Having trouble down shifting

Something else important to remember is that those transmissions are a lot tougher than most new drivers think. Not that you want to be slamming and jamming all the time, but they aren't going to blow up from scratching a gear now and then either.

 

Ya I just started i am in the same boat week two and getting the hang of it our teacher has a funny accent so its entertaining to hear him yell neutral rpm shift lol we are learning brake to 35 neutral rev clutch 8th 20 mph neutral rev 6th come to a stop drop into 3rd and go again lol good luck just be patient dont get flustered and take a deep breath

 

You need to go talk to my old man.. he taught me to drive and had a ruler in his hand.. if you ground a gear he smacked the crap out of your hand.. You didn't grind many either....


Here is what you have to remember.. FUEL dont be afraid of fuel.. Here is what I tell people when they need help.. (I don't double clutch.)
When you hit 1100 rpms or so I shift at 1300.. come off the fuel.. and it should come out of gear with a push.. if it doesn't give it a little rev up not much and take it out.. then rev it up to 1500 (if you started down shift at 1100) push against the hole you are going in NOT HARD just fill and see if it falls in gear you are doing it right if you grind gears you need to give it fuel by this point you are below the rpms you need to be..

See if this works when you decided to downshift say silently in your head whatever gear you are in.. say 10th.. slow down... take it out of gear and rev the crap out of it like to 1800 rpms.. and then hold it against 9th gear you will feel the sweet spot.. look at the tack and speedo.. and get it in gear.. What you will be doing is over shooting the rpms and then filling out the transmission instead of grinding the gears to death.. OH and while you are floating these gears push on the clutch some so they think you are doing it there way.

 

My problem with down shifting is similar-- not so much that I can't figure it out, but as far as I need to practice it a lot-- but I have a related question, when Floating the gears, downshifting, do you rev as well?

 

Yes, you have to rev when down shifting.

 

As a lot of people said, the vast majority of getting good at down-shifting is practice and rhythm. You'll eventually get a feel for how sensitive the throttle is and you'll get to a point where you kind of instictively hit the throttle when in neutral and bring it up to the proper rpm for the next gear.

Can't believe how low some of these guys shift though.

 

I have to agree with you there snd I am one of those low shifters... in low range I am upshifting at 1200 in high range at 1400, I down shift at around 1000 usually. This is far different from the old days when I first drove back in the early 80's... up at 2100 down at 1700.

 

I learned to drive around heavy haul, so, I was taught to shift relatively high (at least by modern engine standards) so that the engine isn't lugging down grossing 100,000+ lbs. In the mountains, if I'm having to grab gears, I'll wrap my engine clear to 2,000rpm, has more to do with keeping the engine in a decent powerband when the shift is completed.

That being said, there are a couple engines that can handle big loads and low rpm, but, not all of them. I drive a 6NZ CAT, and it does not like to pick a big load up in the low rpm ranges.

 

That is exactly how I was taught to remember my speeds when driving a Eaton Fuller 10-speed. If I may add, you can also negotiate a turn while keeping your truck in 6th gear (10-15 mph range). This is known as high-siding cause you are keeping your vehicle in the high range. No point getting into the low range unless you really have to. Also, you can come to a complete stop in 6th gear as long as you engage the clutch at around 5 mph. Good luck.