Downshifting, how can I learn how to do it?

Can't really help you with the speed as it really depends on tire size and gearing.

I haven't run a 10 speed for so long that I don't recall the rpm split, but you probably need about 450 to 500 rpm difference.

So, let it pull down to say 1400, kick it in neutral and raise rpms to 1850ish and you should be able to feel your way in.

Give it a try and soon you will know what the difference is, and shortly thereafter you will hear/feel what is right. I suspect you may be trying to downshift at too high of rpm, and running against the governor before the match is right.

Hope it helps. Maybe others will have a better way to describe how to learn.

 

Pay attention to the speed and rpm when you up shift. That’ll get you in the ballpark,then don’t be afraid give it a little clutch to help until you get better.

 

It's feel. 95% feel. And do it slowly and without force.

I typical downshift from 10th at about 50mph depending on the situation.

It's REAL easy to break a tooth pulling it out of gear as well.

Kick it up to 1500 or 1600 and have it ready to ease in. You have to feather the throttle as well.

Then you'll be in gear a bit above 45mph by the time your shift is complete.

If downshifting for breaking......hit the Jake's, back it down to about 45, pop it out, brakes, Rev it to 1500 and pop it in 8th.

It's all practice and feel, and do it slowly so you learn to do it correctly.

 

There are two ways to do a float. One where you bump up the RPMs and slip it in the gear before it falls, and one where you raise the RPMs about 500 and hold it there, then slip the shifter in. I call them passive and active floating, but I'm sure there's another name for them.

In either case, a bump of about 500 RPMs from where you slipped out of gear is necessary. It just depends on if you want to be on the fuel pedal or not.

 

Just use the clutch once to get out of gear and practice reving it up and ease it into the next one down . After a while you’ll get better and be able to do whatever you want.
i still usually half clutch to get out of gear.

 

EVERYONE has more trouble down-shifting than up-shifting. EVERYONE.

Freightliners suck because they have no markings on the tachometer. Most other makes have green marks or a green band to show you what is the optimal range.

If you want to down-shift from 10th to 9th you will need to raise your RPMs about 300 - 500 in the moment you are out of 10th gear and before you shift into 9th gear.

 

Just bump the throttle when you get it out of gear press the clutch and slip it into gear. Smooth and easy once you figure out the right speeds. Most freightliners i've driven i downshift at 45 mph for 9th 35mph for 8th 25mph for 7th 15 mph for 6th 10 mph for 5th

 

To go along with what you’re saying I had a coworker one time tell me when he was in driving school they taught them if they were ever out of whack and needed to know what gear to put it in to add the numbers of the MPH and select that hole. What you just said goes along with that. Interesting.

 

I have no idea what RPMs. I don’t pay any attention to that, but I go from 10th to 9th at 40 mph, 9th to 8th at 30, 7th at around 25, 6th at around 15-20 and 5th at 10 mph.

If I had to guess at the RPMs, I would guess a couple of hundred on the bump. I barely smack the pedal to bump it so I can’t imagine it bumps up much.

As others have stated, however, it changes with different trucks.