downshifting

I had a pair of boots that were square in the front (Steel toed too...) and had about a inch under the heels so that you could do things with them you could not do with sneakers. Its unfortunate that the Maryland vendor who made the boots I had went out of business because the pair I bought back in the 80's lasted me essentially all the way to 2001. I disposed of them when the soles finally got too thin.

To ThomasTheTrueTrucker, I complete forgotten the jacobs induced kill of the engine back in the day you speak of. That would be one situation.

Traffic lights were another problem, I think it was what we called the "Battlefield Light" not far from Leesburg VA on a major highway until Virginia installed the 4 diamond detectors specifically to detect big rigs coming on and hold that light in addition to a special advanced signal around that curve northbound. I might do a little google earth to see if I can find it.

Another was east of Bethlehem PA I think either route 3 or 6. It ends at the bottom of what I interpret as a half mile 10% in a T at a river as a absolute block to anything unable to stop there. Needless to say I had hot brakes and was just about losing it coming off there and induced a dead engine with clutch in to get her stopped among other things. The tractor got stopped that time for me. But always suspected I might have taken a few years useful life off it. (Hurt it...) I don't think I ever went back to Bethlehem again since, it's pretty hard to get to and hard to get out of, especially with a overloaded 20 foot seacan for export ship.

One of the reasons I cannot be specific with remembering is that so many years have passed and it has a way of erasing memories. Which I don't particularly like.

 

Jakes on

Tap throttle push on shifter it should fall right out

Foot on clutch to kill Jakes, not pressing it just barely pushing it.

Hit throttle hard. Don’t be weak with it or you’ll have to do it twice then be lightly pushing on the gear you want and it should just fall in. It might grind a little while you’re learning. That’s ok, don’t force anything but a quiet grind here and there happens.

That’s how I do it, some don’t use a clutch and brake with their left foot. I brake between shifts if I’m slowing fast, I always push the brake way too hard with my left foot.

Idk you’re probalby confused and I didn’t help but just keep practicing. You’ll get it, no one was downshifting like a boss their first week.

I also only downshift to 7th or 6th. It’s not really necessary once you’re at like 15 mph lol.

 

I have read through some of these replies and agree with most of them. However I must also advise caution about the floating gears. My father taught me how to drive and float gears on an old split shift mack before I joined the Air Force. When done correctly floating gears is in my opinion the best method. However it is also the best way to destroy a gear box and drive train over time. I never advise a newbie to float until they have driven at least 6 months and are proficient in using a clutch and tach. I have seen more then my fair share of torn and stripped gears on tranny teardowns attributed to improper operation by the driver. Improper floating leaves telltale signs. This is why some owners prohibit doing it.

 

I know that the '90s fords and some models of international and macks have a suspended brake. If I'm not mistaken some of the newer aero cab petes and KW also have a suspended brake.

 

The only reason I would go from 10th to 7th is someone braked hard in front of me and I couldn't let off the brake to rev the engine to shift until I was down to 25.

 

You're right Moose! If a driver is new, chances are pretty high that he'll leave a driveline on the ground after banging a couple of missed gears too hard! Newer trucks don't seem to have the ''feel'' with the gears either, so floating becomes extremely tough! The flip side to that is that the newer clutches are lighter to the leg, so maybe it balances out. Not that I've ever owned a new truck, but I've bought quite a few used!

 

No worries my friend...I think we both go back when trucks and trucking were a different world than today! My wife says I should write a book of all my tales, and I bet you could too! I know about ''hurting'' my truck lol! I used to tell guys who were going to use my fender to sign a BOL on to ''NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT TOUCHING MY TRUCK''! Looking back, perhaps I was a bit too anal ha ha! By the grace of God, I too had way to many close calls on unforgiving intersections, ridiculous mountain grades, etc. and in my youth, I smoked a few sets of brakes...they were not my trucks and were poorly maintained i.e. motor oil leaks so bad that it was in the brakes!!! Man, got some stories on that one!!!

 

A lot of coasting and lugging.

 

New trucks are harder to float. I learned on an old international from the 90s.

My daily driver is a 2013 Volvo. It’s a lot less forgiving.

 

I have to set this up by getting off topic a minute. As well as holding a Virginia Class A CDL I also held a Private pilot single engine land instrument airplane rating. Since my epilepsy diagnosis I lost my CDL (as well as all of my driving privileges) and no longer hold a class 3 aviation medical. Now back to the topic. To me learning how to float gears is much like I learned how to do the traffic pattern and landing at an airport. In floating you listen to everything, the sound of the engine and the sound of the road. In an airplane it was the sound of the slipstream going by the aircraft. By the time I took my private pilot check ride I could hold that 60 to 65 knot (Cessna 172) approach speed without looking at my airspeed indicator just by listening. Listening, yes listening to your truck and the normal sounds it makes can help you in so many ways. This is one reason I never kept my music playing volume high.