First Gear Internals

First gear has only a single energizer band, so the energizing function works only on downshifts. This is probably a bad design decision, as first gear does sometimes experience the equivalent of an upshift. That happens most commonly when you're waiting at a traffic light with your foot off the clutch pedal. The light then turns green, you press the clutch, and shift from neutral into first gear. The syncro must then slow the first-motion shaft, as in an upshift, not speed it up as in a downshift. It's possible, however, to install a 2-5 synchro assembly on first gear so you don't get a crunch when shifting quickly into first from an idling stop. I have never tried that, but it seems to be done regularly by others.

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