Parallel to the mainshaft is the countershaft. There are usually three shafts&colon; a mainshaft, a countershaft, and an idler shaft. Sturmey-Archer countershaft gearbox with kick starter. The countershaft sprockets are now easier to change. The countershaft and the lathe spindle each carried cones of different-diameter pulleys for speed control. The transmission had an overrunning clutch on the transmission countershaft. Each group had two motors, that drove a common countershaft using cogs. The engine drove a countershaft mounted across the car. In car transmissions, the term countershaft is also used. The term "countershaft" is somewhat older.