Shifting

The less you know about shifting the quicker you'll learn from your trainer. People who don't know how to drive a manual tranny catch on quicker, they don't have to break old habits.
First time I ever drove a truck the guy that hired me ask me if I could drive I said yes and jumped in the loaded truck and luckily I got it out of the dock and away from him then stopped and read the shift pattern on the visor and took off. I had never driven a truck before, but I wanted to real bad, and have still have never had accident. Of course this was before the CDL existed.

 

appreciate the replys. I'm just eager to get started and i'm probably worryin way to dam much about it.

 

I think it's all how bad you want it and just believe in yourself.

 

I got my licence in the oil patch, I was told that if I used the clutch I would get my knee beat on with a 15" crescent wrench the guy had in the cab. Another trainer wanted to duct tape my leg to the seat so I couldn't use the clutch. So I float all the time, don't even remember how to double clutch now. And I left foot brake, another bad habit forced into me. There are reasons that these things are taught, we drive trucks in some pretty crazy places, sometimes you do whatever is in your power to get it started or stopped in time.

 

Thats funny


But the poll should be would you rather pay for a
1.clutch
2.rebuilt tranny.
I would summize That must o/o would say a clutch.

Another problem carriers tend to spec out the cheapest clutch possible so they would like you to double clutch that self adjusting thing at least once in a while.

 

North Carolina requires a double clutch. I just started driving in school today and struggled badly with the double clutch method. Although, I did notice, the few times that I synchronized correctly and forgot to double clutch, that I was able to put it in gear with no problem.

 

The only real difference in a big truck and car is the time it takes to get the vehicle moving.

In a car - you let out on the clutch as you give it gas and gooooo..

In a truck - let the clutch out til it starts moving, then let it out quickly without dumping it...you don't even have to give it any throttle, but a little is good.

The throttle - in a car, more is better and in a truck, less is better...lots of torque...

Timing - in a car, shift at high RPMS and in a truck, shift inbetween 17-1900 and let it fall to about 14-15 and it should fall into gear. All trucks are different and as you get more comfortable, you will just shift by the sound of the engine.

Shifting - with your hand on the stick, start to push it out of the gear you are in and then let off the throttle, the shifter will fall into neutral - quickly (without jamming it) push the shifter in front of the next gear. You may feel a little grinding and then if you timing is right - it will fall into the next gear. AT this POINT, don't push the throttle to hard - ease into it.

Take your time, it is simple really! Just have to get use to giving the truck time to work. You'll learn when to shift, hard hard to push on the shifter coming out of and going into gears, and how much throttle to keep the truck moving.

You will grind the heck out of them for a while - it's normal. Do NOT hold the clutch too long - biggest rookie mistake!

Have fun, relax, and you'll be comfortable in no time. You HAVE to practice this, it's a FEEL thing... Reading up on it is good, but know this - you have to do it in order to understand it.

I hope this helps some because I just barely touched the subject... I don't want to make it seem too difficult because once you are doing it, you'll see why.

Take it easy!

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Great Post! I just started driving in school today and struggled with the clutching method.

 

From what I understand floating gives you a little bit better gas mileage and more clutch life....just what I heard not sure if the gas mileage is true but it would stand to reason it would be easier on the clutch if you're not using it.

 

I have to disagree with this part of your statement. There were three people in my CDL class that had never driven a manual transmission and they were all held over an extra week because they didn't pick it up as quickly as those of us who had driven a manual before.
My instuctors told them in the beginning the same thing you said above, but in my opinion it's more of a confidence booster than anything.
If you at least have the concept of how a clutch and shift pattern work you are ahead of the game. I learned the double clutch in about 10 minutes and my only bad habit was pushing the clutch all the way down, which I was cured of in no time at all. The folks that had never driven a manual transmission did the same thing so I don't even know if that qualifies as a bad habit.
Anyway, just my opinion based on personal observation. the more experience you have working a clutch and shift pattern the easier it will be to pick up, not the opposite.

 

Same problem here. Pushing the clutch too far, that and using the fuel too soon before I fully engaged the clutch. Took about an hour to break that. We had a guy that never drove a standard either, and he is having a really rough time.