300 - 600 - 900 split downshfitng floating gears

I just hope that I'm on the other side of that mountain, when that noobie starts grabbing gears !!!!!

 

Hell I was thinking once you get to flat ground. I was told you don't set them when there hot because it could deform the drums. Heard that in school if that tells you anything. As for trying to hold it back myself, been there, done that. Didn't work all that good.

 

The point being made was you stop on a grade as soon as you see or sense a problem. That's why you roll your window down a crack so you cam smell the brakes. You keep looking in your mirrors right after you release the brakes to see if there's a puff of smoke. and you watch your air. If you don't and you do smoke the brakes so much it's like a smoke machine then you do risk the brakes and tires catching fire if you stop. If you just have a little smoke and you do get to the bottom and it's flat then sure you can go along and cool the brakes. No matter what you do if you do go down too fast you need to inspect your brakes and drums for cracks and damage.

 

I lost reverse in my boxtruck in a cul de sac once, nose in to the curb as I was turning around. I pushed it backwards until I had enough space to turn out of there. Felt like Hercules on the way back to the shop. Then felt like I'd been in a car wreck the next day. Ow.