Trouble downshifting

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Nyseto, Mar 6, 2019.

  1. Nyseto

    Nyseto Light Load Member

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    Jan 30, 2018
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    In my third week of school, learning how to drive a 10 speed and on the road. My only problem is downshifting to say, 6th gear. I’ll drop the speed down to 15mph, keep the RPM between 1000-1500 and with the clutch in, it won’t go into 6th gear. My instructor was telling me to let go of the clutch so it can all synchronize and this is where I get confused. When I double clutch, I’m supposed to also press the clutch in when I’m selecting a gear. So when he tells me to let go of the clutch when shifting to 6th, it floats in instead. I’m wondering why it won’t also work with the clutch in since it’s encouraged to use the clutch when shifting. Even when I rev up the engine he still tells me to let go of the clutch so it can synchronize. How is holding the clutch in preventing me from shifting?
     
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  3. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    There is no synchronization at all in heavy truck manual transmissions. They are non synchros. YOU are the synchro'ier.

    1000 to 1500 is too drastic. 15 is too #### slow. 6th is generally high range and somehwere in the 30's coming down into the low range box if I remember right. You down shift at around 1300 by kicking it into nuetral, slap the engine RPM up to at least 1600 and then use the clutch to complete the next gear down which should be right there waiting for you. The whole thing takes a few heartbeats.

    What you do not do is stand or ride on the clutch. The thing is only to be used just enough to break power and make shifting possible. And even more rarely, used all the way to the floor to engage the brake to get you into a starting gear at the stop sign, stop light etc.

    Any of this helping?
     
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  4. Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    Holding clutch in too long allows transmission to lose sync with flywheel speed. If you want to double clutch,
    Clutch
    Shift to neutral
    Release clutch
    Rev up engine
    Clutch to gear
    Release clutch

    This has to be done Pretty fast and in sync or it’s never gonna go into gear.
    When double clutching down shifting, don’t pussyfoot the throttle, give it a good hard rev and it will go in
     
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  5. Cam Roberts

    Cam Roberts Road Train Member

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    Sing this song in your head while double clutching.
    Clutch-neutral, clutch gear

    Downshifting
    Clutch-neutral, rev, clutch-gear

    Practice with your plunger while you are pooping on the tirlet
     
  6. Woodchuck88

    Woodchuck88 Medium Load Member

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    Use the Adams family show their song,
     
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  7. Woodchuck88

    Woodchuck88 Medium Load Member

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    The Adams family . .
     
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  8. Upinsmoke

    Upinsmoke Medium Load Member

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    Let the clutch out is correct.
    Might want to slow to 10 mph and make sure Jake is off.
     
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  9. Buckeye 60

    Buckeye 60 Road Train Member

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    I don't down shift until 10 and rev it and falLS right in gear ends up around 14 or 15 .... on motors from this century you dont want to be over 1500 rpm ...... cant drive it like a 4 speed chevett. .... its better not to use the clutch but the only time you hold the clutch in is when you are stopped in gear or stopped and wanting to put it in gear . when up or down shifting if you use the clutch you just bump it and release maybe a quarter of the way down at the most . its not rocket science and after awhile you will be able to do it by sound
     
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  10. Jwhis

    Jwhis Heavy Load Member

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    Don’t just look at the road speed but also the engine rpm. It’s gonna be a bit different every time you shift. So at 15 mph in 8th you might be bumping it 1000 rpm, but at 15 mph in 7th you may only have to bump it 3-400. Just check your revs when you go to neutral then bump it a few hundred over that number and she’ll slide right in.
     
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  11. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    I've grown weary of trying to describe shifting, clearly, this person, and many others today, don't have a clue what's going on in the transmission, will probably never get it, and should probably just drive an automatic.
     
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