Clutch

That's exactly how we were taught to figure it out for a truck we're not familiar with.

If you're on a hill you should be using a lower gear than the one you'd normally use anyway... and the trick there is the same as it is for any standard shift vehicle... back off the clutch with your foot still on the brake until you feel that clutch just reach the friction point & begin to grab... then let off the brakes.

If the hill is steep enough that you'll NEED to be using throttle to get moving even in a lower gear, then you can use the trick of the using the parking brake to hold you steady rather than the service brake to get started... same drill.... find clutch friction point then release parking brake... showing that you know how to do that is required to pass your CDL exam up here.

I had that issue when I started leaning as well.... it's just a habit that you HAVE to break... especially if the truck is moving.... for a couple reasons... one bad... one worse...

First, if the trans is in neutral when you go to the floor, the clutch brake will stop the trans input shaft from spinning... now you have to get off the clutch & resynch the input shaft speed with some throttle to be able to get back in a gear.... by the time you do all that if you're out on your road test you'll probably fail for rolling in neutral too long.

Worse, if you're still in gear & put the clutch to the floor you'll effectively be trying to stop the truck with the clutch brake... the clutch brake & the mechanic that has to fix it will be very upset with you.

 

Wow,

this thread is almost scary ..........

Pretty simple.........in an unfamiliar vehicle

start in low gear !!!!!!


Low means low, not 3rd 4th 5th but low........ 1st gear !!!!!



You'll find out instantly if in the future you can start in a higher gear !!!!

No fuel is needed, even if pointed uphill and loaded to 80K.................

 

I had that issue when I started leaning as well.... it's just a habit that you HAVE to break... especially if the truck is moving.... for a couple reasons... one bad... one worse...

First, if the trans is in neutral when you go to the floor, the clutch brake will stop the trans input shaft from spinning... now you have to get off the clutch & resynch the input shaft speed with some throttle to be able to get back in a gear.... by the time you do all that if you're out on your road test you'll probably fail for rolling in neutral too long.

Worse, if you're still in gear & put the clutch to the floor you'll effectively be trying to stop the truck with the clutch brake... the clutch brake & the mechanic that has to fix it will be very upset with you.[/QUOTE]

Thanks man, that's good information.

 

I can't believe how many people, even follow drivers, believe that a truck transmission is the same as a car.... If you are on the throttle while the clutch is engaged you ARE decreasing your clutch life....period. I am not saying I am innocent of doing it and it doesn't mean your going to burn up clutches all the time but the fact remains it is not the same as a car. They are designed to take off without throttle applied...

 

Noac,

Save your breath, as you can see I and others tried to get this point accross. Thank god I went to a school that covered the mechanicals in detail and even tested on the operations of air brake systems, transmissons and electrical system basics in a big truck.

 

You seem to be under the misconception that we are doing both at the same time. NOT! More know it alls that think others are stupid. Shifting is not much different between a car and a truck in the respect that you have to be in the gear appropriate for the speed and the RPM's. If you're not in the right gear, you have problems.

If you think I'm not getting right on that throttle on a hill, you have fun explaining why you rolled back into the car behind you because you were NOT right on it!

My road instructor, who had more years than either of you on the big roads used the comparison between the car and truck for the speed and RPM's issue, along with getting the feel for shifting a big truck. Did I say that you are suppose to be giving it fuel as you are letting out the clutch? Don't think so. Just said that there is not that much of a difference.

 

I understand your point lilbit but the OP was referring to applying throttle to take off in a higher gear... I was just trying to help clear it up for the OP. Perhaps I came off a little hostile and for that I apologize.

 

Now I follow where you were going! We'll get it all figured out! It's all good.

 

the trucks of today with all thier electronics running things, when you let the clutch out the truck will idle up automaticly, if it wants to lugg down and die you are in too high of a gear, if your in the right gear it will idle up as you let the clutch out and it will take right off


on older trucks that have no electronics and is all linkages opperating the throttle you will have to apply some throttle to get it to take off

 

What year would mark the change over? I drove in the late 90's. Don't remember the years of everything I drove, but I know the newest thing I drove was a 98 Century Class.