Floating Gears

The main part of the trick is not trying to force it into gear. You can move the stick towards the gear you want until you can just feel the gears touching and adjust the throttle until the vibration slows to nothing and it goes in. Don't put any pressure on it while doing that though, just feel it out. As you get used to it it becomes second nature and you just know. My gps unit is stuck right over my tach, I don't need it anymore.

Speed is easier to remember. Note what speed goes with which gear. My truck at 45mph is the high end of 8th gear. 9th runs from 40mph to 60mph, but that wraps the engine higher than I like. Course I have a Cat which is a lower revving engine so if you have a detroit, look at where that engine is designed to run best at and try to keep it there. But not to the point it's distracting, it doesn't have to be perfect. Worry about that later.

 

You should always take care of the equipment so it takes care of you. You should also know the truck inside and out. Your rash statement about any dummie can rev match a shift is just your lack of knowledge because no two trucks are alike. Plus there's plenty of people on these boards that have trouble either way. We hired only the best of all our applications and during the road test you'd better be able to shift using the clutch before you even think about floating the gears. We also want to see the proper road speed with the proper gear including progressive shifting. It's the companies way to see if you are going to tear up a $200,000 truck and you know what you're doing.

My personal preference is whatever is the easiest. I shift alot more during my shift than any OTR driver and I will only select the gear I need. I float most of the time but one truck we have it'e easier to use the clutch coming out of the hole. Experience CAN be determined by the way you shift. If you jump in the truck and run the engine against the peg then you need more training. Besides all that when you go for your CDL most will require double clutching. My main point is floating does NOT make you an experienced truck driver, there's alot more to learn.

 

I completely agree with you again! When I was training I would take a few days at the end of the 6 weeks and teach the students how to float..however I did it making my point that floating is something every driver needs to know how to do..why sit on the side of the road waiting for a tow, when you can get to the shop or T/S using the float if your clutch goes out. Also I used the example of; what is the cost of a clutch to replace versus the cost of a tranny?! If is your personal rig, drive it any way you want, if the rig belongs to a company or somebody who has hired you to drive their equipment..you do it their way.

 

are you applying a little fuel as you are feeling for the next gear down? I have never forced it to go in gear, but I don't seem to be consistent when downshifting, I am trying to teach myself as I never went for schooling, thats why I am asking for a little help on what to do with the footwork part...what you have said helped but just want to know when you release throttle and bring to nuetral are you applying fuel as you are feeling for the next gear down...thanks for the help so far

 

When you select the next gear down the engine is going to rev higher so yes you've got to bring the RPM's up to make a smooth shift. It's just like when you going up,you shift to the next higher gear because you're going out of the power band.

 

Going up, yes I'm giving it just a a little throttle. It slows the drop in rpm giving you more of a chance for it to slide smoothly into gear and keeps the jake from coming on. If you're having a lot of trouble upshifting, shift shorter. Leave it in each gear for less time, then you have a smaller and easier gap to the next gear. Rev it too high and forget about catching the next gear, the truck will slow down faster than the engine unless you use the jake to shift. That's pretty cool but ups the risk of tearing up the transmission when you miss. Unless you're really good, which I'm not that good, you will miss.

 

my dad was a trucker for 30 yr and when i wanted to learn how to float gears or what ever they call it now his advice was know the truck ,know the power, listen to your engine talk to you,feel the gear shell tell you between the motor and the rpm when shes ready,it all boils dow to time in the seat and knowing your aniamaland yes a truck is like a women !NO TWO ARE THE SAME so you got to play with her to find the sweet spots and with time comes speed pratice makes perfect!!!!!

 

I found this on the Eaton site and threw it on Youtube. It helped me a little, maybe it will help others too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUZrNnJ5ScE

 

Pretty decent video.

 

I didn't know that moving the range selector in neutral caused damage. Have to be careful to avoid it from now on. I've got a ten speed in this truck, that's it's biggest downside. Not much gear skipping going on over here.