YACT: Hand resting on shifter

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: 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

Anyone want to guess where his hand is when he is riding in an auto by himself?

 

[Aharami]

this thread made me aware of how i often times rest my hand on the shifter. trying to get out of that habit but dammit my hand keeps on sneaking back there. but thats only when im driving in slow traffic. on the highway my hands are usually at 9 and 3

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Aharami
this thread made me aware of how i often times rest my hand on the shifter. trying to get out of that habit but dammit my hand keeps on sneaking back there. but thats only when im driving in slow traffic. on the highway my hands are usually at 9 and 3

9 and 3? You drive like a retard. 2 and 10, woman.

 

[Wingznut]

There are so many varying degrees of "rest" that you can't simply answer it with a YES or NO... If you are pushing hard enough where the syncros are rubbing against the gear, then of course it's going to cause wear. But that seems unlikely.

If resting your hand is enough to bend a shift fork, then they must be using tin foil for the forks.

 

[StageLeft]

I've heard it. It probably makes a small tiny difference.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: 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

You could play for the other team!

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

It isn't a difference that makes a difference

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: 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.

Well, at that point I think resting your hand on the shifter would be the least of your worries...

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: Aharami
this thread made me aware of how i often times rest my hand on the shifter. trying to get out of that habit but dammit my hand keeps on sneaking back there. but thats only when im driving in slow traffic. on the highway my hands are usually at 9 and 3

9 and 3? You drive like a retard. 2 and 10, woman.

sorry i meant...my seat leaned back as far as possible, my left hand on 12, right on stick, and barely holdin myself up by holdin on to the steering wheel. oh and gangsta lean too


ever see the F1 or GT drivers. they all hold 9 and 3. much better than 10 and 2

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Too heavy of a key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. My friend whose dad is a mechanic told me that so it must be true.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: 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.

That's pretty much it. If you have a really taut linkage then you could put some pressure on the shift forks even without a shifter that's directly connected to the gearbox, but generally not enough to be a concern. That said, still kinda silly to do since there are only downsides (however small) and no up-sides.

Also, this only applies to manual transmissions. You can friggin' lean on the lever for an automatic and it's fine.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy
Too heavy of a key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. My friend whose dad is a mechanic told me that so it must be true.

That's actually true. 1970's and 1980's VW ignition switches are notorious for this.

ZV

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy
Too heavy of a key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. My friend whose dad is a mechanic told me that so it must be true.

That's actually true. 1970's and 1980's VW ignition switches are notorious for this.

ZV

Are we talking like multiple pounds or something lighter?

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy
Too heavy of a key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. My friend whose dad is a mechanic told me that so it must be true.

That's actually true. 1970's and 1980's VW ignition switches are notorious for this.

ZV

Never bought this, never will. The key slides in and out on guides. Once in place it doesn't move, the cylinder rotates. The only thing that could possibly wear from weight is the guide while the key is sliding in at an angle.
If the vehicle operator doesn't know how to hold a key straight it's not the ignitions fault.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy
Too heavy of a key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. My friend whose dad is a mechanic told me that so it must be true.

That's actually true. 1970's and 1980's VW ignition switches are notorious for this.

ZV

Never bought this, never will. The key slides in and out on guides. Once in place it doesn't move, the cylinder rotates. The only thing that could possibly wear from weight is the guide while the key is sliding in at an angle.
If the vehicle operator doesn't know how to hold a key straight it's not the ignitions fault.

No, ZV is correct... This is very true. You'd be surprised how heavy/overloaded some people's keys are.

Btw... Have faith in ZV's car advice. He knows his stuff.

For reference... In my previous career, I was an ASE Master Mechanic of 10+ years.

 

[apac]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: 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

Anyone want to guess where his hand is when he is riding in an auto by himself?

I haven't the slightest idea.

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy
Too heavy of a key ring will wear out your ignition switch too. My friend whose dad is a mechanic told me that so it must be true.

That's actually true. 1970's and 1980's VW ignition switches are notorious for this.

ZV

Never bought this, never will. The key slides in and out on guides. Once in place it doesn't move, the cylinder rotates. The only thing that could possibly wear from weight is the guide while the key is sliding in at an angle.
If the vehicle operator doesn't know how to hold a key straight it's not the ignitions fault.

No, ZV is correct... This is very true. You'd be surprised how heavy/overloaded some people's keys are.

Btw... Have faith in ZV's car advice. He knows his stuff.

For reference... In my previous career, I was an ASE Master Mechanic of 10+ years.

Explain how.

 

I would think it would take a good amount of weight/force resting on it to make a difference. Though my manual says not to put your hand on the shifter.

I love how there are posts on vwv where people are like "you don't see the professionals resting their hands on the shifter do you" "they may quick shifts then right back to 10 and 2"
"I stive every day to be more pro like"
What a bunch of joker wannabes.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy
Explain how.

My best theory is that while you are driving, there are vibrations and vertical forces acting on the keys.

Also keep in mind the leverage factored in, since all of the weight is on the end of the key.

Again, you have to have an obnoxious keyring for this to apply. And yes, there are women... ERRRRRRRRR... PEOPLE out there with those.

 

[Grouchyoldguy]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Grouchyoldguy
Explain how.

My best theory is that while you are driving, there are vibrations and vertical forces acting on the keys.

Also keep in mind the leverage factored in, since all of the weight is on the end of the key.

Again, you have to have an obnoxious keyring for this to apply. And yes, there are women... ERRRRRRRRR... PEOPLE out there with those.

:beer: :beer: Cheers