18 gears. WTF Chuck?

Everything depends on everything else. The gear ratio you run, weight of your loads, the grade of the mountains or hills. Everything changes.

8% grade that you have to start in the middle with 130,000 truck and trailers needs low gears. A dry freight city truck a 9 speed maybe to many.

 

They had their weaknesses...Mostly related to the fact that it was CAT's first real entry into the highway truck market.
They were monsters in their day and if they were set up right they would pass anything else on the road. Terrible fuel mileage and they were VERY HEAVY!

I averaged around 2.5 to 3 MPG with mine...But fuel was 55 to 60 cents a gallon when I had it. You knew they were running good when you had about a foot of soot down the back of your stacks! When you stepped on the accelerator pedal they would puke out a ton of thick black smoke and when that happened everyone around you knew it was a 1693TA runnin' strong!
Nothing sounds as good as a good running 1693TA in my opinion.

 

Whats the advantages and disadvantages of the A and B model 13 and 18 speeds

 

9 and 10's are a waste of metal. I think the newer drivers that some companies hire can't shift 9's much less a 13,15, or 18. I couldn't tell you how many times I've cringed at the gears being ground hard leaving a truck stop.

 

What rear gears are ya'll running?

 

I use clutch to start moving from complete stop. Other than that I'm floating all 17 gears up and down. Why ?

 

Do you use your clutch after you get rolling? I never do, floatem don't clutchem. LMAO

 

age old argument this one!! I don;t use the clutch either as I believe that there is far less chance of cauesing damage to components driving in this way. I have never broken or damage any part of the drive train!! and I have towed with a gross of 100,000kg / 220,000lbs

 

I think its different gear ratios, but its to early to be looking up for me...lol

http://www.roadranger.com/Roadranger/productssolutions/transmissions/low-inertiasuper13/index.htm

 

is it the Torque ratings