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How a Manual Transmission Works

ED
ChiNovex Tech Writers Author Team
L
Leo Technical Reviewer
Published: May 03, 2025 Updated: Jul 16, 2026

A manual transmission is composed of gear sets with different gear ratios, and its working principle is to change gear ratios by switching between different gear sets.

As a crucial component for power distribution, a transmission must have a power input shaft and an output shaft. These, along with the gears that make up the transmission, are the most basic components of a manual transmission. The power input shaft is connected to the clutch, and the power transmitted from the clutch is directly transferred to the gear set via the input shaft. Gear sets are composed of gears with different diameters. Different gear ratios achieve completely different power transmission effects. Shifting gears during normal driving refers to changing the gear ratio.

This article was compiled by the ChiNovex Editorial Team based on verified industry technical specs. References: AutoHome Tech Database & Chinese Automotive Standards. For inquiries on specific models or configurations, please contact our exporting team.