First and second gear wont enguage

On a 9-speed? (only driven 8,10 and 15s so bear with me) why would you EVER downshift to 2nd?

The lower the gear the more unreliable every rule of thumb becomes.

I drive a very nice Pete 579 10-speed and everything under 5th-gear is guess-work until you learn to listen to the engine, because the speedo and tach are WRONG most of the time. Not an issue most times, but toll booths I HATE.

2nd gear? I NEVER, EVER touch that unless I'm at a full stop.

 

Well, it depends on the situation. If you were pulling up to the top of ramp of west side Atlanta for Bankhead Petro with aggressive bums crowding around people (Soon to be your turn) at that stop sign, you might want to preserve power on the drives so you can keep moving once the zombies close on you.

I quit going to that particular stop and it's a SHAME. There used to be a black cook who could cook a storm with breakfast whoo...

 

It is funny how life can backup a comment made in here. About 2 hours ago a wrecker was finishing hooking up to a tractor-trailer rig on J Clyde here in Hampton Roads. I walked across the road and spoke briefly to the driver. Seems this driver is a rookie and jammed his truck into a low gear at the wrong speed and did (as of yet undetermined) damage under it.

 

I never use anything below 4th in a 10 speed, unless I am setting up for a backing maneuver. I start and stop in 4th.

 

Skilled drivers can make use of whatever equipment they have at hand to get the job done safely.

For example, there are ways to use those push button transmissions to your advantage. Get out the book and read it. The information is in there.

FWIW, I use the engine fan override switch when I need to bleed off engine speed for quicker shifts. No need to use the engine brake for that.

Also, the trolley valve is only good for sliding tandems and testing the trailer brakes, in my opinion. I can't think of any other time that you would need independent trailer braking, other than a major equipment failure.

I don't blame companies for removing the trolley valves. I see too many drivers using it for controlling their speed and subsequently burning up trailer brakes while descending grades.

Auto shift transmissions drastically reduce mechanical failures that result from improper shifting and use of the clutch.

In my opinion, most driving jobs don't pay enough to attract drivers who care about doing their job right. So the trucks have to be designed to reduce or eliminate the ability of the drivers to abuse or destroy them.