Eaton Ultrashift vs 10spd or 13 spd Manual

Moved a newer CAT CT660 truck and float trailer around the yard the other day. Had the 2 pedal automated manual in it. It took me less than 5 seconds to hate that POS. Not smooth at all.

 

Works a lot better at 5pm in Dallas-Fort Worth

 

As a Owner Operater, I'll.take a 13 speed manual any day over the Automated garbage.

Just wait when your Automated Transmission takes a dump, you'll be seeing dollars flying out of your wallet so fast.

 

Im an Owner Operartor, and I know you may find this hard to believe... But I actually ordered mine with an automated 13. Technology has come a long way in the last several years, I haven't missed a gear since I took delivery of it.

 

Technology always comes with a price. Automated transmission are controlled with computers and sensors, when those start acting up and throwing codes or leaving you stranded on the side of the road, you'll wish you stayed with a Manual Transmission.

Good luck.

 

Had a Mack with the M drive for 2 yrs, never a hiccup. I know I add an extra layer of complexity to a tranny by making it an auto shift, but there's not really that much more to them. Still a manual gear box with an ecu that communicates with truck ecu, and air slave cylinders that do the shifting when told to do so. I know there "could" be a problem, but I've been a driver for going on 25 yrs, O/O for 10 years and haven't owned a truck yet that hasn't had to go to the shop.

Eaton has been doing these for a long time now, and the are much better than they used to be. Kenworth and Pete have had to step up and give Eaton more access to the engine ecu to compete with the Volvo I shift, and now Detriot doing their own automated, they really are nice to drive.

I know some like to shift gears, but I'm not one of them anymore. I still love driving my truck, just not the manual trannies, don't even have one in my Jeep and to some that's an unforgivable sin, but I like what I've got.

 

The transmission that you want is actually the Eaton Ultrashift Plus. You can get them to do everything that you can do with a manual including skip shifting. I prefer a manual in a truck but I have driven just about every type of automated transmission out there and they really are better now compared to just 5 years ago. The engine transmission will learn you driving habits and adapt to them while driving.

 

+1 for the Ultrashift PLUS. The Ultrashift only has the old type centrifugal clutch, that is POS. You have 2 good choices here: 3 pedal Autoshift or the Ultrashift PLUS with the el motor acting like your cluch. I personally prefer the 3 pedal autoshift.

The automated manual transmission is like regular 10 speed, but the stick is replaced with X-Y shifter (two electric motors moving the fork to shift gears) and one computer controlling the shifter. Only 3 more things that can go bad vs manual transmission:

- X-Y shifter about $770 - if you install it your self (No need to remove the transmission, remove the floor mat and there is a hatch with 10-12 bolts, few hours job. The shifter usually last about 400-500k miles.

-Transmission computer, cost $1100, but can be rebuilt - usually no problems with it, only water damage and corrosion.

- Transmission harness, cost $180 and must be replaced together with the X-Y shifter.

Just for the record: Eaton super 10 transmission is manual transmission, right? Wrong! This one has a computer too.....you deal with the same problems and still you have to shift some gears your self...

 

Yup, that's the one I've got. I forget it's a plus now.

 

Thats a great perk for company drivers,we get to break in a new truck every year..not quite prestigeous as driving a long nose pete..,but I can munch down a few supreme buritos from taco bell,while they wizz past me rowing gears.