
Manual Transmission – V6 Engine 7B1-4
7B1-4
1.1 General Description
Synchroniser Assemblies
Each of the four synchroniser hubs are splined to their respective shafts; Reverse and 1st/2nd are sp lined to the
countershaft gear, while 3rd/4th and 5th/6th are splined to the input shaft. All synchroniser hubs are secured by a
selective thickness snap ring.
The blocking rings used on 1s t and 2nd gears are of a triple cone construction, 3rd and 4th gears use single cone rings
with carbon fibre frictional material on one side of the inner member. The synchroniser blocking rings used for 5th, 6th
speed and Reverse gears are a single brass ring. The purpose of all synchr oniser assemblies is to permit clutching to the
required gear, without gear clash.
Synchroniser Action
During synchroniser operation , the synchroniser ring is moved into engagement by the appropri ate fork, carrying with it,
three spring loaded synchr oniser inserts and balls, located in slots in the synchro niser h u b.
The outer synchroniser ring, together with the inserts, is moved along the hub, placing a load on the three lugs of the
blocking ring.
This initial force is sufficient to seat the blocking ring and start pre-synchronisation because of the friction between the
cone on the constant mesh gear and the blocking ring/s.
At this stage, gear engagement is prevented as long as there is a difference in spe ed between the mating surfaces of the
blocking ring and cone of the constant mesh gear. As the speeds between the blocking ring and the gear cone b ecome
synchronised, the teeth on the blocking rin g a nd gear cone line up with the internal splines of the ring, allowing the outer
synchroniser ring to engage the teeth o n the gear being engaged, completing gear selection.
Reverse Gear
The reverse idler gear is in constant mesh with the input shaft spur gear and the reverse gear, mounted on the front of
the countershaft gear. When reverse gear is selected, the single, brass reverse synchromesh blocking ring engages the
reverse constant mesh gear, locking it to the countershaft gear, completing the selection.
Bearing Support
Input Shaft. Supported at the front by a substantial ball race, the input shaft is supported at the rear by a plain roller
bearing mounted in the output shaft recess.
Output Shaft. Two opposed, substantial taper roller bearings support the output shaft and also provide support for the
long input shaft. Bearing preload is set by the use of a collapsible spacer mounted on the output shaft, between the two
bearings.
Countershaft Gear. Support at the front is by ball race, while supports at the rear is by a plain roller race.
Constant Mesh Gears. Each of the constant mesh gears (including Reverse) is supported b y cage d needle roller
bearings, except for the reverse idler gear that has a twin, caged needle roller bearing running on the reverse idler gear
shaft.
Lubrication
Lubrication of all internal components is by splash feed, provided by the rotating countershaft gear and constant mesh
gears of reverse, first and second gears. Lubricatio n splash is controlled by an oil separator around the countershaft gear
and the oil distribution channels mounted throughout the transmission.
Selector Mechanism
The floor mounted, gearshift control lever op erates through a remote lever arrangement onto a single rail mechan ism
which extends through the extension housing and into the transmission rear case.
A shift and select control lever (1) is locked to the en d of the shift select shaft (3). Working through a system of levers ,
the control lever engages with each of the four shift shafts (7, 8, 9, 10), as the shift select shaft is rotated by the gearshift
control lever, operating in the Neutral plane.
The shift select shaft is supported by a bearin g (2) in the intermediate case and a bushing (5) in the rear case. A lip seal
(6) in the extension housing prevents the loss of transmission lubricant. A shift shaft detent (4) provides a positive ‘feel’
when the gearshift lever is moved from the Neutral position into the forward or rearward positions.
Each of the four shift shafts(7, 8, 9, 10) is supported at one end by the interlock bracket (11) that is secured to the front
case by four screws. Support at the rear is by bushings mounted in the end case.
A shift interlock system located in the interlock bracket, prevents engagement of more than one gear at any one time.
The system consists of a series of pins and balls that only allows one shift shaft to be moved at any one time. Only when
Neutral is selected, can another shift select shaft can be selected. Spring l oaded balls (12) in the interlock bracket (11),
provide positive detent ‘feel’ whenever a shift shaft is moved.