A Historical Perspective
In the heart of the 20th century, a pioneering movement in the automotive industry was born. The Automatic Transmission Rebuilders...
Popular Articles
Entrepreneurs with modest beginnings provide some of the most interesting success stories. Launching into a new profession from scratch may be thrilling, but...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about real business and life challenges.
This past...
Last time we visited, we talked about an EV’s gear train and how it interacted with the electric motor. Most EV gear trains employ a one-speed transmission...
The scientist who invented Lubegard’s Liquid Wax Ester molecule has passed. Dr. Phillip Landis died at his home in Sedona Arizona on February 4th. He was 98...
Over the past two decades (maybe even longer), you’ve heard of the importance of battery and electrical systems testing. Voltagedrop testing goes back for as...
Time after time, you’ve heard from business advisors about the importance of “finding the need,” or “going the extra mile” for your customers. But...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature where I share stories, insights, and reflections about business and life.
Writers and speakers often...
In the early days, the driver controlled transfer case mode and range positions with a shift lever. Newer designs use a transfer case shift motor to change...
This is the third installment of ATRA+ articles. It’s a project that began a couple of years ago. It’s tied to the ATRA University Project and focused on...
Okay, I know double-negatives can be confusing, but they can also drive a point home. Like when Yogi Berra tried to explain to the sports writers why the Mets...
When you travel in a rough neighborhood, the way you show or earn respect is an important ritual. As a young adult, I worked in a warehouse on the east side of...
One of the most popular TV shows of the mid-’60s was Gilligan’s Island. It was the epitome of a show that was so bad it was good. It told the story of...
In the August issue of Gears, we covered definitions like flares, bind-ups, and chatters. Shift complaints are challenging, especially when the root cause of...
The valve body used to be an assembly that got little attention during a transmission RDI (remove, disassemble, and inspect). However, since most late-model...
We recently became “reverse Okies.” In the depression era, Okies were the people who fled the “Dust Bowl” of Oklahoma’s drought and headed to...
In horse racing, the term trifecta applies to a bet on a race in which you attempt to pick the first, second, and third place horses in the correct order. The...
GEARS Staff
As time flies, so do the needs of the industry and the projects for the ATRA team. Most recently, we’ve worked on providing training for students at...
When you think of running a successful business, the image of a tube of toothpaste probably doesn’t come to mind. However, running your business is like a...
Nobody needs to tell you that the last few months have been a real struggle for our industry. With shops closing, live seminars and the Powertrain EXPO being...
A lot of shop owners worked through tough times back in 2008 when the economy collapsed. And many have had problems finding new technicians in recent years...
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In today’s shops, finding a female in the back turning wrenches is still unusual. However, the numbers are increasing. That fact, in particular, is why I was...
Spend some times around a 4- or 5-year-old and eventually — sooner rather than later — you’ll begin to hear the “why” questions:
“Why are we going...
While talking to my dad this Father’s Day, I heard a few alerts on his phone. After a few beeps, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and showed me the...
If you’ve been in this profession long enough, you have likely seen some pretty crazy things. Years ago, things were fairly predictable; a seal leak causing...
With GEARS being a monthly magazine, it’s challenging to write on timely topics. In most cases, with our fast-paced news cycle, it’s only a matter of days...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about real business and life challenges.
You might...
Welcome once again, to Clash of the Classics. This month we’ll head back to 1931 for a look at two of the most beautiful cars ever produced. 1931 was a...
Whether you love or hate it, Start-Stop systems are another technology that we have to address during transmission rebuild or repair. And when the system is...
In April of 2020, I wrote an article about ATRA’s Virtual Training Solutions, VTS platform and how to bridge the gap between the student and the shop. We...
They say family makes you stronger, and I believe that’s true. I was an only child with a single mom; it was hard sometimes. There were countless days I...
Once, in La Jolla, my wife and her sister were walking among the shops and they encountered Burt Reynolds, the actor from Smokey and the Bandit. He was...
Welcome, once again to Clash of the Classics. This month we’ll head back to the mid-20th century to compare two dependable postwar favorites that helped...
GEARS Shopper advertising costs $325.00 for a one time insertion ad, (2 1/4 X 3) 2.25 X 3. Larger ads can be placed elsewhere in the magazine and are charged...
Finding people who can rebuild transmissions has been difficult for a number of years. But this is something you may not be aware of until your rebuilder quits...
The 2019 model year marked a significant update for the General Motors 8L90 automatic transmission. In response to advancements in engine management and the...
There have been numerous changes over the years with GM transmissions, including the 10-speed applications. Many changes are known as running changes, which...
I recently had a conversation with my brother-in-law about the current real estate market. He is interested in becoming a real estate broker and is uncertain...
In the last issue of GEARS, I presented my thoughts for the graduating class of 2017. I congratulated this year’s graduates and made some observations about...
Visit Sonnax High Performance to learn more.
Visit Sonnax High Performance to learn more.
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Just saying the words Mission Accomplished inspires a positive feeling and a sense of success. In recent months, I’ve often found myself having conversations...
Don’t miss the ATRA Powertrain Expo in Las Vegas at the Paris Hotel & Casino. Here's a small glimpse into what you and your family can experience while in...
One of the coolest things about working in a transmission shop is that you’ll get to see, and hopefully, work on some pretty iconic rides from time to time...
If you haven’t already, the likelihood of your shop performing a repair on an Electric Vehicle (EV) has never been stronger, with approximately 115 new EV...
We’re all aware of the current supply chain issues plaguing our industry. Between the lack of raw materials affecting the availability of rubber, paper, and...
This article is about how important it is to troubleshoot the electrical devices used to shift today’s transmissions correctly. Now, don’t stop reading...
Training isn’t always going to be interesting or fun. Sometimes learning the basics may seem boring or stupid. But they’re necessary if you’re going to...
This article is part two of a series that focuses on the limitations and considerations of common measurements performed with one of the most commonly used...
This issue marks the 100th article I’ve written under the column heading “From the CEO.”
100 From the CEOs… Wow! That’s a lot of articles. Who’d...
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think that you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” When it comes to business success, this statement has never...
Amazing Women in Automotive (AWiA) has had several members who have faced the struggle of the unexpected loss of their business partner. In many cases, it is a...
Fuel trim has been a tool in our diagnostic tool chest that we have relied on for some time. Can modern fuel trim strategies be misleading? Can we apply the...
In the last issue of GEARS, Jim Rodd, president of ATRA’s board of directors, predicted that this year’s Expo would be “the greatest Expo ever.”...
Over the years I’ve developed a specific reputation with GEARS readers; you see my byline and you figure I’m going to be talking about tech. Not all that...
Guest Author
When you teach a seminar every year in the same city, you get to meet some interesting people, and some of them become friends, like John Bozzi (figure 1) of...
The Digital Multimeter (DMM), often referred to as the digital volt-ohm meter (DVOM), is one of the most common tools found in a technician’s toolbox. Using...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about real business and life challenges.
As we turn...
As a writer for GEARS Magazine, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many successful transmission company owners. I usually write shop profiles about their...
GEARS Staff
Famous poet Maya Angelou observed, “You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.” So, as we begin ATRA’s next chapter...
Remember when you’d just started on your career path? Do you recall the excitement… the fears and doubts… the dreams?
Every person who’s successful...
In the August issue of GEARS Magazine, Dennis Madden wrote an article called “The Definitions are the Difference.” In the article, he discusses descriptive...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about real business and life challenges.
Most of...
You might know Steve Bodofsky as the editor of GEARS Magazine but for me he was a dear friend. I met Steve in 1988 while working at AAMCO Inc. in Philadelphia...
The transmission industry, like so many other things, is constantly changing. And that change breeds differing opinions on how to operate a shop. If you put a...
For decades installing updated calibrations for vehicle issues has become a way of life in the automotive industry. The latest stats found that 46% of all...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about real business and life challenges.
This...
Any one that knows me will tell you, I love tools. Every time the trucks pull up to the shop, it feels like Christmas. The best thing about them, they make...
There’s one problem that nearly every repair shop has found itself facing: finding good help. More and more high-quality employees are reaching retirement...
From the 30 minutes I was lucky enough to visit with 24-year-old Miss Terra Malson, I could tell she loved our industry. Since 2017, Terra has been the sole...
In the last issue of GEARS, I talked to three students about their experience with the automotive industry and what ATRA can do to help them with a career...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about business and life.
Last month, I asked you to...
This article originally appeared at IndieGarage.ca (March 21, 2024), published by CHAT Integrated Media Inc. for Canada’s independent automotive aftermarket...
Lance Wiggins and Bill Brayton are the recipients of the 2019 Tank-Girdley-Howe Circle of Excellence Award for their outstanding achievements and contributions...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about real business and life challenges.
In this...
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2023. Some consider the New Year an opportunity to change bad habits or make new resolutions. For others, it’s both!
I use this...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature where I share stories, insights, and reflections about business and life.
Internet scams are running...
ATRA is Breaking Ground on the new ATRA International Business Office, Research and Training Facility in China Grove, TX! Recently the ATRA Board of Directors...
Guest Author
I’ve spent 36 years of my life so far working in the automotive industry and 24 of those years with ATRA. I am darn proud of this company and what it has to...
A few weeks ago, I was in Las Vegas for the 2016 Expo. It was a wonderful experience and, even after all these years in the transmission repair business, I can...
Remember the Dodge truck we talked about in the January 2015 issue? The 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9 diesel? This is what happened to the front clutch (figure...
IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION GATHERING
Diagnosing a transmission malfunction requires gathering as much relevant information as possible before removing the unit...
The ATRA Powertrain EXPO offers a unique opportunity for everyone in the automotive industry to come together, exchange ideas, and learn about the latest...
What a difference a month makes! It doesn’t seem possible that it’s only been three weeks since I first wrote about COVID-19. If you read last month’s...
Over the years, we’ve met a lot of transmission folk who’ve heard the call of the wind and taken to the skies to earn their pilots licenses. For many it...
For many of us around the country, Friday, March 13th was the last day of normal operations before we knew restrictions were going to go into place. Over the...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about business and life.
“I’m having a problem...
ATRA’s annual golf tournament is always a big hit with die-hard enthusiasts who look forward to strolling along the links in the dry Vegas climate. But this...
Like many young people, after graduating high school, Jamie Coffman enrolled in college. The computer technology industry was booming back in 2000, so she...
In the high-octane automotive world, one name has roared through the ages with the power of a supercharged engine – Jimmy Rodd. For decades, he’s been...
There was a time when an overheating problem in an automatic transmission was blamed on a faulty cooler in the radiator, hot weather, or extreme service like...
I heard about a local restaurant that prides itself on its great food and hospitality, which results in large numbers of repeat customers. Many of their...
What is the current setting of your ambition?
Are you eager to grow your business? How much? Is there a point where it would grow too much to suit your tastes...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about real business and life challenges.
I don’t...
If it’s correct to refer to cyberspace as a place, the internet is a wonderful place. It’s filled with information, funny videos with cats jumping on...
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