Saab 96 - Free Wheel; Gearshifting; Gear Shift Positions

Free Wheel
The free wheel device between clutch and main shaft can be engaged
or disengaged by means of a control, located above the brake pedal.
When the control is pulled out, the free wheel is disengaged, i.e.
locked.
The car should preferably be stopped before pulling out the
free wheel control entirely. To engage the free wheel device, push in
the control.
Generally the free wheel should be engaged, thus enabling the car
to coast with idling engine, when the accelerator is released. This
gives more miles per gallon of fuel and reduces engine wear. Gear-
shifting is also carried out more smoothly and the driving becomes
more comfortable. Take advantage of the free wheel, not only down
hill, but also on level roads. The only occasions when the free wheel
should be locked are when the motion of the car is required for
starting the engine, and when descending long, steep grades in order
to use the engine for braking the car, which reduces the brake lining
wear. Further information is found under "Brakes" on the following
page.
3-speed
Fig. 15. Gear shift positions
Gearshifting
The gearbox is provided with synchro-mesh for 2nd and 3rd speeds,
which means
that the spur pinions of the second or third gear cannot
engage with the shaft before the rotation speed of the gear is the
same as that of the shaft. The first gear is engaged to its shaft by
means of a toothed coupling, integral with the reverse pinion.
The synchronizer and the toothed couplings facilitate gear shifting,
26