Downshifting 13speed

You do not have to split the gears going down if you don't want to. You can downshift just like you are driving a 10 speed.

 

Ouch, my left knee is starting to ache as I picture you on and off the clutch all day long. An awesome place to learn to shift without clutch would be side roads, and lease roads, where you're not pressured by high speed traffic behind you. But your choice obviously. And as Bakerman says you for sure can just "straight stick" a 13 speed. Up or down. But the 500 rpm difference between gears by doing that not only takes longer, but works the engine closer to the ends of its sweet spot. By using the splitter you cut the 500 difference in half. Once in high range, every shift involves the splitter button, every other shift is button and stick together. Once you get good at splitting, and clutchless shifting, every shift is smooth, quick, and slick. 2 fingers or palm of the hand on the shifter, and drive her like a "ship of glass".

 

When I was up in the oil patch in ND, we had a few guys that could not figure out the 13 and 18 speeds we ran. My solution was to say let me show you, get in the passenger seat and watch. Once they saw how easy it was, the lightbulb went off. Maybe ask one of the other drivers to do the same for you. We all had to learn at one time, and showing them was easier than trying to explain it. Same goes for floating gears... I doubt I could properly double clutch a truck nowadays.

 

Personally I don't see the point in trying to split shift down. Too much work and too much time IMO.

 

I split shifted down and up on a 13 speed in traffic situations and on grades climbing and descending.. saved my knee. Especially when I was still learning to float gears.

 

The splitter is easy to use downshifting or up shifting. Once you’ve done it a few times you’ll see.

 

just observe your used speeds and rpms and stick it in where it belongs

 

I'm assuming the 8 speeds you speak of are 8LL with deep reduction



13 is same pattern your used to in the 8 speeds except you can split the high side in a 13. If your light or on flat ground and have enough power you won't need to split much

 

Pulling the splitter back with your thumb is too much work?