Proper method of downshifting/slowing down

Discussion in 'Canadian Truckers Forum' started by Mojo250, Dec 8, 2020.

  1. Mojo250

    Mojo250 Bobtail Member

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    I have quite a lot of experience driving straight trucks 6 speed and automatic but I don’t have much 10 speed experience and am wondering if anybody can help point out their method of slowing down while approaching a stop sign or light or a situation where you need to slow down because you may need to stop but also may need to keep going I am wondering with a 10 speed is it ok to ride the clutch while slowing down? If I am slowing down from say 7th would you stall the transmission like in a normal vehicle if the rpm were too low? Would I brake and then also clutch and if I needed to keep going shift into 4th or 5th or whatever gear I need to be in ?? I am good with double clutching properly and up shifting but for some reason I’m not sure how to properly down shift. It’s been 2 years since I have driven a 10 speed and forget what I used to do I probably slowed down in neutral and was riding the clutch while slowing down. I’m staring a new job and have to go for a ride with the boss and will be driving a 10 speed so I want to make sure I’m shifting properly
     
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  3. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    I've only ever driven 18 speeds but I always just downshifted to 4th or 3rd direct and idled up to the stoplight. 3rd or 4th at idle you should easily be able to ease into the throttle and take off again.

    Coasting with the clutch in is not a good practice.
     
  4. Weekend Warrior

    Weekend Warrior Light Load Member

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    There are a bazillion YT vids out there on shifting.

    That aside, here's my $0.25 on your comments, based on the 13 speed that I've driven in recent years:
    -DON'T ride the clutch; you'll cause premature wear and possibly burn it out
    -DON'T cruise along in neutral; have heard of several who did that, then dropped it back in gear and broke something in the drive line

    General thoughts:
    -I try to avoid the brake pedal completely when slowing down or coming to a stop, unless I have to (like when it's time to actually stop) -> use the engine /downshifting and jake to slow down
    -I use a bit of a hybrid clutching/floating technique when downshifting -> I use the clutch to take it out of gear and into neutral, then use the throttle only to find the correct RPM for the lower gear you want.....as you bring the RPM up, put a very slight amount of pressure on the stick towards the gear slot you want and it'll drop right in when you hit the sweet spot with the RPM ..............lots of folks don't use the clutch at all, but I'm not there yet
     
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  5. Mojo250

    Mojo250 Bobtail Member

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    thanks for the reply! I did try to find some good to YouTube videos but almost all of them focus on up shifting it’s hard to find info on down shifting. I only drive straight trucks so I’ve never used a Jake or trailer brakes before. I think I’m way over thinking things and just need to get back behind the wheel to get a feel for a 10 speed again.
     
  6. Mojo250

    Mojo250 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks for the reply ! So do you downshift in correct order all the way from whatever gear you are in down to 3/4 or is it ok to skip gears on the way down
     
  7. Mojo250

    Mojo250 Bobtail Member

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    My issue is that when you are driving you aren’t rapidly gaining speed and going through the gears very fast but when you are slowing down you are slowing faster than you would speed up so the speed in which you downshift would need to be faster than upshifting which is a slower process. So I feel like skipping gears in the way down is normal practice but I do not have enough experience like I said it’s been 2 years since I have driven a 10 speed and I used to drive a 10 speed from Toronto to Sudbury on an overnite run once a month because that was the only truck that could run the reefer overnight all night and I got pretty good with it but don’t remember how I used to slow down there was a lot of gear grinding going on trying to learn floating the gears but after learning double clutching was much easier IMO as a new driver I just stuck to double clutching and never really had an issue
     
  8. Weekend Warrior

    Weekend Warrior Light Load Member

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    My experience has been the opposite, actually, where slowing down from 60-0 takes longer than accelerating from 0-60.

    I generally don't skip gears for your run-of-the-mill slowing down situations. With that said, though, you can definitely skip gears (up and down); it all depends on the situation, and usually involves a grade. For example, when climbing a hill, you'll need to downshift faster than on level ground, and if the grade is steep enough or the load heavy enough, it's easier to skip a gear entirely instead of shifting multiple times in quick succession.....takes a little practice, but not super difficult.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2020
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  9. Mojo250

    Mojo250 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks a lot for the reply ! Sudbury is definitely a bit hilly and now I’m in BC where there’s not much room for error so I just want to be as comfortable and informed as I can because the mountains and hills are no joke, I highly respect talented drivers who tackle the mountains with ease ! I’ll get there I need to learn about chains ⛓ now also and don’t want to look like the idiot new driver who has never used chains before... can’t wait
     
  10. skipgears

    skipgears Medium Load Member

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    precisely, take it from me!
     
  11. skipgears

    skipgears Medium Load Member

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    YES! woooo hooo! I'm a star!
     
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