Patent ID: 8322243

Claim:
A transmission having a first and a second shaft supported in parallel by a housing, the transmission comprising: a first gear member rotatably supported by the first shaft; a second gear member rotatably supported by the second shaft; a third shaft disposed parallel to the first and second shafts, the third shaft having a first end and at least one groove, and wherein the first end is supported by the housing and the groove is disposed axially on the third shaft; an idler gear assembly rotatably supported by the third shaft, the idler gear assembly comprising: an idler gear member having a first side, a second side opposite the first side and a conical first hub extending from the first side; a synchronizer member having an annular conical first portion having a small diameter first end, and an annular second portion that partially encloses the first end of the first portion, and wherein the synchronizer member is disposed adjacent the hub of the idler gear member, the second portion of the synchronizer member has at least one radially extending tab disposed in the groove of the idler shaft; an annular retainer member disposed proximate the synchronizer member and idler gear member, the retainer member having an inner conical surface adjacent to an outer surface of the synchronizer member; and a synchronizer spring disposed on the third shaft, the synchronizer spring having a base and at least one arm, and wherein the arm has a first end attached predominantly perpendicular the base, and wherein the arm is disposed in the groove of the third shaft; and wherein the idler gear assembly is selectively axially moveable along the third shaft to engage the first and second gear members.