13 Speed: Probably a stupid question, but...

You have lo, 1-2-3-4 in the bottom end so that's 5 gears.

Top end(once you've flipped the range selector on the front of the gear shift), you've got those same gears again. So where first gear is, you've got 5 low/high and then 6 low/high and so on. Some guys will call it 5 direct or 5 over but it means the same as high/low. So the top end you've got 8 gears essentially. 8+4 low end + lo adds up to 13.

An 18 speed is the same, however you've got 8 low gears also and you can split the lo gear too.

 

Although little complicated, and you kind of missed the main point. 13 speed is based on 9 speed transmission, not 10 speed. 9 speed, like 10 speed is a 5 speed with a 2 speed range. Unlike the 10 speed, the ratios are farther apart so the low hole, hi range is the same as the high hole, lo range, so in most 9 speeds, the shift pattern is 5 gears, lo range, 4 gears, hi range. On 13 speed, those 4 hi range gears are split, adding 4 speeds.

18 speed is 9 speed that can be split in every gear.

 

So let me get this straight a 13 speed is a 9 speed plus 4 or an 18 speed minus 5 or a 10 speed plus 3?

 

Hope you never get a 15

 

It's a 9 speed with an overdrive box on the back.

 

And tomorrow we will tackle the Mack tri-plex.lol

 

Let's do a Mack 12 speed. With six reverse gears

 

This one drives me nutz

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/3e/34/83/3e34835f655f03f09b83f5c7b707a96b.jpg

 

With those explanations (without visual examples),I think it would be easier for him to understand Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First"