I have heard that with some transmissions keeping your hand on the shifter (like if you've shifted into 6th and just let your hand hang there) it can cause wear on the syncronizers. I find myself doing this a lot, especially where I need to frequently shift. Anyone heard this or was someone yanking my stick?

 

VW puts that description in some manuals. I think putting a side load on the shifter is a bad idea. YMMV

 

no way, interesting...

 

I do this a lot too, and I've read that it is a pretty bad habit to have.

Is it harmful to the car?

 

I do this too...will follow to see any more info.

 

I've heard this and also that leaving your foot floating on the clutch is bad too.

 

This topic has been discussed before. It was basically concluded through simple physics. The vibration has to go somewhere, right? If you hold the knob, the vibration will not be able to be released. Hence, the vibration goes back to the synchro causing more stress than usual. I don't think it does any real noticable damage. It's just something that's discouraged.

 

I was taught not to leave my hand on the shifter, or my foot on the clutch, break, or gas pedal, if I wasn't actually using them. The reason given for keeping my hand off the shifter was because it could produce greater synchro wear, but whether that's true or not, it is clearly better to have both hands on the wheel whenever possible, and if you are doing that, you can't be hanging on to the shifter.

It's a bad habit that keeps you from practicing the good habit of keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

 

yes it is true.
if you understand why not to rest your foot on the clutch pedal, then you should understand why you should not rest your hand on the shifter.
the force you place on the shifter is multiplied by way of leverage in the transmission. even though you feel like you're barely putting any weight on the shift knob, that force is multiplied (how much? i dont know) within the transmission and you are putting a load on the shifting components.

BMW put out a TSB for this stating that clearance between the shift forks and shift collars are about the thickness of a human hair.

***every transmission is designed and built different. i myself have never worked on an S2000 transmission. some trans may have a lot more clearance then others. some may implode if you rest your hand on the shift knob and some may last forever. what i state above is from knowledge of how a manual transmission works. do not blame the for the botched Iraq war and WWII holocaust because i gave info thats not 100% accurate***

i for one do not rest my hand on the shift knob or my foot on the clutch pedal.

 

also i belive that there was a thread on this topic about a year ago.
*cough*someone go search for it*cough*