It is a term for a person who has never driven a standard " Whats wrong you cant find first gear?". LOL
I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me

Yes, I agree that the German was making a little joke when he said that he had hidden the gearbox.
The grapple and rope thing is a more intriguing issue. Might have blown off; or, indeed, the cat might have knocked it off. I think we should have seen it dislodged, however. Perhaps that tiny bit of footage, if it ever existed, somehow ended up on the cutting room floor.
I absolutely agree with pillfeast, however. Having the little girl pick up the rope and run off with it was genius. What a wonderful bit of irony.

I'm okay with assuming that it just blew off since there wasn't anyone putting tension on it. I guess the cat could have knocked it off but it seems like they'd show a scene like that. However it came down I'm glad it did, the scene when the little girl picks it up and runs off with it is a brillant touch.
I don't think Bencker meant he'd hidden the entire gearbox, but rather that he'd "hidden" first gear by putting it out of its ordinary position. Louis did find it in it's hidden position pretty quick, judging by the way he roared out of the motel, but c'est la vie.
Oh, really? I'll write that down, hippie.

I think Mr. Beckner's comment about "hiding the gearbox" was him making a joke.

I am watching as I read the posts. The elevator has just been turned on, but I must say even it it were just for tension, that is all you need. It is a fantastic movie. I should look so good in make-up as Jeanne Moreau does without!

Ahh, OK, I must have missed that. So he was just checking in his rounds. Makes sense. Still unclear on the other items though
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The Guard used a key on a watchman device to clock in near the box where he turned the power back on.
Claude Brooks

I have those same questions actually. I hope someone can clarify. Ive already sent it back off to Netflix at this point. It was a great film though, but I saw those as errors as well as one other: why would that security guard come in in the middle of the night just to turn stuff on and off and then leave? If it showed him making rounds I could understand, but its like that was just there to cause tension and it served no other purpose.
My Collection:
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=11097838