Floating Gears

What is this double-clutching you speak of? Do you mean the thing you do when you're about to run into something? I use the clutch to start going and to kick it out of gear when I'm trying to shift and it gets stuck in one of those kungfu grips.

 

Okay........ this is an old thread and if I remember right...... people got a little defensive about the "right" way to shift!!!

I have absolutely no real world experience......... just my school/mill training....... but this is funny because I do absolutely the opposite...... I double clutch most of the time on the way up (especially the lower gears) and then I float on the way down......... go figure ...... oh, well...... I'm good as long as the truck slides into gear and seems happy.......

I have noticed that if I ever "lose" a gear (in otherwords I have tried to put the truck in a gear it does not want to be in) I can find the appropriate gear much better by floating...... the clutch seems to get in the way during those times........... but I am still learning

AND....... for the record........ me and 4th gear (on the downshift) are still trying to work out our differences ......I am still hopeful that we can come to an amicable agreement that we can both live with......... LOL.........

??

I think this means you float your gears all the time?

 

You know my views on this subject. I believe that the schools should teach the new drivers to use the equipment the right way first then if you want to float after you know the truck and you're sure you won't ever BANG a gear then go for it. But your school is not holding up their part because you've said in the past that they teach floating because it's easier for them. How safe do you think it is when you're trying to find a gear while rolling? I wish I had you for 15 minutes because I'd have you using the clutch every time and you'd know what gear to be in at any given time.

 

Yep........ knew this would open back up that can of gears..........

I completely agree with you ......... and now that I am done with school I have no way to practice for now. I really wanted to spend some more time learning how to use the clutch on the way down but you know how they limit our actual driving time...............

The best I can do is say that at least I can drive and shift (without grinding) a short, empty Big Truck........... it's a start........ and really, that is all I expected from the school......... I just wanted to learn a few basics so I wouldn't look like a complete idiot when I got in an actual truck......

(You also need to remember I am a woman..... and very often when a girl plays in the boys sandbox she is held to a different standard...... when a guy makes a mistake, he is "learning"......... when a girl makes the same mistake, she is "just a woman"....... I know it sounds a cliche' but we have to do a better job just to get the same respect.......... and you know what? ........ I don't have a problem with that ...... because once I figure something out I can do it better than anyone!!! ........... yep!!! yes'sir'ee!!! ...... )

 

It wasn't like that in my last company. If you're there to drive then you're there to drive. EVERYONE makes mistakes and everyone should be helped the same. But we had the opposite problem where a couple of female drivers would use their looks to have other drivers do their work for them. They'd drive out of their way to unload for them. The last I heard they were not with the company any longer as it should be. Everyone has their job to do and they should do it. It didn't matter what species they were to me!!

 

we had to double clutch in school... now I float most of the time.

the old saying was... 25mph is 2+5 = 7 you want 7th gear.

35mph is 3+5 = 8 you want eighth gear.

45mph is 4+5 = 9 you want ninth gear.

80mph down hill... wake your co-driver up... he's gonna wanna see this...

 

You should actually do what you feel most comfortable with because that will be the safest way to do it and will cause the least damage to the equipment....If you can float like a pro,but for some reason you have trouble double clutching,which do you think is going to put more of a strain on the driveline.

 

in school, they made us double clutch, when I got out on my own, I floated the gears, after awhile I have adapted more to a mix of the 2. usually using the clutch to get the truck out of gear only tho. I've never had it depend on the load, I more or less use double clutching nowadays just to keep the skills there.

 

If you drive a nine, ten or thirteen speed transmission you should know they are not synchronized like a fourwheeler's tranny. Because of this you have to match your rpms and if you use the clutch you need to depress it twice per shift, once to take it out, let if out and then depress a second time to put it in the next gear. Of course in a car you'd only need to push the clutch in once.

The kungfu lock you experience is because your timing is off. Either that or you ran the rpms up way too high.

All students should be made to use the clutch when starting out. However once you're out on your own floating is much quicker and easier and will save your left leg and knee from a great deal of fatigue and pain in stop and go traffic.