Downshifting help

yep, thats how its done. Grandpa used to say shifting is alot like sex, if you're doing it right it'll slip right in

 

Yes... I left out that very important little detail. My apologies to the OP, I am not very good at communicating what I mean sometimes (in print or spoken words)

Gearjammer is just a "figure of speech"...when done right, they fall right in gear without any "jamming".

 

What are you trying to teach him?, a three stick brownie box (for you youngsters, that is a very, very , very old truck--three gear sticks, if you miss a gear, just stop and start over, no trying to find the stick combination) 10 low-10 high---he said a straight ten speed, simplest tranny on the highway

I can't even figure out what transmission this guy is talking about, maybe a thirteen, maybe an 18, no maybe a 15 over, or even a 15 under. Anyway, read my description, put in the soft, two finger touch, listen to the engine and pay close attention to the sounds. Let her sing to you and remember the song.

Nice thing is that the same sounds will be there on hills or on flat land--at 25 mph and at 65 mph. Like I said, get to a parking area, practice your gears in 4-5-6-5-4 and learn the feel and the timing. Everything will work even when you are climbing Donner, Snoqualmie, or any big hill we play on.

 

I was wondering the same thing...

 

For Flat Land Downshifting: Step on brakes with clutch out and bring RPMs down to about 1100, shift to neutral, release clutch and bump up RPMs about 400 (to 1500 on the tach) and complete the downshift using the clutch. For Down Hill Downshifting: Same as above except brake to 900 RPM and give it more than a 400 bump (400-800) depending on how steep the hill and how heavy you are. If you screw this up get back on the brakes and get the speed down and try again. When you are heavy the brakes will get very hot and start to fade so you only have a few chances to get back in gear or you will have to stop the truck and let the brakes cool.

 

thanks for all the advice everyone, I worked on it today, I found out for upshifting and downshifting to listen to the engine more and I forgot about the tach and yes I was shifting much better both up and down. Every situation is different so watching the tach all the time and trying to shift at a certain rpm doesen't allways work. This is a straigt ten speed that I was asking about. Any more adivice is allways helpfull. when I am loaded I am at #80,000 and after unloading I am at #32,000. when downshifting going up a hill is it better to clutch out of gear or float out and then down to the next lower gear? Does one work better than the other? cornering is another issue that I could use help on, I seem to be in to high a gear sometimes when making a corner, I get down to seventh or six make my corner and seem to loose momentem any advice? I do allright overall but I want to get it down right, teaching yourself is not allways easy but asking for help goes a long ways...

 

Corners...my habit is 4th gear...sometimes 3rd.

But I've hauled a lot of top heavy stuff too. (glass, steel coils, etc.)

 

Why use the brakes every time you downshift? That will wear them out in no time at all.

 

To downshift, RPMs must be dropped to 1100 or lower. That can be done 2 ways. 1. By taking foot off the throttle and letting the truck slow down on its own, or 2. by stepping on the brakes.

 

How many use the clutch when up or down shifting?