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Do’s & Dont’s on clutch & clutch brake!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ua96, Aug 26, 2024.

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  1. Aug 26, 2024 #1
    ua96

    ua96 Bobtail Member

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    Just to start off I’m not really a new driver but I’m about a year in driving 8LL. My employer purchased a used truck during spring time & I’ve been driving it since. It was good at first until my clutch brake went & the mechanic installed a 2 pc clutch brake that only lasted me about a month. This weekend he had a driver fill in & as soon as I hit the highway this morning I felt the clutch slip. What could’ve caused this?
    I’m local dump truck driver & I stop & go pretty frequent. I float gears, usually downshift to lowest gear & pop it into neutral at a red light. Use clutch brake completely stopped to stick it into 1st (empty) or Lo (Loaded) & usually let the truck roll with the clutch. That’s the only time I use my clutch & clutch brake but I’m just confused as to how or why both went so fast. Mind you truck currently has 105k miles.

    To the local drivers or otr drivers that stop & go frequently in cities what are your do’s & don’ts to help preserve your clutch & clutch brake?
     
    ua96, Aug 26, 2024
    ua96, Aug 26, 2024
    #1
    77fib77 Thanks this.
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  3. Aug 26, 2024 #2
    77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

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    Don't put the pedal all the way to the floor unless you can't get the transmission into gear. Or, you cant get it out of gear. It's only close to the floor that you wear your clutch brake.

    When you get rolling from a stop. Try to get out of the clutch quickly, then add power. My truck was strong enough to pull with out added throttle. So I could get out of the clutch pretty quick. Granted I was OTR and not driving in West Virginia or Pittsburgh.
     
    77fib77, Aug 26, 2024
    77fib77, Aug 26, 2024
    #2
    ua96 Thanks this.
  4. Aug 26, 2024 #3
    pavrom

    pavrom Road Train Member

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    I did 375k on my clutch being otr( ...not sure how many miles it had before i installed engine ), every day loading/unloading ...same here : clutch used only for 1st gear
    you can't kill clutch brake in 1 month unless it's intentional abuse ...I believe so ...I'm sure more knowledgeable guys will chime in
     
    pavrom, Aug 26, 2024
    pavrom, Aug 26, 2024
    #3
    Arctic_fox, ua96 and 77fib77 Thank this.
  5. Aug 26, 2024 #4
    AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    If the clutch is starting to slip I would have the adjustment checked ASAP (assuming its not a self-adjusting clutch). If there's no free pedal then there's a good chance you can save it before you cook it since you caught it early.
     
    AModelCat, Aug 26, 2024
    AModelCat, Aug 26, 2024
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    OldeSkool, W923, Big Road Skateboard and 1 other person Thank this.
  7. Aug 26, 2024 #5
    ua96

    ua96 Bobtail Member

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    I asked for an adjustment but was told that it should self adjust. It’s a 2020 KW
     
    ua96, Aug 26, 2024
    ua96, Aug 26, 2024
    #5
  8. Aug 26, 2024 #6
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Didn't you start another thread with the same question Thursday?

    I said (and got bashed for it) that you keep it in gear until stopped and then put it into the starting gear, you don't need a clutch brake.

    About the clutch slipping, even if they say it is self-adjusting, it may need to be looked at or replaced, I think replaced.
     
    Ridgeline, Aug 26, 2024
    Ridgeline, Aug 26, 2024
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    OldeSkool, Oxbow and ua96 Thank this.
  9. Aug 26, 2024 #7
    ua96

    ua96 Bobtail Member

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    Yes I did! I did see a couple guys opposed of your comment lol I do this method a good amount of times but I also pop it out of gear from time to time. But question, holding the clutch in gear wouldn’t it mess up the throw out bearing after a while?
     
    ua96, Aug 26, 2024
    ua96, Aug 26, 2024
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    77fib77 Thanks this.
  10. Aug 26, 2024 #8
    Phoenix Heavy Haul

    Phoenix Heavy Haul Medium Load Member

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    Resting your foot on the pedal while driving, even slightly will take one out.
     
    Phoenix Heavy Haul, Aug 26, 2024
    Phoenix Heavy Haul, Aug 26, 2024
    #8
    OldeSkool, Oxbow, RockinChair and 4 others Thank this.
  11. Aug 27, 2024 #9
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    I don’t think it does, seeing that the engineers have taken in account the load on the bearing. Clutch covers or pressure plates seem to have been used for decades without causing too much issues for the bearing.

    the life of the bearing should be longer than that of the clutch discs, seeing that the clutch plate material is a consumable and has a limited useful life.
     
    Ridgeline, Aug 27, 2024
    Ridgeline, Aug 27, 2024
    #9
    Oxbow, ua96 and OldMainiac Thank this.
  12. Aug 28, 2024 #10
    abyliks

    abyliks Road Train Member

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    The self adjusters seize over time, realistically a good driver will have a disc go or a spring break before actually wearing the clutch out

    sometimes the 2 piece clutch brakes come unhooked, can also check pedal linkage
     
    abyliks, Aug 28, 2024
    abyliks, Aug 28, 2024
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    OldeSkool and Oxbow Thank this.
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