Facts About Crawler Gear

A visual for you to use when you educate others on Crawler Gear:

I learned to drive a MT on my Dad's 1975 Corvette. It had a similar collar to get to the reverse gear, so I'm familiar with mechanism. That thing had the stiffest clutch I've ever felt. Pretty sure driving that car was a better leg workout for my left leg than doing squats!

Nice! I was wondering if the stick was going to have a collar. My very first manual had a collar, which I didn't know exist, and I couldn't figure out how to get my car in reverse. Lol. The guys at the dealership laughed with me

I've never had a manual with a collar so I was wondering what it was used for

@David is it the standard push down on the knob and then left and up into reverse?

JFord

@David is it the standard push down on the knob and then left and up into reverse?

For reverse, you'll pull up on the collar, pull all the way to the left, and push up.

David

For reverse, You'll pull up on the collar, pull all the way to the left, and push up.

That's how it was in my 08 suzuki forenza

hmm. There was a collar like this on my old mercury. It was just a tube that pushed against a tab to keep you from executing a "reverse slam" at speed. I removed the mechanism for some "I can't leave well enough alone" type reason. I suppose if this collar is a similar design, one could eliminate it. Not really sure why you would do that, but I guess you could.

Mal

hmm. There was a collar like this on my old mercury. It was just a tube that pushed against a tab to keep you from executing a "reverse slam" at speed. I removed the mechanism for some "I can't leave well enough alone" type reason. I suppose if this collar is a similar design, one could eliminate it. Not really sure why you would do that, but I guess you could.

It's less a tube and more a ring. Without it, I don't know what you would be able to hold onto to put the vehicle in reverse or crawler gear. Without pulling that safety mechanism up, you won't be able to use those gears. How did you put your mercury in reverse? (Please tell me it was a grand marquis)

GaryB2220

How did you put your mercury in reverse? (Please tell me it was a grand marquis)

It was a '99 cougar with a 5 speed. It had a raised tab that kept the Shifter from moving over into reverse. When you pulled the collar, it would raise the assembly enough to clear the tab and get into gear. When all that was removed, it would just slot over. It was pretty low tech, but worked as a safety stop so long as you didn't take it apart.

I want to say my wife's VW has something similar on it, but I don't recall.

I have seen the kit to put a T-5 in an grande marquis. Those Panther-body cars were just like ginormous fat fox-body mustangs. I always thought that would have been a fun thing to play about with, but not enough money laying around to hot rod grandpa's car.

You can see the tab here on the bottom right bolt.

Good info.

Volvo used the reverse collar activation in their manual drive cars in the "80s and with an overdrive button on the top of the stick itself.

So this confirms that C is synchronized - you can shift into it at low speed and low RPM.

Thanks!

That 7 spd with the crawler gear looks really attractive to me. But I think the wife would veto it.

Has anyone asked if its a hydraulic clutch or cable?

Mdemieville

Has anyone asked if its a hydraulic clutch or cable?

I don’t know of anyone using cable anymore. 99.5% sure it’s hydraulic.

Mdemieville

Has anyone asked if its a hydraulic clutch or cable?

Good question.

Mdemieville

Has anyone asked if its a hydraulic clutch or cable?

Good question for weekly Q&A.