[serialk11r]

Varn you make a good point about the two sets of gears vs one. I was wondering what a ND Miata transmission looked like since Mazda bragged about the 1:1 6th gear being more efficient, and I noticed that there are a lot of transmissions out there that have 3 shafts, one pair which is inline and locked together for the 1:1 ratio. I had always thought transmissions came with just an input and output shaft.

I think in automotive applications however due to gear strength limitations there is a drop in efficiency from the gear ratios that deviate further from 1 as bigger gear pitch for strength = more sliding friction on the gears. I wouldn't be surprised if the typical 1st gear or some of the taller overdrives (like 0.6 ratio) were under 95% efficient.