Downshifting

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by prosidius, Nov 5, 2016.

  1. prosidius

    prosidius Light Load Member

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    I'm in truck driving school and cannot downshift for a ####. I was driving down some major roads yesterday and had to constantly stop since I couldn't downshift and was coasting out of gear. I suck at downshifting at higher (35+) speeds more than lower speeds but I'd probably still fail the CDL test for coasting even if I never took the truck above 20mph.

    My instructors showed me how to downshift, they gave me tips to downshift but for whatever reason it is still not clicking. It doesn't matter what transmission (I drove both a 9 & 10 speed).

    Any help?
     
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  3. Rusty Trawler

    Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

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    Take the Jake off
    Let the rpms get lower
    Double clutch
    For me, I don't use the clutch
    Go by feel
    I know how to juice it between gears
    But that won't work for you yet
     
  4. street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    First, type downshifting into the search bar, there are tons of threads on this.

    Its hard to give advice with such vauge information, be more descriptive. Everything changes the scenario, speed, are you failing when going up or down hill? Is the jake on? Are you pushing the clutch to far and grabing the clutch brake? What rpm are you at when attempting the downshift... the more you can describe the better
     
  5. Rusty Trawler

    Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

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    And the double clutch has to be quick
    Boom boom
     
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  6. street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    I can downshift with the jake on, i turn it off for up shifting, i can do it... had to learn.. but i have a habit of coming to far off the go pedal to leave it on for going up the gears...
     
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  7. Rusty Trawler

    Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

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    I know, but he's new and trying to pass a test
    He can leave the Jake on later
     
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  8. street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    Point taken, :) for the record, i only use the clutch to get moving in either direction. Dont know that I could pass the test tomorrow if i had to dc
     
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  9. Rusty Trawler

    Rusty Trawler Road Train Member

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    Me neither
    Everything I do is by feel
    Only use the clutch from a stop
    A lot of new drivers have trouble with the double clutch on a downshift
    It's two actions done as one action
    Needs to be fluid.
     
  10. street beater

    street beater Road Train Member

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    Yup yup, and realizing you may need to at the same time, tap the go pedal to get your rpms up... downshifting using dc downhill under load ... with no miss's or grinds? Now thats skill!
     
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  11. prosidius

    prosidius Light Load Member

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    Jul 15, 2016
    Wisconsin
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    I don't recall if the jake was on. The roads I tried to downshift on were flat with no down/upgrade. I'm not engaging the clutch brake while downshifting, no.

    My process for downshifting goes:

    1.) Clutch, shift to neutral
    a.) If I know I'm going way too fast, I'll hit the brakes before clutching to neutral.
    2.) Rev RPMs to about 1500.
    3.) Clutch, try for lower gear.
    a.) If gear won't engage, brake a bit, rev engine and try again.
    a.) If gear still won't engage, try for the same gear I just left or even a higher gear.
    a.) All else fails, stop and start from scratch

    I think my problem is I'm going too fast for the gear I want to downshift to.
     
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