having trouble downshifting 10 speed in the lower gears

Agree with what's posted above. I only float into those when I'm caught in a slow coasting situation where something ahead of me changed suddenly, I braked to respond and took it out of gear, and now I gotta get back in.

Yeah I know I'm going to hell or Loves for that, whichever has showers available first when I pass on.

In that case I try revving lightly and trying likely gears gently, looking for a coarse feel that indicates I'm close but the revs aren't quite right, not skimming like the gear speeds are way different.

Even in similar trucks it can be slightly different, the speed reading can be used as a range help but not precise instructions.

 

I should add that the reason I go by speed is because I always skip gears while downshifting. If you do downshift every gear, then it does make sense to go by the tachometer, which for the DD15 and DD16 is listed between 1000 to 1100 rpm.

Knowing the speed range of each of your gears is also very helpful when you suddenly need to brake. When this happens, I look at my speed to determine which gear to go into. The tachometer, by the way, is unavailable because you probably have the clutch depressed (to avoid the engine from lugging and shutting down).

 

If I had to brake fast and hard, someone is going to have a say about it. Either the company when the tractor tattles on me or the person I hit. Never mind that shifting.

Sometimes on ice she loses her footing and by the time you get it back, if you get it back your roadspeed has fallen off quite a bit. Its either going to be 5th or 3rd, one of those two that will get it going again. USUALLY.

 

I'm 61 years old and have been driving manual transmission trucks since I was 18 years old. 5,7,8,9,10,13,18 and some two stick 20's and I've never, ever looked at a tach or speedometer when shifting, up or down.

I just don't get it.

Too old I guess...

 

There’s almost never any reason to downshift into the lower range. You can slow down to practically stopping (say, 10 mph) in 6th gear (assuming we’re talking about a normal Eaton Fuller 10-speed), then just put it in neutral and brake to a stop.

 

ALmost never being the keyword.

Northern Vermont at 21% grade will work you fast to low gear in about 1/3 of a mile up. Then the next hour grinding up and over in lowest gear.

 

Most don't downshift the low side but if u do get the fill of what RPMs your truck likes and tap the pedal till she falls in simple

 

Its been my experience that old grinches in tiny companies like to road test people in. every. gear. Up. and. down.

It is also my experience to avoid such picky old grinches. I much prefer to have a corporate audience lining the second floor windows watching me do things with a semi...

 

You really would only need to shift to 4th which is right around 10mph for the trucks I drove 3rd was 6-8 mph but lower then that was pointless unless like mentioned above. For a slow creep and to float to 2nd was around 2-5 mph and a slight throttle tap

 

Other than alot of practices. Iv always wondered how in the heck do you guys when stopped on a hill take off without rolling back. It always amazes me