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Question about shifting: Is my instuctor correct?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by tarheelmike, Oct 30, 2012.

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  1. Oct 30, 2012 #1
    tarheelmike

    tarheelmike Bobtail Member

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    I am about 2 weeks away from graduating CDL school and my question concerns my instructors' directions regarding double clutching. He wants us to press the clutch ALL the way to the floor during double clutching. My problem is that his preferred truck drops rpm's very quickly. I feel that by pressing the clutch all the way to the floor (and activating the clutch brake) this is causing me to lose time changing gears while trying to keep my engine and road speed up. Some other guys in my class are having the same problem, so it's not just me. Any advice/opinions on this subject? Thanks.
     
    tarheelmike, Oct 30, 2012
    tarheelmike, Oct 30, 2012
    #1
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  3. Oct 30, 2012 #2
    ghf

    ghf Bobtail Member

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    Pressing the clutch all the way to the floor and engaging the clutch brake while in motion, will destroy the clutch brake; and will not help in shifting. If using the clutch to shift, either up or down, all you have to do is engage the clutch just enough to break the torque; usually this means just pressing the clutch an inch or two.
     
    ghf, Oct 30, 2012
    ghf, Oct 30, 2012
    #2
    MNdriver, tl385 and volvodriver01 Thank this.
  4. Oct 30, 2012 #3
    rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    If he has you pushing the clutch all the way to the floor, he wont have a clutch brake for long. Just push it far enough to get outta gear easily, and just far enough to get it back in gear easily. How long has the instructor been driving???
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2012
    rbrtwbstr, Oct 30, 2012
    rbrtwbstr, Oct 30, 2012
    #3
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  5. Oct 30, 2012 #4
    Balakov100

    Balakov100 Road Train Member

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    only time you push the clutch to floor is when stopped.
     
    Balakov100, Oct 30, 2012
    Balakov100, Oct 30, 2012
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  7. Oct 30, 2012 #5
    chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    The only advantage to pushing the clutch all the way to the floor is to engage the clutch brake which is only necessary when coming to a stop or starting from a dead stop. Technically you don't have to use the clutch at all when shifting. It is called "floating" and is how most experienced drivers shift. However you are just learning and need to learn how to do it the textbook way. I guess if this is the guy doing the training and testing then you better do it his way.

    If you run the rpm's up a little higher it will give you a little more time to shift. If they drop to quickly for you to get it in gear then just tap the fuel pedal to bring the rpm's back up a bit and drop er in gear.
     
    chompi, Oct 30, 2012
    chompi, Oct 30, 2012
    #5
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  8. Oct 30, 2012 #6
    Balakov100

    Balakov100 Road Train Member

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    It is possible that the Clutch Brake doesn't work rightto begin with. Some of those Trucks are pretty worn out.
     
    Balakov100, Oct 30, 2012
    Balakov100, Oct 30, 2012
    #6
  9. Oct 30, 2012 #7
    tarheelmike

    tarheelmike Bobtail Member

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    That's what I'm thinking but he insists we do it his way. BTW, when he is at the wheel he only presses it in about 2-3 inches and then wonders why we can't shift as smoothly as he does!
     
    tarheelmike, Oct 30, 2012
    tarheelmike, Oct 30, 2012
    #7
  10. Oct 30, 2012 #8
    tarheelmike

    tarheelmike Bobtail Member

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    GHF, that's what I'm thinking but he insists we do it his way. BTW, when he's at the wheel he only presses the clutch 2-3 inches and the wonders why we can't shift as smoothly as he does!
     
    tarheelmike, Oct 30, 2012
    tarheelmike, Oct 30, 2012
    #8
  11. Oct 30, 2012 #9
    FozzyNOK

    FozzyNOK Road Train Member

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    Treat the clutch like a hot iron.. tap - neutral - tap gear..
     
    FozzyNOK, Oct 30, 2012
    FozzyNOK, Oct 30, 2012
    #9
  12. Oct 30, 2012 #10
    ShootThis

    ShootThis Medium Load Member

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    Way it sounds he graduated from the class before the OP.
     
    ShootThis, Oct 30, 2012
    ShootThis, Oct 30, 2012
    #10
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