Third stick for the gear box?

[RussianVodka]

I was watching this (http://youtube.com/watch?v=_LA790YWtRs) video of a Lada Niva. And at around 35 seconds the camera shows the guy changing gears. And there are three sticks on the transmission.

From what I understand the first and biggest one is the standard stick for manual transmission cars. The second one must be to switch between rear wheel and four wheel drive (or to lock the four wheels, I'm pretty sure the Niva has full time 4WD). But what is the third stick for?

Does anyone know?

[red_Marvin]

High/low gear? Many tractors/lorries and terrain vehicles etc do have it.

[bonzodog]

High/low gear? Many tractors/lorries and terrain vehicles etc do have it.

Yes, I'd agree with that, he flicks the second lever up when he loses traction there, which I presume is to flick it into low ratio mode. The third lever almost certainly is the diff-lock.

[RussianVodka]

Yes, I'd agree with that, he flicks the second lever up when he loses traction there, which I presume is to flick it into low ratio mode. The third lever almost certainly is the diff-lock.

Can you say that once more, but this time using words that non-mechanics understand? :)

[mips]

High/low gear? Many tractors/lorries and terrain vehicles etc do have it.

Yip. We call it high & low range here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_case

The transfer case may contain one or more sets of "low range gears". Low range gears are engaged with a shifter or electronic switch. On many transfer cases this shifter is the same as the one that selects 2WD or 4WD operation as described above. Low range gears slow down the vehicle and increase the torque available at the axles. Low-range gears are used during slow-speed or extreme off road maneuvers, such as rockcrawling, or when pulling a heavy load. Again, on all wheel drive sports cars this feature is often absent. Some very large vehicles, such as heavy equipment or military trucks, have more than one low-range gear.


High Range would be a 'normal' setting to use in normal everyday circumstances.

[mips]

Can you say that once more, but this time using words that non-mechanics understand? :)

See the post above this one.

[mips]

http://www.lsdonline.co.za/ladaniva/manuals/LN1702_GeneralData.pdf

confirms it has low/high range.

For more technical Lada info see:
http://www.lsdonline.co.za/ladaniva/manuals.php