Eaton Fuller 10spd Arrgh!

We all do. Just don't do it on test day!

 

Running the engine up to 2200rpm is called running against the peg. It's not good on the engine. Shift slower and at a lower rpm. You could even try progressive shifting. Start out in the gear that will move the truck with no throttle. Go to 1200 and shift then go to 1250 then 1300 then 1350 etc. You'll have to play with it but it works and you'll find the gears fall into place. Just relax and shift easy, you'll get it. I don't care what anyone says you should learn how to use the clutch before any floating starts. You might run up against a company that wants you to use the clutch and if you don't know how you may lose a great job.

 

I favor 1200-1300 on low and 1500-1600 on high (Cats, Detroits) Cummins I shift a little lower...

 

What motor are you behind? I find that Detroits and Cats will drop RPMs slower than Cummins. With the Cummins you have to shift more quickly to hit the sweet spot, more slowly with the Detroit. GasHauler hit the nail on the head when he said that the shifter will "fall into place". When you get practice that 10 speed will almost search for the gear and jump in for you.

All good advice so far, lower rpm and more patient shifting. You can use the palm of your hand to shift, no grabbing of the lever required, just lay the hand on top. The dancing analogy is a good one, it is all about rhythm. Let the motor be the symphony and waltz through the gears.

BTW, did you notice in the video that the guy with the twin sticks ran the truck through the gears with his left foot flat on the floor? Just when I think I am getting good someone posts a video to remind me how much I can't do.

 

What you described is letting the truck work for you and not you working the truck!

I didn't have to floor the throttle to shift the twin sticks I drove. But when you shift the main and the aux. you have to be fast. Talking about seeing something you couldn't do I saw a driver shift a twin stick with one hand and when he pulled a grade you could hardly hear when he shifted. That's the type of driver that I learned from. Drivers that started on 220 cummins with 5X4. Then a turbo was put on for 290hp and they were styling. They pulled the old ridge route (grapevine) in CA in the heat of the night standing on the running board with the hand throttle pulled out. Of course loaded they'd be going a whopping 10 to 15mph. there were no CB's but they used hand signals to other drivers. They all took pride in their work and you had to treat them with respect if you wanted any information out of them. But when they did teach they taught with their reputation on the line.

 

The guy who gave me my first job was much like you describe GasHauler. He still had a file drawer full (probably 20) shift lever extensions for twin stick trannies, "just in case". He was also the type to take a tiny finishing hammer and break the tach so that you would learn to shift by the sound of the motor. It was a great way to learn. The senior drivers at that little outfit actually had experience driving chain drive trucks! These guys were more likely to compliment you for finding the easy way to back in than to compliment successful job backing into a tough spot. Again, a good way to learn. One of these guys told me once "Back then the hills were steeper, the trucks were slower and you could count on the guy in the truck next to you." Times they are a'changing.