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Rev limiter?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by DOTRA, Mar 14, 2009.

  1. Mar 14, 2009 #1
    DOTRA

    DOTRA Light Load Member

    126
    29
    Sep 21, 2008
    Racine, Wisconsin
    0
    Greetings. I have just started a driving school to get my CDL. I'm having a hell of a time with the truck with shifting. A previous student told me to stay away from the red one, because it's a real bear to shift. Well, the red Freightliner is the one that I got. Gears 1-5 are shifted at 1200 rpm's. By the time I get across the intersection with and empty trailer I'm in 5th gear. I know that trucks are slow, but yesterday I pull up to a red light beside another semi. The light turns green and about the time I get in 5th at the other side of the intersection, the other semi is a good block ahead of me. When I was leaving to go home one of the mechanics for the company asked how I was doing. I said not worth a ####. I told him what I mentioned here and he said betwen you and me, those trucks have rev limiters on them. What are they? Are they a good thing, or are they part of what's causing my problem? Driving a standard tranny is nothing new to me. Even starting out in 3rd gear on level ground should be easier than that. Any suggestions?
     
    DOTRA, Mar 14, 2009
    DOTRA, Mar 14, 2009
    #1
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  3. Mar 14, 2009 #2
    heyns57

    heyns57 Road Train Member

    2,209
    1,011
    Dec 30, 2006
    near Kalamazoo Speedway
    0
    I suppose, with today's computers, it is possible to limit the rpm in the lower gears. That would prevent the driver from skipping gears while accelerating with a light load. Those drivers who beat you away from the light may be shifting 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10; and they are probably winding to 1700 in the lower gears. If your problem is that the transmission seems to stick in gear, or the engine unwinds too slow during the shift, try shifting at 1175 rpm before the rev limiter takes over.
     
    heyns57, Mar 14, 2009
    heyns57, Mar 14, 2009
    #2
  4. Mar 14, 2009 #3
    dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

    9,922
    3,713
    May 6, 2007
    Mississippi
    0
    .
    Here's your problem.

    You are learning to drive a truck. In that process, you are being taught to shift. So you are using ALL the gears. And you're basing your experience, against another experienced driver.

    With an empty, some people will start from a red light, in as high as 4th gear. And they will wind each gear to 1300-2200 rpm depending on the engine they have.

    The rev limiter has little to do with it. As many companies only limit the top 2 gears.

    If you're school has limited you to 1200 or 1300 rpm in each gear. They really aren't teaching you much....other than progressive shifting points.

    The newer trucks don't need the rpm's. Older trucks need more. It's all about the design.

    You'll eventually get it. It just takes time.
     
    dancnoone, Mar 14, 2009
    dancnoone, Mar 14, 2009
    #3
  5. Mar 14, 2009 #4
    Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

    7,956
    8,309
    Sep 25, 2007
    Rosamond, SoCal
    0
    Do not worry about speed. Learn to drive first all the rest will come in time.You dont know how to shift and your already wanting to go faster. Trucks are made for pulling loads not for racing, relax. More important learn to use those shinny things hanging on the doors (Oh ya the mirrors) Thats more important for now.
     
    Powder Joints, Mar 14, 2009
    Powder Joints, Mar 14, 2009
    #4
  7. Mar 14, 2009 #5
    DOTRA

    DOTRA Light Load Member

    126
    29
    Sep 21, 2008
    Racine, Wisconsin
    0
    I understand what you are saying about the learning. I told my wife when I started this that one thing I will learn is patience. I'll have to learn to take it slow. I have always gone by the thought, that I wait for nobody, and I don't expect anyone to wait for me. Now that I'm going to be 60 years old in a few months, I'm going to be having an attitude change. The instructor looked in the parking lot at my Hemi sitting there, with the writting on the top of the windshield that says "Move Over" and has an arrow pointing to the right. (slow lane) He didn't say anything, but I could see he was thinking something. I have never, even as a kid got a speeding ticket. Now it's time to leave the zoom, zoom to the younger guys, slow down and see what's on the otherside of the windshield besides a blurr.
     
    DOTRA, Mar 14, 2009
    DOTRA, Mar 14, 2009
    #5
  8. Mar 14, 2009 #6
    telcobilly

    telcobilly Medium Load Member

    614
    163
    Sep 30, 2008
    Laying Low
    0
    I was wondering how all these guys were pulling ahead of me too. I'm not talking about racing anyone, just trying not to be too much of a moving road cone. I don't skip shift much, just shift at the high end of the green area (1500 rpms) on my Swift Volvo.
     
    telcobilly, Mar 14, 2009
    telcobilly, Mar 14, 2009
    #6
  9. Mar 14, 2009 #7
    RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

    12,812
    6,137
    Jul 22, 2008
    Owensboro , KY
    0
    Could be they have about 50 more hp , a lighter load , or both .
     
    RickG, Mar 14, 2009
    RickG, Mar 14, 2009
    #7
  10. Mar 14, 2009 #8
    im6under

    im6under Heavy Load Member

    782
    406
    Feb 13, 2007
    iowa
    0
    yeppers or maybe a hundred more ponies... lol

    I got stuck in the yard dog my first couple days with this company...

    holy crap what a pig... you wanted to get out and help push... down to 35mph, 6th gear on a 70mph freeway (I-80), and not much of a hill. granted I was loaded... but still??? that was flat dangerous.

    06's cruise up over the top of the same hill at 65...
     
    im6under, Mar 14, 2009
    im6under, Mar 14, 2009
    #8
  11. Mar 15, 2009 #9
    Darkschneidr

    Darkschneidr Light Load Member

    296
    77
    Jan 31, 2009
    Phoenix, AZ
    0
    The volvos at Swift are rev limited in the lower gears only, and have a warning at 1880. Honestly, unless mine is geared differently (which is possible) my shift points tend to be a bit higher in my higher gears. My 9th will lug if I shift into it before 55, which takes running 8th up to 1750.
     
    Darkschneidr, Mar 15, 2009
    Darkschneidr, Mar 15, 2009
    #9
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