How do manual transmissions work? We'll learn how clutches work, how gears work, and how shifting works with a detailed explanation using a 5-speed manual transmission as an example. Manual transmissions are without a doubt one of the greatest and most enjoyable automotive inventions. But how do stick shifts work? It all starts at the engine, where the flywheel transmits power to a clutch disc that's sandwiched between the pressure plate. The clutch disc is splined to the transmission input shaf