How to recover from a miss shift downshifting

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by BIGLEFTYINTX, Nov 19, 2018.

  1. VIDEODROME

    VIDEODROME Road Train Member

    1,487
    1,296
    Jun 7, 2007
    angola, in
    0
    I used to over rev because for some reason I thought it would go into gear as the RPMs came back down. If I was over revved by just a little, it might work, but if I over revved by a lit, I think the RPMs would be dropping to fast.

    For finding the right gear on a 10 Speed, I did okay with the Remember The 5s Method and even went to skipping gears better when slowing down.

    The 5s means for example 25mph or 2 + 5 is gear 7.

    Very often when doing a quick slow down for a a sharp exit, I would just brake while in 10th gear. Just heated the truck would lug, I would clutch while still braking more.

    When I got to 15mph (1 + 5 = 6) with the Remember The 5s idea, I'd then go to Neutral, rev, and clutch to 6 saving myself several down shifts going from 10 to 6.

    This is just stuff I worked out last time I was in a manual and it was working out for me. Others could probably comment or clarify things about how I was doing this.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. stillwurkin

    stillwurkin Road Train Member

    1,756
    2,856
    Dec 2, 2017
    0
    I wanna get one when i grow up.
     
    TIMPTE 527 Thanks this.
  4. shogun

    shogun Road Train Member

    6,075
    72,159
    Jan 23, 2009
    Doing a regen
    0
    I know of many people who went to Schneider went they switched to automatics. Several of them saved so much time not having to shift that they were able to complete their doctoral thesis. They went from the school of hard knocks to ivy league professionals.
     
  5. snowman_w900

    snowman_w900 Road Train Member

    4,418
    81,024
    Nov 25, 2010
    0
    Yall are wayyyy behind the times. I've been using a direct drive system that connects the driveline directly to a centrifugal clutch. Just push the go pedal and you're gone like Frank Sinatra.

    No transmission needed.
     
    D.Tibbitt and shogun Thank this.
  6. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,963
    29,153
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    Direct drive has been around a long time
    4ADF69B9-E0B0-4F23-B63A-3200165560A6.png
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2018
  7. Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

    1,679
    1,155
    Jun 24, 2010
    Scranton PA
    0
    Based on your road speed, go for gear that matches your road speed.
    In the high range, this memory aide helps me figure that out:
    15 mph = 1 + 5 = 6th gear, add the mph numbers together to get your gear.
    25 mph = 7th
    35 mph = 8th
    45 mph = 9th

    If you are slowing down for a light, brake until 15 mph and then hit 6th gear, 6th gear is usually an easy gear to hit...plus you can then drop to the low range if needed. Or you can hit the brakes to a rolling stop, and pop into your take off gear. You don't need to downshift through all the lower range gears once you hit 6th....just find your takeoff gear as you roll up to the stop light.

    6th gear is my best friend....need to turn while downshifting? Hit 6th, and then drop a gear or two as needed.
     
    localguy65 and x1Heavy Thank this.
  8. BrandonCDLdriver

    BrandonCDLdriver Road Train Member

    1,191
    1,462
    Sep 1, 2017
    0
    It's easy to know what gear to go in if you're using an Eaton 10 speed. Look at the speedometer. Add the numbers up closest to where the needle is. If it's showing 35mph, 3+5=8 so drop it into 8th gear. 45 would be 9th and 55 would be 10th. Of course 25 would be 7th and so on. A trick my trainer showed us and it worked beautifully with my first truck.

    Edit: I just noticed the poster above me put the same info out there.
     
  9. BigDog Trucker

    BigDog Trucker Heavy Load Member

    947
    1,214
    Nov 4, 2018
    0
  10. snowman_w900

    snowman_w900 Road Train Member

    4,418
    81,024
    Nov 25, 2010
    0
    I tried this mathematical formula the other day. When I looked at my speedo it said 91 rolling across I-10, so I got on my calculator and done the mathematical equation....I determined that I needed drop it down to 10th gear. The result was I scattered my 18 speed transmission everywhere. What did I do wrong???

    Also, so you run 35mph in 8th gear?
     
  11. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

    21,236
    143,872
    Apr 26, 2013
    Gettin' down westbound
    0
    Grind em til u find em driver cmon!!
     
    BigDog Trucker Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.