Benefit of double clutching

My 2 cents....

If you can float correctly, it is just as good for the truck as double. Double will wear the clutch a bit more, BUT, grinding gears because you cant float right and jerking the truck is not good for anything. If doubling will prevent that, doubling is better fo the truck. An experienced driver can float with no added wear and will save the clutch.

Now, a beat up old truck may not allow you to float. I had to take a road test and i could not get it out of gear with out the clutch. It just would not let go no matter how high you reved and let off. Tried pressure before letting off, no pressure and trying to pull after letting off, the truck wouldn't let you float out. For the test I single clutched out and floated in. This was a real beat up training truck though.

On my truck its hard to float the first 4 (13 speed) when its frozen. I normal double in the morning of a 10 degree or less day until the trans warms up. That being said, a real good driver could probaly make it float, but its easier to double. Once it warms up i float all my gears becuase im to lazy to use the clutch.



All this being said, IF your not matching the rpms right and slaming it into gear at the wrong rpm, its a lot better on everythign if you double. the clutch can take some of the abuse of the wrong rpm and match the rpm. If you float and miss rpm, your damaging the trans, motor, drivetraine etc. as they all slam to the right speed. If you can get the right rpm and slide it right in on floats, no damage is being done. Companies prefer floating becuase a clutch is cheaper then trans and drive train. If your gonna miss rpms and suck at shifting, it better to destroy the clutch then the trans. A good driver does no damage and saves clutch by floating tho

 

When I drove for Pepsi, we had a bunch of old Ford F700 single axle tractors. They had 5 X 2 transmissions (5 speed and 2 speed rear axle)

They were so worn out you could float, clutch and shift like a car or double clutch and they all shifted the same way

 

Here is a link from Eaton....

When in doubt, read the instructions! LOL

Operation / Driver Instructions
10-Speed Model Transmissions Driver Instructions (PDF, 823KB)
Multi-Speed PTO Interlock Driver Instructions (PDF, 1MB)
Professional Shifting Fleet On-Highway FR Series 10 Speeds - Video (WMV, 7MB)
Professional Shifting Introduction Module - Video (WMV, 51MB)
RTLO - 10 Speed Models Transmission Driver Instructions(PDF, 1MB)

 

I'm in the same boat here... learning to double-clutch. I learned by floating the gears. I think floating is definitely the way to go.

 

IMO. If your a road driver you can float gears all day long. Just don't think that you will be able to drive that way off road if you ever get a job god forbid driving loggers,stringers or low boy hauling equipment for off road construction. It takes all your skills over the years in different driving jobs. Cause you ain't float'n a handful of gears on a 12% grade loaded.

 

Is the clutch pedal that thing I've been using as a foot rest??? I only use mine to start and sometimes you have a little fumble and have to use the clutch, I just throw mine in neutral and then slide it into whatever gear I'm starting in. I've done it with 6 and 4 twin sticks 5 and 4 twin sticks, 10s, 13s, 15s, 18s, and 5 speeds. I've had a lot of experience and just don't need the clutch. Sometimes like I say you just fumble and have to use it.

Off road hauling? I hope you can double clutch, single clutch, float, anything you can get to work. I've come out of the river bottoms in mud up to the aluminum and if you let out of the throttle or tried to float you'd have been a dead duck. Also if you've got the power divider locked in I suggest feathering the clutch. Much easier on the drive shaft.

 

I really hope you dont....any pressure on it can cause slippage and major damage. I was always told put your foot on the floor and dont rest on clutch to prevent and damage.

 

This is essentially why starter companies, driving schools, and most DMV's require double clutching. It's because the transmission manufacturers say that's what you should do. Big companies in turn require their drivers to double clutch so they can say it is their policy and their warranty isn't voided.

In reality I think most of us float. It's how I learned. Not until I got back into trucking last year and had to double clutch first for the DMV test, then later when I trained and then drove for Swift. I kept double clutching almost exclusively for the first couple of months driving solo for Swift, then began moving more toward floating. Now I float well over 90% of the time, but having the ability to double clutch gives me a lot more options for smoothly getting into gear in a wide variety of situations. I think it is good to know a variety of ways to get in and out of gear SMOOTHLY.

IMHO floating, when done properly, is much easier on the drive train. I haven't been in a truck with a "double clutch only" driver that seems to have the knack for getting into the next gear without a forward and back power surge through the drive train that CAN'T be good for the components and it CERTAINLY isn't good for a sleeping teammate.

 

I am glad to see there are a few drivers that understand what a clutch is for. The others are really only telling you where they drive. Try floating down 4 gears at a time or moving from high to low range on a grade grossing 90,000 or better.

Would you rather stick your fingers in an engine fan with the fan clutch on or off?

 

I totally agree with Rank... I think all drivers, unless theh are driving an automatic, should and must know how to double clutch, floating gears is optional, but a good driver can do both effeciently...

In my opinion, a driver who can only float gears and does nkt know how to double clutch is like a driver who can only make left truns... yeah, you can get around.. but, you are limited in your ability...

If there is a clutch in your truck it is your responsibility to learn how to use it... or ask for an automatic...