Quick questions about a 13-speed trans

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Blackducati750, Jan 12, 2011.

  1. Blackducati750

    Blackducati750 Light Load Member

    193
    10
    Mar 11, 2009
    Bushkill,PA
    0
    I've never drove a truck with anything more than a 10-speed E-F trans. (1,2,3,4,5 <flip to high range> 6,7,8,9,10)

    I might be buying my own truck this upcoming spring/summer and I see all trucks mostly come with a 13 or 18 speed trans.

    I've been looking at videos on YouTube of drivers shifting 13-speed tranny's. Would everyone agree that a 13-speed trans is actually a 12 speed with a "granny gear?" Even pulling a loaded trailer, I couldn't find a video where the driver started in (Low.) They all shift 1, 2, 3, 4, <flip to high range> (5,6) (7,8) (9,10) (11,12).

    Oh, and when splitting the high gears, the E-F video says to let off the accelerator AND push in the clutch. But, nobody seems to do that in the real world. The just let off the accelerator...

    One last thing.
    Would you say a 13-speed trans has the same ratios as a 10-speed, but with 3 overdrive gears? Or, is top gear in a 13-speed and top gear in a 10-speed the same, but the 13-speed has more "choices" between 1st and top gear?
    So, would that mean the truck with the 13-speed trans can have a numerically lower rear-end gear and still have the same pulling power?

    Thanks Everyone!!!
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. KO1927

    KO1927 Medium Load Member

    569
    263
    May 19, 2009
    NH
    0
    Close, a 13 is a 9 (L-1,2,3,4-flip-5,6,7,8 ) but you can split the top 4. Eaton-Fullers have direct and over on the split IIRC
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2011
  4. ratherbtruckin

    ratherbtruckin Light Load Member

    116
    39
    Nov 2, 2009
    Colorado
    0
    I'm just learning on a 13 spd. Never......NEVER use low, 1 and 2 if we're heavy. 3,4 flip 5,6,(no splitting here) then split on 7/8. 8 high will usually hold our 65 at 1500-1600 rpm, saving fuel which we've been doing. No gov though, so we COULD go 75 or more if we wanted to. Its a detroit 60 series buried under a freightliner classic hood, so ymmv.
     
  5. ampm wayne

    ampm wayne Heavy Load Member

    945
    746
    Jan 13, 2009
    bloomington,in
    0
    NEVER USE LOW? Why do you think you have a low gear?

    I use low gear all the time. You guys that think you do not need to use low gear a wearing out your clutch.
     
    mslashbar and SL3406 Thank this.
  6. Blackducati750

    Blackducati750 Light Load Member

    193
    10
    Mar 11, 2009
    Bushkill,PA
    0
    Well, I'm sure it depends on your rear-end gear.

    He might have a 3.90 or 4.11 ratio......
     
  7. ampm wayne

    ampm wayne Heavy Load Member

    945
    746
    Jan 13, 2009
    bloomington,in
    0
    Does not matter. Making a statement to never use low gear is bad advice and shows a lack of experience.
     
  8. Blackducati750

    Blackducati750 Light Load Member

    193
    10
    Mar 11, 2009
    Bushkill,PA
    0
    Well, he did say he was "just learning on a 13-speed..."
     
  9. zx12guy

    zx12guy Bobtail Member

    16
    4
    Jun 13, 2007
    0
    They must not own the trucks. If you're loaded start off in low, your wallet will thank you.
     
    the gambler Thanks this.
  10. Jfaulk99

    Jfaulk99 Road Train Member

    2,914
    1,648
    May 16, 2009
    Couch
    0
    So you can honestly say loaded, empty, bobtail you ALWAYS use low? I call BS. Most of our trucks are 13's and low is so slow you move about 3' and shift. The one I usually drive has 3:36 rears with 24.5's and I have to be either on a really steep hill or loaded over 100k to even consider low.

    Also out of the last 5 clutches we've replaced only one was actually worn out, all the others all had broken springs and one had the throwout bearing fail so the clutch was replaced since it was already apart and clutches are cheap. Local shop even said almost all clutch replacements they do are spring failures and not worn out.

    It's your truck and if it makes you feel better to always use low great, but to jump on someone because they start in a higher gear is laughable. You start in whatever gear is necessary to get moving without touching the accelerator or slipping the clutch. If that happens to be 2nd then use 2nd, if your heavy and need low use low. We had one truck with a 15spd on 4:88 gears. You could start in 5th loaded on a hill and still get passed by a turtle.
     
  11. ampm wayne

    ampm wayne Heavy Load Member

    945
    746
    Jan 13, 2009
    bloomington,in
    0

    My response was to the statement NEVER, NEVER use low gear. Any driver that would make that statement or agree with it needs not to give advice to others about driving a truck.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.