I have a friend who I work with that has an ultrashift plus in a 1 year old Kenworth that he absolutely hates, to the point that he has broken down with anxiety over it. I am looking into what is involved in converting it back to a manual. I have the exact same truck as him engine, gearbox ect, except mine is a manual. Is it possible to convert the ultrashift to a manual or would it be easier to change the gearbox.
What needs to be changed, gearbox, clutch, clutch pedal and linkages, air lines, ecu parameters, bell housing. The tail shaft should be the same and the diff ratios are the same.
Has anyone done this?
It is past the point of them trying to fix the ultrashift he has had multiple custom programs written for it and it still won't do what he wants. He had an Allison before this and he wants it to be an Allison and it's not and he wants to put an Allison in it I just think it is too big a job just trying to get some info for him.
Convert ultrashift plus to manual
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Down under trucker, Dec 11, 2014.
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You can not convert the transmission, it will have to be replaced with a manual and have all of the above that you listed changed. As long as the clutch is in good condition it will not need to be changed but since the trans will be out it might be a good idea to throw one in.
Down under trucker Thanks this. -
You would have to change the whole trans out for a manual one, and being a ultra shift you would have to add a clutch pedal and all the linkages as well as put a regular clutch in, since the ultra shift plus uses a electronically engaged clutch.
Down under trucker Thanks this. -
My best advice is to replace the transmission.
Down under trucker Thanks this. -
I converted my 2001 pete with 18 autoshit (had clutch pedal) to a manual for something like 3000$. I pulled trans out. Shop had to order a new case and a few sliders maybe a gear or two other wise we reused everything else. I reinstalled trans left the solo clutch against the advice of many. Few weeks later clutch broke a spring and had to be replaced. Much happier now
Down under trucker Thanks this. -
Thanks for the replies guys.
I had thought he would need to replace the gearbox as I had been told it can't be converted but just wanted to see if anyone had done it but I think just changing the box would be easier.
Would he have to rewire the speed sensors, as I would assume the truck would take its speed signal from the eaton ecu?
Also don't the ultrashift's use a single plate clutch? I know mine has a twin plate easy pedal in it and would the utrashift clutch bolt up the manual?Last edited: Dec 12, 2014
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Problem with just getting a different transmission is finding someone to take the autoshit as a core. Core charge on a transmission is a bunch of money besides having to buy a whole new tranny. Be easier to trade the truck
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Why does he hate it so much?
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It is in a concrete truck and because we have to do a lot of low speed maneuvering and moving inches at a time he doesn't have enough control. Coupled to the ridiculously over sensitive throttle that these isle5 engines have, it is near impossible to drive for the job, and the thing is slow as, like I said same I have the same truck except for the ultrashift and I will pull 10 truck lengths on him from a standing start, loaded or empty. Also when you get it on a slight incline, I mean even empty at like 2-3% it will pick low low and won't change. Often you have to stop on flat ground get it to change into first then go again. Because the 9LL has a 60% reduction low low the truck can't make the shift from low low to first, you literally stop before the revs come down.
It has been reset by eaton about 10 times and had had multiple custom shift programs written for it and still no better.
For example loaded with exact same weights, we have this one hill going to a job with a set of lights half way up. I start in first and can shift all the way to 4th and change to 5th as I crest the hill. He gets stuck in low low all the way up, nothing will make the truck change not even manual mode. -
Like cdl trainers say, You can't shift, you can't drive then.
snowman_w900 Thanks this.
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