15 spd

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by damutt, Apr 17, 2015.

  1. damutt

    damutt Road Train Member

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    ok im going to make an ### of my self. been doing my reserach on buying my own rig. decided to look at 15 spds just for laughs, how can you tell if its a 15 over(split top side) or a 15 under(split bottom side?)

    since im looking like an idiot, what years did the Cummins N-14 run? and what is the years to stay away from and what years are good?
     
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  3. dieselfuelonly

    dieselfuelonly Road Train Member

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    I have never seen a 15 speed where you split the top side. Not saying it doesn't exist, but every one I have seen is basically a 10 speed with 5 deep reduction gears. I believe there is also some overlap in the ratios between deep reduction and the normal 10, i.e. you wouldn't shift straight through all 15 gears.

    If I remember correctly Cummins produced the N14s up until 2003. I think they also began producing the early ISX before they phased out the N14, so just because a 2003 truck has a Cummins doesn't necessarily mean it is an N14. The N14 is a great motor.

    I'm assuming that if you're looking at trucks with N14s in them you are looking at older trucks. Honestly, any of the older engines - Cummins N14, Detroit Series 60, 6NZ serial CAT C15, CAT 3406... all great motors. They all have their strong and weak points but if you can find a truck with any of those engines that is in good shape it should take care of you assuming you do the same for it.
     
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  4. damutt

    damutt Road Train Member

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    ah ok. was hoping they maede a 15 over, would be kinda cool. and yes i am looking at older trucks. been looking at the 30k range. dieselfuelonly, been looking at your style truck too
     
  5. dieselfuelonly

    dieselfuelonly Road Train Member

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    Nothing wrong with older trucks, just keep in mind:

    If you're going to lease on to a carrier, some of them want trucks under a certain age (commonly 10 years)

    What you may not spend on a big truck payment like you would with a new truck, you may instead spend it on fixing stuff on an older truck

    Get a dyno report and oil sample done, and get the truck looked over by someone you can trust

    Remember there are no guarantees with an older, out of warranty truck - you could do everything right and it still throws a rod through the block on the first run

    Unless you addon a DPF, no California

    With that being said... I still love my older truck. Easy to work on, no emissions crap to worry about, haven't seen a check engine light since the day I bought it, runs great, sounds great... wouldn't have it any other way.
     
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  6. haycarter

    haycarter Road Train Member

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    I'm not too sure about the modern Road Rangers,
    But back in the '70s-'80s they made a 15speed Overdrive & the top 2 stick positions were reversed.
    this also applied to ALL Overdrive Road rangers. ( 9,10.13 & 15 speeds)

    & to the best of My (limited) knowledge the name N14 came into being in 1991 with the release of the Electronic Redtop versions of the old 855cu" engines, They also called the mechanical versions "command"..

    But I'm sure someone will shoot Me down in flames........
     
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  7. 112racing

    112racing Road Train Member

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    been years since i drove a 15 and yes 15 over high gear was against the dash
     
  8. damutt

    damutt Road Train Member

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    good info thanks guys
     
  9. 315wheelbase

    315wheelbase Heavy Load Member

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    both the 15spd and the N14 are good ,,I had 2 trucks with 15spds. 15 spds were very popular
     
  10. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    What are you planning on doing with the truck? I had a '95 Pete and drove a '99, '05, and '09 KW T800's that had 15 speeds and I really liked them. My gross weight was between 96000 and 105000 and I really liked having the deep reduction for getting going when it was soft or on a hill. Like mentioned, there is some ratio overlap. From memory I think I would go from 4th or 5th in deep reduction to 2nd or 3rd direct when I used it to get going.

    Even at the weights we were at I'd say 80% of the time I drove them like a 10 speed but when I needed the deep reduction it was nice to know you have it. I don't remember the difference in final ratio but the Pete had the horseshoe pattern with the big hole up by the dash and all the KW's had a normal shift pattern.

    There's nothing wrong with shopping for an older truck. Just bear in mind that you will likely have increased maintenance costs at first but you will get to the point that you know every bolt on the truck and it'll be more reliable than many trucks on the road. I bought my '03 Freightliner in 2011 and heres what I've done to it:
    New charge air cooler
    New radiator
    Inframed the 12.7 Detroit
    New transmission
    New driveline
    Replaced a cracked crossmember
    Painted and refurbished the truck

    Yes it's worth more to me than what someone would give for it, but I now know everything about it and I have a very reliable truck with no payment.
     
  11. 77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

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    I drive a 15 speed in the oil patch. When its real muddy the low low gears are real useful. The gears are closer together 9(14) and 10(15) are not superfar apart like on a ten speed.
     
  12. Tall Mike

    Tall Mike Road Train Member

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    Only 15 I was ever in was big hole against the dash and you could spilt the bottom..

    Matched with a 550 E model and 3.55's that was a pulling SOB..

    boss man built that 379 off a glider it had 550k on it when I got in, I put over a million on that truck easily.. :thumbup:
     
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