My truck has a RTOC16909A that has been converted into a 13 speed.
Now, in memory serves me, that's basically just a shift knob & a change in air line plumbing that changes it to an RTO 16913A.
I'm wondering if it's possible to make it an RTO 16918 (18 speed) by just changing the shifter knob to an 18 speed style.
Anyone ever do this? Am I risking any mechanical damage by doing so? It seems like it shouldn't be a problem, but I'm hoping someone out there has some experience here.
Converted 9 sp to 13 sp into an 18sp?
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Displaced Yooper, Apr 6, 2011.
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converting from a 9 speed to 13 they put a box on the back of the trans plus the shifter knob im not shure if its possible to make it a 18 speed
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are you really serious ?
a little more than just changing the shifter to get more gears -
Now I have heard of some of the bigger companies specing trucks with 13--the disabling the top side(or not hooking up at all) which makes it a 9 speed--basically plumb the system to go in the top side of the high side as soon as you shift ranges--and when get ready to trade sell--re plumb system--re install original shifter to sell as a 13 speed-higher resale value--most big companies do not like to spec anything but 8-9(some 10)less possibility of damage due to driver neglect/abuse
So this might be what you are thinking of?Strider and Displaced Yooper Thank this. -
Was this a Werner truck at some point? Even if you could, would it really be worth it? If you were doing sitework, oilfield work, heavy haul, etc., I could understand the need for one, but for typical OTR driving? The only real advantage you're going to have is that you'll be able to downshift to the bottom side if you don't remember to pull the splitter back before you downshift, but how often (if ever) would you really use the additional gears on the bottom side?
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I believe it was an ex Swift lease truck.
KH -
They actually are selling these convertible 9-speeds to fleets with the idea that a truck with a 13 sells faster and for more money. (Both true) You just pull the back off a 9 and bolt a 13 auxiliary section in it's place.
http://roadranger.com/Roadranger/productssolutions/transmissions/rtoc-16909a/index.htm
You can make a 13 into an 18 by changing the shifter BUT the splitter section of the 13 isn't designed to handle the torque of the lower gears. They are identical in layout, the 18 just has stronger parts; hence the higher torque capacity of the 18's.Displaced Yooper and Strider Thank this. -
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Also, coming from low range, that ratio is between 3rd and 4th; so if you go there coming up from 4th, it feels like a split down instead of an upshift. I remember in the early 90's Eaton made a 9 speed with a narrow jump between 8th and 9th, the result being you used 5 gears in the high side and only 4 on the bottom. Always reminded me of driving a 'turned around' tranny, and as that was what I'd been running just before that; and for the first week I'd try and come out of 9th and try and get a bigger gear by going up to the dash! OOPS!Last edited: Apr 7, 2011
Displaced Yooper and Strider Thank this. -
LOL 1st gear on a 13 speed high range is the goosey gear. Get a surprise when you go there.
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