Do you float gears or double clutch?

Sure about that?

 

I had a super trucker that used this triple clutch methed told me the only right way to do it ... Is to have your super clutch foot at a 45degree angel pointing south and looking to the west while texting with your left hand (phone must be pointing east) stearing with your right leg and shifting with your right hand...

 

The less I have to use the clutch the better off I am.The trks I drive will beat ya up if you're not careful.I float as much as possible.But if I can't get it into gear i'll double clutch.

 

Float up, sometimes use the clutch to pop out of gear on the way down if I need to shift fast.

 

Glance at your tach (shows your rpms). I have a 13spd, and most of the time I can shift smoothly around 1500-1550 rpms. Also listen to the engine, so you can quit looking at the tach.

I was also taught a simple mathematical formula that basically tells you what gear you should be in at given speeds. You add the 2 numbers of the speed (mph). Example 45 mph.. 4+5 = 9, so you should shift into 9th gear.

Don't worry about the speed in the lower first 4 gears. You go through them before you get across an intersection. It's the upper 4 or so that this would be applicable to.

15 mph.... 1+5 = 6, ie; 6th gear
25 mph.... 2+5 = 7.... 7th gear
35 mph.....3+5 = 8.... 8th gear

you get the idea. Just pay attention to your engine RPM, both up and downshifting. When you downshift, your engine RPM might be down around 1100.

While learning if your grinding, gently hold the lever while you get that grinding, and depending on where your engine RPM is, either increase it or decrease it, and you will feel the lever slide in. MAKE A MENTAL NOTE OF WHERE THIS WAS. Then next time you'll know.

Now this comes from a driver (still steering wheel holder), with a tremendous amount of time (6 mos now) driving a big truck. However applying what I've told you, which I was taught by some very experienced drivers, I can float with only scratching a gear every now and then. Most of the time if I grind, it's in a "panic" situation where the a-hole 4-wheeler pulls out in front of me, trying to steal my front bumper. I just miss getting it into the right gear from my very sudden, fast, almost to a dead-stop avoiding them. Think 2-lane highway, no or the 2-foot shoulders.

 

You can also tell by the pitch of the grind.

If it is higher pitch you're trying to put it in too high of a gear. Lower/slower grind, you're going too low.

When I took my road test I dbl clutched everything. Drove my tester (future trainer) nuts. He said you'll be fine after you stop dbl clutching.

So, 2 weeks later, I'm floating and wondering why I ever dbl clutched to start with. Which, feels almost foreign now.

It feels so right, when it's right, they go right into gear. No grinding. But if you don't get it all the way in... it feels like you just dropped the bottom end out from your truck. Have done this twice already and I cringed both times scared to death I broke something.

This is one of the reasons it doesn't bother me to possibly have the oldest truck in the yard. IF I break something, I won't feel AS bad. But still feel like a (insert choice expletive)!

 

I double clutch most of the time because that's how i was taught. Sometimes I try to float up shifting, but usually it won't pop out of gear or it'll grind a little when i go into the next gear. I just can't get the feeling for it. How do i float without grinding?

 

Put it in gear at the right RPM.... Smooth as butter.

 

Floating is a two part one move deal

Timing is everything, and it only comes with time.

Hell I still make em sing once in awhile, just a little.

 

I only use the clutch only to start and when I go into the high side when loaded.

I used the clutch for my test like I was supposed to do and bad things happened......missed the gear and took a turn a little to fast and the tester got a little scared!!