Reversgearet

Reversgearet is the term used in Danish and some Nordic contexts for the reverse gear in a vehicle’s transmission. It is the gear or gear set that enables backward movement or reverse motion of the vehicle, as opposed to forward movement provided by the other gears.

In manual transmissions, the reversgearet is typically engaged by moving the shift lever into a dedicated reverse position or gate. The reverse gear usually meshes with an idler gear to reverse the direction of rotation in the transmission. Many manual systems use an unsynchronized reverse gear, which can require the driver to double-clutch or match engine and transmission speeds to avoid grinding when engaging.

In automatic transmissions, the reverse gear is selected through the transmission control and hydraulic circuits when the driver moves the gear selector to R. The reverse arrangement is produced by the interaction of the planetary gear sets and clutches within the transmission. Modern automatics often include safeguards that prevent selecting reverse while the vehicle is moving too fast to protect the drivetrain.

Operation and safety considerations are common across types: engaging the reversgearet while the vehicle is moving at high speed can cause damage; many systems require the vehicle to be near a complete stop or moving very slowly before reverse can be engaged, and some include interlocks or brake-based protections to prevent accidental selection.

Etymologically, reversgearet is formed from the Danish word revers (reversing) and gearet (the gear). The concept is widely understood in automotive contexts and is related to related topics such as car transmissions, gear ratios, synchronization, and drivetrain protection.