file this one in the same folder as "Cellphones can start fires at the fuel pump."

Sure, the potential is there, but it's too minimal to really be worrisome.

 

[Thump553]

My Saab manual explicitly warns not to leave your hand on the shifter except when shifting. That was the first time I ever heard it before.

 

[AmigaMan]

sure, and you really shouldn't rest your ass on the seats either, it could wear out the springs. While you're at it, probably shouldn't open the doors, it could cause the hinges to get out of whack. Better yet, just don't buy a car and walk to work, you don't want to wear out your checkbook or anything...sheesh people!

 

[DurocShark]

It's true. You're applying pressure constantly to the gears (whether syncro or whatever depends on the tranny design). Why encourage wear on something unless you're gonna trade it in every 2 years.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
sure, and you really shouldn't rest your ass on the seats either, it could wear out the springs. While you're at it, probably shouldn't open the doors, it could cause the hinges to get out of whack. Better yet, just don't buy a car and walk to work, you don't want to wear out your checkbook or anything...sheesh people!

Follow your own advice, then.

 

[johnjbruin]

It is because of this: say you have your hand on the shifter, somebody rear ends you, the jerking motion of your arm can change the gear of the car - which can screw up a whole lot of other sh!t.

 

[xXped0thugXx]

no specifically it causes the shift fork to bend. Nissan's 95-98 200sx Se-R's specifically have something called 5th gear popout, when on the highway it will pop out of 5th gear, this is caused by a bent shift fork, which is caused by resting your hand on the shifter.

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
sure, and you really shouldn't rest your ass on the seats either, it could wear out the springs. While you're at it, probably shouldn't open the doors, it could cause the hinges to get out of whack. Better yet, just don't buy a car and walk to work, you don't want to wear out your checkbook or anything...sheesh people!

Follow your own advice, then.

sar·casm
n.

1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
sure, and you really shouldn't rest your ass on the seats either, it could wear out the springs. While you're at it, probably shouldn't open the doors, it could cause the hinges to get out of whack. Better yet, just don't buy a car and walk to work, you don't want to wear out your checkbook or anything...sheesh people!

you made my day

 

[Actaeon]

Hrm... interesting. I've always had my hand rested on the shifter, its just a habit now.

Ugh... it was such a nice handrest too.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: AmigaMan

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: AmigaMan
sure, and you really shouldn't rest your ass on the seats either, it could wear out the springs. While you're at it, probably shouldn't open the doors, it could cause the hinges to get out of whack. Better yet, just don't buy a car and walk to work, you don't want to wear out your checkbook or anything...sheesh people!

Follow your own advice, then.

sar·casm
n.

1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.

And? You were comparing apples and oranges.

 

[Shawn]

I always leave my hand on the shifter. As long as you aren't pulling on it or something you should be ok.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I read this thread the other day, and noticed that I leave my hand on the shifter a lot of the time.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Thump553
My Saab manual explicitly warns not to leave your hand on the shifter except when shifting. That was the first time I ever heard it before.

Thats because Saabs are funky and Sweedish and require you to put the damn things in reverse before you can take the key out.

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Your shifter is not directly connected to the gears. It slides shafts back and forth that the shift forks are connectd to. Slight downward pressure
will not bother the shafts. If you tend to pull or push there might be some wear to the forks. I worked automotive for years and that includes a brief stint at a trans shop and never saw one damaged because of this.

Edit: Above applys to rwd. On fwd you're connected to linkage that goes to shafts on the side of the trans. The shifter housing is in a socket of sorts that keeps it in place. Still wont be damaged from slight down pressure. Rwd also has a socket it uses to limit shifter movement.

 

[iwearnosox]

I miss Roger.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
I miss Roger.

He's back as "Oger"