 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Hondamatic" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| H2 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Production | 1973–1988 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | 2/3-speedtransversesemi-automatic transmission |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | H3 |
| Automotive transmissions |
|---|
| Manual |
| Automatic /Semi-automatic |
TheHondamatic (also called theH2) wasHonda's firstsemi-automatic transmission. It was produced from 1973 through 1988. TheHondamatic name continued to be used onfully-automatic transmissions from Honda.[1]
The original Hondamatic, like all following Honda automatics, featured gears on parallel axes rather thanplanetary gears like most other automatic transmissions. The two gears for each ratio - one driving and the other driven - are in constant mesh and each ratio is engaged by a dedicated clutch connected to one of the ratio's two gears. The clutches are hydraulically controlled, applying oil pressure to the desired "gear". Shifting between forward gears was done by simply sliding the gear selector (actually a hydraulic valve) from 1 to 2. It did not automatically shift, but because of the torque converter, could be driven entirely in second gear. The Honda automobiletorque converter had alockup, leading the company to sell the original Hondamatic (which had just two forward gear ratios) as a three-speed. The true three-speedH3 was launched in 1979. In 1982 Honda introduced a four-speed fully-automatic (calledHondamatic Full-Auto), followed by a fully-automatic three-speed in 1983. The semi-automatic version continued to be available in Honda's smaller cars, where it was gradually replaced by conventional automatics. With the 1988 remake of theHonda Acty/Street, the last Hondamatic was discontinued.
Applications:
Honda could not make a conventional planetary gearset automatic transmission without infringing on any patents. Honda eventually asked Borg-Warner to design a prototype transmission for their upcoming vehicles. However, Borg-Warner declined. This was due to Borg-Warner not having transmission specifications that were efficient enough for such a small engine like the 500cc Honda S500 and one that was able to be reliable at a maximum engine speed of 8000rpm. This led Honda to design its own transmission. They purchased a transmission from Borg-Warner for the purpose of developing an original transmission design. They tested their newly developed automatic transmission on the L700. When testing and refinements had been made, Honda sold their first automatic transmission in the N360.[2]
The Hondamatic was later used in Honda's 400, 450 and 750 ccmotorcycles.[3][4] In this application, it was not a true automatic transmission, as the driver had to manually select one of the two gears. The transmission of the 750 Hondamatics incorporated two hydraulically controlled clutches (one for each gear), with the foot-operated gear selector operating the hydraulic valve. The 400/450 Hondamatics, however, have no clutches at all. The foot-operated gear selector physically moves a gear with "dogs" to change gear engagement, the same as on a non-Hondamatic motorcycle transmission.
Applications:
Honda also applies theHondamatic name to ahydraulic piston-basedcontinuously variable transmission used inmotorscooters,all-terrain vehicles, and other types ofpower equipment.
Applications