18 gears. WTF Chuck?

I'll say it again...It's the same transmission as a thirteen speed so how can it be a bit too much?

The only difference between an 18 speed and a 13 speed is the ability to split the lower side of the box if you need to...Other than that, It's essentially the same transmission.

 

Ok, since I got an answer on the "invisible gear bad" thing, I have another question.

I haven't done any research myself yet, but I was told by a friend that someone he considers reliable told him that you can make a 13 speed shift like an 18 speed by either putting on a 18 speed shifter or breaking off the tab on the range lever that blocks the splitter lever. While I wouldn't be surprised, he also said it was then exactly the same, which can't be because the low gear ratio at least would be different. It seems to me the ratios in the low side would all be off.

I also was told that a 13 could be converted AT TIME OF REBUILD but that Eaton recommends against it because the 13 uses bushings in locations that the 18 uses bearings.

Also, I've always been told that the 18 is a few inches longer than the 13, therefor they obviously couldn't be the "same transmission" as I've been seeing said. They just offer similar shift-ability based on how the driver chooses to use them.

So what's the truth?

 

It's all true....Sort of.
You "can" make a thirteen speed into an 18 speed but it's not recommended for some of the above stated reasons.
An 18 speed is slightly longer overall than a 13 speed but is still essentially the same basic transmission.
The thirteen and 18 speeds are identical in practical usage with the exception of the lower side split capability.

The ratios are so close as to be essentially the same and splitting them only gives you a very close ratio split on the lower side to assist in getting very heavy loads moving on grades and in rough terrain.

I did quite a bit of heavy haul with an eighteen and probably only used the low side split three or four times in the 5 years that I did that work with that truck.

 

Every gear can be split on an 18...including low.

L-1-2-3-4 are on the low range, then you have 5-6-7-8 in the high range. High range in the low hole is the same ratios as low range in 4th....so you don't typically use the low hole in the high range.

Makes climbing up out of the quarries or onto the coal piles easier. I may not be permitted overweight, but I'll generally be +/-2000# of 80K.





Now I don't know about ALL transmissions, but for Mack:

A 9 speed's ratios are the exact same as the high split for all gears of the 18.

A 13 speed's ratios are identical to the 18 except you cannot split the low range...you are stuck in the low split.

The advantage to a 13 over a 9 is the lower lows, and the ability to split your top 4 gears.

The advantage to an 18 over a 13 is the ability to split the lower 5 gears.

The top gear (9th, 13th, 18th) in all of them is the same ratio....it's just a matter of how you get there.

You can drive an 18 like a 9 or 13...and you can drive a 13 like a 9. You can NOT, however, use gears you don't have.

 

about covers it, right there

 

i drove with a guy who thought anything over 10 speeds had to be called "super". hed talk about super 13s, etc...im like, what a moron. LOL.

 

There are quite a few of those stumbling around in this industry....

 

Ya gotta have a super transmission before you can be a super trucker

 

i got a super trans a super truck and a super engine thats why they call me SUPERHAULER. oh yea im a supertrucker to.

 

My mistake... I was thinking that LOW used a range shift, but no split. I see it has a split, but no range shift. Of course my way doesn't make sense.

Now how about a 15 speed? Does this mean, for example, you are in high gear and you move the switch (don't want to call it a splitter), that you are in "high +" or that are you in "high -" since it is a reduction?

Also again, is there anything I can do to upgrade a 10 speed?

Thanks.