Trouble Shifting After a Long Day

I have driven a lot of different trucks within our company, and I have had a few different "Jake" setups.

1. The live Jake, Every time my foot came off the throttle the jake was on. This really took some getting used to, and remembering to shut the jake off when taking off after a stop when loaded.

2. The delayed jake, after about 3 seconds of coasting the Jake would engage. Plenty of time to shift properly.

3. The brake Jake, Jakes only engaged when brake pedal was touched.

I dont mind either way, each takes getting used to.

 

My Jake grabs instantly. Makes for a very unpleasant surprise, haha!

 

Yeah. I like to hold the shifter below the end. I sometimes bump my preselect at the wrong time. It's why I wish I had a slightly longer shifter.

 

So will shifting with one finger and more wrist action and less arm/shoulder action and if shifting a lot and your finger gets tired you have 3 more fingers and a thumb.

 

I think the point is that it doesn't require effort to grab gears if your timing is good. I can almost always get into my desired gear without touching any teeth. It goes in to smoothly and effortlessly. I'm sure nobody literally shifts with only a finger

 

Actually I do sometimes (Especially when shifting left handed), but normally I use two fingers and when I have a student who doesn't know the meaning of finesse or cannot grasp the concept of a light touch so does he/she. Shifting is about timing as you stated, but I'll add that your timing has to be variable. You are correct also that it doesn't require "effort", but then again I don't "grab" gears.

 

I dont ever shift, I just start out in 10th gear everytime.

 

I occassionally shift with just 2 fingers in the viper strike position. I also prefer shifting with the jakes on.

 

I forgot to clarify. When I say grab a gear I mean get to whatever gear I need for a turn or grade. I just say grab instead of shift sometimes.

I agree with finesse being important. I treat my truck like a lady. She likes it

 

1 Nope.

2 Nope

3 Hell yeah, everyone does.

I have driven every normal transmission out there, 9,10,13,15, and 18. For whatever reason the Eaton 9/13/18 have always shifted much much smoother for me. One of my trucks is a W9 with a C13 and E10 and I swear 4th/9th simply won't go in unless the rpm's are absolutely perfect, a variation of 3rpm's on either side results in a grind that can be heard from 4 city blocks. My usual truck is a W9 with a C15 550 and an 18 speed and I do believe a noob could strap 60k to the back and take off up and down Grapevine and never grind a gear.