How hard is manual shift?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by lupe, Dec 28, 2010.

  1. lupe

    lupe Medium Load Member

    How long does it take for you to get used to it?
     
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  3. Flying Dutchman

    Flying Dutchman Road Train Member

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    Well I got the truck rolling right away...no problem. By the end of my 12 hour shift I was not grinding as much LOL. After about 2 full days everything was rolling really smooth for me.
     
  4. JimDriv3r

    JimDriv3r Road Train Member

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    Practice makes perfect! Most of my cars were manual transmission, so I quickly grasped the concept on how to shift a truck. Cars have synchronized transmissions, so its very easy to shift from one gear to the next. Trucks are different.

    Most transmissions in trucks are unsynchronized. You would have to shift the truck at certain RPM ranges in order to get the gear in the next position. Time it wrong and you will be grinding the gears. Down shifting in a truck is a different ballgame. You will have to get the RPMs down at a certain speed, put the transmission in neutral, quickly tap the accelerator to bring the RPMs up and hopefully you can shift in the next lower gear. Once again, time it wrong and you will be grinding the gears.

    Try doing an online search on the operation of "big rigs" as far as shifting and downshifting. It will all make sense once you start driving trucks.

    When ARE you starting, anyway? Just get started already! Do it while you're still young.
     
  5. Bumpy

    Bumpy Road Train Member

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    There is ALWAYS a 1st time for everyone..It only gets BETTER after that.:biggrin_25525:
     
  6. Jbrake1960

    Jbrake1960 Light Load Member

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    Now Lupe is back to the trucking subject. I guess that ship captain job isnt going to work out.
     
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  7. lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

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    If you have driven a stick shift its not that hard to pick up the habits of the double clutch tap.

    I took to it slick. Great joy to shift through the gears. 3 fingers to move the shifter, anything more and your going to beat yourself silly.

    But hey thats just me I suppose.
     
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  8. Flying Dutchman

    Flying Dutchman Road Train Member

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    I find shifting to be easiest that way too, with just enough pressure on the shifter to move it around, not trying to man-handle it like a hand clutch on an old farm tractor. With the slightest pressure and the right timing, it'll go in and out of gear like nothing.
     
  9. Flying Finn

    Flying Finn Heavy Load Member

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    Yeppers, easier to use 3 fingers to move the shifter back, forwards an open palm with light pressure is all you need. The gears will fall right into place when they mesh.
     
  10. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Medium Load Member

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    Lupe...on word of info..
    If you don't already have a drivers licenses, you might want to get one (I get the feeling from your posts you don't) cause many states have limits preventing you from getting a CDL as your first without a waiting period...
    That way you can also see if you like/don't like long drives...a car is different, but sitting in the same spot, and some of the basics for traffic rules are the same. Every school as a story about a person trying to get a CDL first...learn to drive a car (you will need 6 months in many states before upgrading to a CDL), even an auto so you don't bring any bad shifting habbits to the truck...
    Shifting a truck is a skill, like operating most machines, some can do it naturally, some need many hours of practice...just like backing a trailer!!
     
  11. deerslayer1543

    deerslayer1543 Light Load Member

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    Clutch? whats that??? oh yeah that thing you use at stoplights.Seriously Lovesthedrive is right.Watch your tach or learn to listen to the engine an use light pressure on the stick and that thing will go into the gear its supposed to be in like butter.Its only as hard as you make it.
     
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