Another shifting question

Search the forum as this has been debated at least twice (I got in trouble a year ago in that thread lol)

The long and the short of it is......

In some cases you need to double. This could be when it supper cold and the trans just is being bad. (in my truck when cold i cant float) A real old trans. A real steep hill. A real heavy load. A truck that's just is being mean. when your trying to recover and it just wont go back in. Most real experienced drivers float, but most of us double every once in a while when we have to.

Floating is no worse for the truck then double IF DONE CORRECTLY. if your gonna do it wrong, double isn't as hard on everything. Forcing in a gear while clutching isnt as bad. id recommend doubling until your good at driving so you don't tear up the equipment. Learn to float as you get more skilled since its easier on your left leg and will reduce clutch wear.

FYI, since last time i posted about Double clucting i got put on probaltion, im leaveing now...this is just my 2 cents. disagree all you want.

 

Im an idiot, i totally mis read your question. I think you mean skip shifting down by doubling down? i though tu ment double cluthcing. is kip shift if needed, Depends on hwo fast im reducing speed. You can skip as manygears as you want, just make sure the speed of the truck and your rpm are right for the gear you choose.

 

yea i realized i miss read after i posted. sorry. I saw double and assumed clutching.

 

There is a time and place for skipping a gear. There is no set rule. You'll know when the time comes. A word of caution...when your wagon is loaded (heavy) it does not take very much to break something in the drive train. Just because it is a big truck does not mean it is bulletproof.

 

I have an 18 speed. Depending on how heavy I am, I will skip the splitting part until I get past 14th gear, then I will split every gear, 15,16,17,18. Downshifting, I don't split. We have to run the two lane with really big loads and usually, the speed limit will be 55-65 mph. If I come to a speed zone and the speed zone says 55 mph ahead, I will drop from 18 to 17 by pulling the thumb splitter back. If the speed drops from 65 to 45, I shift from 18 to 16. Usually, the next sign will say 35 or 30 mph, so I will drop from 16th to 13th gear.

Complicated, right? Not really. In driving, you will eventually know that truck like the back of your hand. You will know the exact gear and the exact rpm needed to keep your engine in is power band....after all, that is why we downshift, right? If you have to drop lots of speed, don't waste your time hitting every gear, go ahead and skip around.

 

Yes, when needed.

Floating even when done correctly for a fact cause wear on the teeth of the trans, when you pull a trans apart you can tell if the drivers have been floating or using the clutch by the wear on the teeth. The teeth will be sharp to a point when they have been floated because of the extra tension.

I kind of half float. I drop into neutral then tap the clutch on the way iinto the next gear. experience has caused alot of us o purfict bad habits.