Catmando clutch operating instructional manual.

how about the idiots that use the clutch only at stop lights, instead of the brake?

why is it hard to believe some never had one replaced ?

I never had a clutch put in a truck I drove and drove quite a few from 700 miles to over 500K and I drove Volvos, Freightliners, mostly.

adjusted, yes, not replaced.

 

Double clutching on icy roads is discouraged. When you do it’s much easier for the tires to break traction. Which is a bad thing.

least that’s the way I taught. And if it’s good for icy roads it’s good for all road conditions. Especially since you should be driving like you are always on icy roads.

 

It’s been years but the ultra shifts I’ve seen used a centrifugal clutch that engages as rpm’s go up and disengages as rpm goes down. I’m with supersnackbar in that of the few AMTs that I have driven, and again it’s been a while I can out shift them (Yes I know everyone says this) especially gearing down and for some reason slowing for turns. I get somewhat irritated when they attempt a downshift after a turn is initiated and seem to be searching for a gear. Again, been years and I would hope they have improved.

Back to your original post. Over the years I’ve had several trucks, only 2 bought new. Both with 15 overs and both were floated their entire lives with me. Can’t speak of any inappropriate wear because I never had a reason to go into the boxes. When I got rid of them one had just over a million, one just under. I will say this though, I’ve ridden with bad floaters and bad double clutchers. If given a choice I’d rather put up with a bad floater, it seems less violent. I believe in finesse when shifting, naturally with hood judgement and skills regardless of how one chooses. One more thing, if an employer says to double clutch, that’s what you do, it’s their equipment not yours.

 

My mDrive wasn't. It skipped gears, couldn't make up it's mind if it wanted to take off easy or launch like dragster(there was such a fine line on how much throttle to give it, too little and it would slip the clutch, a little more and it was too much and dump the clutch). Plus, it didn't have creaper gear for reverse and backing a heavy load of glass on an uneven surface slow and easy made it feel like you were on a kangaroo. One time I got sick of it jumping while backing into a parking spot and rode the brake a little while I gave it a liitle more throttle. Once I got parked you could smell the clutch. The only true auto in trucks is an Allison.

 

did you watch the video? It clearly says it is an automated manual and the clutch is computer controlled. It's an older video, but the basic design of the transmission hasn't changed.

 

One of the biggest reasons for fleets to go to auto shifts is the driver and maintenance cost over the life of the unit.

Oh and clutches are a consumable in a manner of speaking, they are made to wear out like brake shoes and other parts.

Jamesmack did a great write up.


That said, I bought a 1971 dodge hd pickup, the original owner was a truck driver had ordered it with a 5 speed non-synchro BW manual. In 1979 he traded it in on a new van and it sat on the lot for almost a year because no one wanted to buy a truck with a bad trans. I spotted it in the very back of the lot, asked about it, got a story about the bad transmission and asked if I could take it for a spin. When I test drove it, it shifted great for me so I went back, told the sales dweeb my offer which was a third of what they wanted and I drove off with it. The truck was one of the best trucks I owned. I just wish I knew what model the trans was, I would like to get another one for my beater truck.