Gear Stick question

Grouchy

Sorry if this is a daft question.
Been driving for ages and currently got a manual. I have a habit of sometimes leaning my hand (fairly lightly I suppose) on the gear stick knob when driving along in some circumstances. Usually when I'm in 2nd or 4th for a while I think.
A friend of mine noticed this and said I shouldn't do that as it has a wearing effect on the mechanism, he couldn't say exactly how or what would be worn...

Could it cause a problem or is it ok?

Never had a problem with the gearbox or stick before in any of my cars.

Thanks
G

pvt

My wife does that - bl00dy infuriating habit. Put both of your hands on the steering wheel where they should BOTH be.

I doubt it does a lot of harm to the gearbox though.

colino

It can do plenty of harm to your gearbox. You are pre-loading the selector in the box against the synchromesh and causing premature wear.
Some gearboxes are very susceptible to it and develop poor gear changes and even jumping out of gear.

agrinnall

It was always supposed to be a no-no in pre-BMW Minis.

molerat

Always had my hand on the gearstick in my mini - the only way to keep it in gear - the joys of 1960 mini driving

Loanranger

I had one like that, Molerat, mine jumped out of second gear.

Strider590

Car manufacturers will (to a certain extent) have taken this habit into account when designing their transmissions.

People have very little knowledge about cars these days (most never even lift the bonnet) and they don't accept being told how to drive.

A manufacturer won't get away with "its your fault for driving badly" and they won't want to lose a grand on warranty repairs for every car they make. It pays to make a car idiot proof.

arcon5

I wouldn't worry about it.
I would take too much notice of mr highwaycode telling you to put two hands on the steering wheel despite not knowing anything about your commute

rev_henry

I once owned a Rover 25 whose instruction manual told me not to do this. No other car I've owned has had that instruction though.

facade

molerat wrote: »

Always had my hand on the gearstick in my mini - the only way to keep it in gear - the joys of 1960 mini driving

A piece of garden hose slipped over the gear lever stopped it vibrating out of gear on the overrun

Joe_Horner

It's usually not a problem.

If you strip a gearbox you'll find that they have detents on the selector mechanism - something (usually spring loaded balls) that "click" them into place in each gear. As long as you don't apply enough force to overcome the detent, there'll be no load applied to anything that matters.

On the other hand, you have no way of knowing what sort of condition the selector mechanism is in so it might be a problem in individual cases.