Automatics..for newbies..really???

That's ok, there will always be a small hobby market for manual trucks I suppose, just like with cars. 99% of cars sold are automatic but there is still a small hobby market that likes having a manual. It will be the same way with heavy duty trucks, a hobbyist will always be able to special order a manual if he wants I suppose.

 

When I went to school about 8 months ago I never had driven a manual. I can now and purposely chose a company with manual transmissions. Some states are passing laws, I know Ohio is going to be one, that says if you are in driving school and test in an auto a special endorsement will be put on your cdl saying you can only drive autos. I never drove autos for trucks, always cars, if I knew it was this easy a d I had more control of my vehicle I would have driven a stick a long time ago.

 

no ive never driven a Pete,but if its as smooth as an Volvo id sure like to.

 

Here in BC, Canada...thats the way it is. If you take your commercial liscence road test in an auto...your then restricted to driving only an auto. I've driven both. In town driving I'd love an auto. In the mountains though...18spd all the way especially here where we can haul a lot heavier loads on the same amount of axles as dow in the US

 

I guess after over 3 decades at shifting manuals from the Rio Grande to the North Slope of Alaska, from 8 spd to 18 spd, I am reaching the age where I don't want to work so hard. Not sure if another new truck will ever be in my future, but if it is, more than likely it will have a Allison TC10 automatic. No auto shift nonsense, just cut to the chase and get a true, full blown automatic. Test drove one up in Alaska when Allison was developing one for our use and really liked it. Just never saw a full auto as being that good for general OTR type of work. But with the TC10, all that has changed and has me interested in one some day, if I ever get another truck. I'll leave the manual shifting to the younger crowd who thinks it is neat. See if you feel that way after you get several decades of shifting under your belt and get to my age.

 

Some of you have misguided views of automatics.

To start, every automatic trans in a class 8 truck have a manual override. You can use the manual override at your discression. With the manual override engaged, the trans will not shift a gear when the RPMs are in range. It will stay in that gear until you select the trans to shift.

 

I just signed on with a small local outfit with automatics and one brand new freightliner 10spd manual. My test drive was in the Volvo automatic. Can't tell you how many times I went for the shifter in that short drive.
I guess if I learned how to use the manual side it might not be too bad. Automatic was a 12 or 13 spd trans?
The boss asked me if I wanted an auto or the 10spd. Knee jerk reaction told me to take the 10spd also because it only has 970 miles on it.

 

Very same thing is true with the Allison automatic. You have manual selection capability. Another thing that is neat about the Allison, is that it has a brake assist. When you use the jake, it picks up on that and supplements the jake with some additional internal braking in the transmission also. it can be turned off or on as one wants to use it. Sure not going to get that with an auto shift manual trans. That is one of the reasons I am sold on the Allison. It has a number of features that the AMT's do not. But to be fair, each kind of trans brings its own plusses and minuses to the party. It is a matter of determining which one fits as close to what a person needs.

One plus to a full auto, is that you get full power shifts. It may not be noticed, but even on the auto shifts, power to the engine has to be interrupted for the computer to shift the trans, just like floating a manual. It is far quicker than a person can do it by several factors, but it is the same principle. With the planetary gear set of a true automatic, there is no need to interrupt the engine power to make the shift. It actually is more efficient in that regard. The difference between how these two different transmissions shift is minute, but it does show up in acceleration tests between these transmissions installed in equivalently spec'd trucks, as well as when working a grade and other situations. It is also the main reason that true autos are used in stuff like helicopters. You just don't interrupt a turbine applying full power to the main rotor. It takes a planetary gear set inherent to the true automatic trans that make it work right.

But it the true auto is going to take more bucks when it comes time for fluid changes. There is considerably more fluid running around in there than a automated manual. And Allison is proud of their fluid and doesn't like other companies finding out the proprietary components of the fluid. So one is somewhat beholden to Allison for the fluid. Some have back engineered the fluid, but you can be sure that if one uses it and they have a trans problem, Allison is not going to honor that warranty. At least their warranty is 750,000 miles like the auto shifts and the manuals.

 

Actually most of these automated transmissions sold outside the US do have this feature and has been so for about 15 years.http://www.volvotrucks.com/trucks/s...a/trucks/Volvo-FH16/Chassis/Pages/Brakes.aspx
http://www.scania.com/media/feature-stories/technology/braking-that-makes-cents.aspx
http://www.volvotrucks.com/trucks/s...a/trucks/Volvo-FH16/Chassis/Pages/Brakes.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXQPPTvx4Ew

I- Shift 2 or otherwise known as I-Torque is an AMT that shifts under full power with no power interruption.It is the only AMT that does as far as I know.It has a dual clutch system.Its intended market is OTR long distance not off road like an Allison.

 

Except the Allison TC10 is targeted, and marketed, as an OTR on road transmission. You got to get up to speed on this one. The TC10 was introduced a year ago as pure OTR transmission. You are thinking of Allison's previous offerings. It was the introduction of the TC10 that caused me to start looking at Allison for any future truck purchase. They just advertised recently a joint deal with Navistar to have the TC10 part of the standard offering of transmissions in the ProStar. And for starting purposes, I would much rather have a Torque Converter than a computer operated clutch. You ought to see the video where Allison puts their TC10 up against one of the AMT's and uses only the trans to hold the loaded truck on a 25% grade. The Allison doesn't break a sweat. The AMT doesn't take long before alarms are going off about the trans being abused.

Just checked the video, and it was an Eaton Ultrashift.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rvTq0eXwdU

And here is their marketing brochure on the TC10. It is targeted to class 8 tractor applications from P&D to OTR transport....

http://www.allisontransmissionpublications.com/download.ashx?did=760