Autoshift Questions

Yes there is a little problem backing, theres alot of guys at our place that slammed trailers into docks so hard before they were used to the clutch grabbing that they cracked the frame rail on the trailer, also before i forgot to mention i hear from everyone these are horrible in snow or on ice, from the way it sounds most of you guys dont have to worry about this, but its still something to keep in mind.

 

Wouldn't the truck have to downshift on the same hills regardless of autoshift or straight 10 manual?

Also, someone said to carry an extra XY Shifter onboard to change road side if needed. Not sure where else you can pick one up at, but the invoice I had out of MHC charged right at $1000 for the part only. Expensive stuff, but if it is constantly causing a problem, would be better than getting towed.

 

You must not have been driving this very long or are not very curious about how it works. Cruise should not shut off if it auto downshifts unless it needs to drop more than one gear. And you can drive it manually all you want. Just put in manual and go. It's on the shifter or if you have the paddle type on column you just move it up to manual position and pull towards you to upshift and away to down. But unless you have your RPMs where they would be with any 10/13/18 etc it will not let you shift. Many 10 spds will bog down from 10 to 9th. Gear ratio, OD and other things will make it worse. I have no problem w/ one I drive sometimes except in mountains or big hills. That's when a 13 shows it's worth. Play with it until you know it's little idiosyncrasies. They are the same 10 spd as all others just computer doing the shifting.

 

My mixer truck is automatic. I wouldn't want one if I were going to buy my own truck unless the truck manufacturer could show me proof they've gotten the M.P.G. up to snuff. As far as going down hill, you just select your gear and leave your jakes on (provided the road conditions allow it of course) when I was in school I asked "How do you know you've selected the proper gear at the top of the hill before you start down it" You know what he told me??????

 

1943859669493065045/1-----Meaning, the first number is how many times you can come down the hill too slow. You can guess what the second number is lol.

 

10yrs running an autoshift in the Mtn's of Colo., Wyo., etc., once I get to my gov. I turn the cruise on and go. Cruise will not shut down from downshifting until the speed of the truck drops below 35 mph. I can hit the cruise and run from Denver to Billings and never touch the throttle or the brake and let it up/down shift as needed, at 78,000 lbs.

Again, never had a problem while backing, I keep my left foot resting on the clutch (just as I would on a manual) and my right foot resting on the brake as needed.

10yrs, over 1 milllion miles two different autoshift equipped trucks running the Mtn's of Colo., Wyo., MT., NM, Id, and Ut. In ran, snow, sleet, hail, ice, etc. Zero issues on the slick stuff with it. The biggest issue I had was that my company had 3rd gear locked out on my old truck so I couldn't do a 3rd gear start if needed, new truck has 3rd gear open and I have done 3rd gear start when hauling an empty on ice and never had a problem. Actually, my ATC (auto traction control) causes me problems on snow/ice not the autoshift.

 

contact Eaton direct and you might be able to get the shift motors at a better price.

 

Well it's obvious to me now the autos you are talking about are totally different than the allison trannys i'm talking about.