Missing a gear

Lots of good advice here. Let me add one more tidbit. WHEN (not if, because it does happen, even to experienced drivers,) you miss a gear, don't let it shake you up. FWIW, when I first started out, I missed a gear going up Vail Pass, and flatly couldn't find a gear to get into. (PICK A GEAR, ANY GEAR!) Ended up actually coming to a full stop, (in the breakdown lane,) and starting from scratch. Embarrassing? Yep. But I got through it. You will too.

The more experience you have, obviously the easier it gets. Don't get shook up by your instructor. Sounds like he leaves a bit to be desired anyhow.

 

big prob when you miss a gear then finding the right one is often the engine goes to idle speed,

so even if you try the right gear for the road speed, it'll grind when trying it,

a dab of throttle for some revs is then required, or works for me to ease it in

 

If you miss a gear on a climb, immediately go to the next lower gear. There is no chance that you will get the gear you were trying for.

Everyone misses a gear now and then, the important thing is how well you recover. Keep cool and don't fight the transmission, it will win everytime.

 

I agree with you driver. Floating gears will not always work.Of course you cant float gears loaded on a 12% grade. I was just trying to tell the the poster that it is possible to do so, given the right conditions.
Like you said, there is always something to learn from doing the job we do. I dont care how much experience you have, trucking is always a learning experience.

 

Floating gears will always work unless you are at a deadstop! You just have to know what you are doing.

There is an added challenge when climbing or descending and chances are you will have to shift much more quickly going up and going down you will have to rev up the rpms considerily more. Another factor that will affect you shifting is when your engine fan kicks on. You will have to shift a little quicker because the fan draws more power from the motor and makes the rpms drop faster.

 

Really assuming you are going the proper speed and the engines rpm have dropped since you missed one it is simple to recover.

Just put gentle pressure on the shifter toward the gear you need to be in, to where it rubs not grinds then apply the proper amount of throttle, it will slip right in as soon as the engine rpm is proper. If you don't have a clue how much to rev it, go all the way to 1500 and let it drop, and note where it falls in for future reference.

Remember light pressure, it will fall in as soon as conditions are right, don't jam it in.

 

There was a hidden gear on 13 speeds. It's when your in high range and you select low. Never use it because the gear is only made to get you off the grades if you're stopped and is not as stronge as the others. Plus it would only give you a half a gear. I've tried it a couple of times pulling a grade just to see if it was true. That's the way it was back in the 70's anyway.

 

Not going to argue the point just disagree with you. Have u every applied floating in the situation I described?

 

Yes and you just have to do it faster. Its just a matter of matching speeds. Sure, if you aren't experienced at floating then the clutch will help in extreme situations but either way will work.

The clutch isn't some magic tool. All it does is help match your speeds. If you are able to match your speeds by floating then you don't need to use it. A lot of drivers get nervous and worked up on steep grades and inclement weather and this tends to make them not shift properly. So fine, if you get nervous or whatever the case then use the clutch. A 12% grade though does not make it mechanically impossible to shift gears by floating.

 

Actually, by your own description you are not trained at all. RPM's 4000 is the split. The gear number does not matter.