Tips for double clutching?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by operatorIsaac, Mar 4, 2013.

  1. frog2011

    frog2011 Light Load Member

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    Oct 14, 2012
    indiana
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    just remember there are tons of ways to shift gears and the longer you drive the more you will learn whats best for you. Pumpkin Oval Head is right about the schronization stuff its more based on truck speed and engine rpms there is a nice delicate balance you have to have to make the truck shift and you will find that sometimes floating works sometimes clutching works. the longer you drive the more you will see how and when.
     
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  3. operatorIsaac

    operatorIsaac Bobtail Member

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    Mar 2, 2013
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    I know I'll get a lot of info down when I get there, but I was also wondering how down shifting works in a semi? I'm familiar with down shifting in a car, and have done that since I first learned stick - but seeing as that you have to match RPM with shifting in a tractor - do you just let it get down to a certain speed before you down shift?
     
  4. Cjh_army

    Cjh_army Medium Load Member

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    Jan 9, 2013
    Hamilton, Montana
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    again, the 400 RPM split comes into play. And again, you have to match speeds, so if you are at 1200 RPM, and need to downshift, you clutch, shift into neutral, rev up to 1600, clutch, and shift into the lower gear.
     
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  5. operatorIsaac

    operatorIsaac Bobtail Member

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    Mar 2, 2013
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    Got it. You keep the gas depressed as you're shifting into gear or do you let off like you would in a car?
     
  6. frog2011

    frog2011 Light Load Member

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    Oct 14, 2012
    indiana
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    yep you let the truck slow down by either its own will or by using the brakes and the rpms will follow once the rpms get down to about 1000 then you downshift. downshifting is a bit trickier and there are certain scenarios that the rpms wont be matching the speed or vice versa and you wont be able to get it into the gear and in those cases you just have to recognize which one is the problem and fix it. Like mountain driving sometimes your rpms go down faster than your speed other times the speed goes down faster than the rpms. You will just have to compensate for whatever does what 1st. every truck is geared a little different i.e 9 speeds 13 speeds 10 speeds so on and so forth so you will have to get the feel for the trucks temperment to understand how to downshift. and once you drive long enough it wont matter what truck you jump in you will be able to adapt and drive it lickety split.
     
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  7. Cjh_army

    Cjh_army Medium Load Member

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    Jan 9, 2013
    Hamilton, Montana
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    You press harder on the ACCELERATOR pedal until you go to the proper RPM, if you let up you lose rpms.
     
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  8. operatorIsaac

    operatorIsaac Bobtail Member

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    Mar 2, 2013
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    ACCELERATOR- got it. I think I have a good comprehension of it after watching videos and practicing in my car, just the rhythm of clutch out of gear, clutch into gear (snap snap). If / When I pass and get my CDL, I'll be stationed out of Washington - which brings up another question, frog, in regards to mountain driving Why do folks seem to be so intimidated by driving through the mountains? I can understand weather is one thing of concern, but what are the challenges of driving up / down the mountain ranges that differ from other driving? (outside the obvious, you're climbing and descending and you have to be more mindful of your speed / surroundings)
     
  9. moloko

    moloko Road Train Member

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    Oct 26, 2012
    seattle, wa
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    i think besides being on narrow, windy roads, the most intimidating factor is losing your breaks on the descent. climbing the hill is gonna take you into 10th gear really quickly.

    if you screw up and overheat your breaks going down the hill, you'll be frantically looking for a runaway truck ramp or going over the side of a mountain and asking the good lord have some mercy and let you have an open casket funeral.

    again, you gotta let up off the accelerator and downshift as your primary means of decreasing speed--and thus maintaining better control of your 80,000 pound pedestrian-killer. you can use the air break a little bit, to initially reduce speed to downshift, but by all means you gotta use that engine break or else your breaks will overheat relatively quickly and you'll be plunging 500 feet do your death--and making the local news while you're at it.

    a good rule of thumb, is to downshift as soon as you come to the top of the hill and begin a descent. you want to make sure you have complete control of your truck as soon as you begin the descent. if you wait too long, you might very well be screwed.

    i hope i didn't scare you into doing it the right way :)
     
  10. operatorIsaac

    operatorIsaac Bobtail Member

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    Mar 2, 2013
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    oh. that doesn't seem to bad. :biggrin_2556:
     
  11. rokitt51

    rokitt51 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 6, 2013
    Midland, Tx
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    Ive never double clutched. Ive tried after years of driving and im no good at it. I float thru it all. Ive heard from mechanics that using the clutch all of the time screws it up and wears soo much faster.
     
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