First week clutch problems.

Why does it have a low gear? Use it.
In the low hole you should be able to idle off any stop.

 

If you watch people try sliding the trailer tandems. I have seen people slipping the clutch and keep giving truck more power trying to slide them. That will burn up the clutch and put lots of stress on the truck and drive line and everything.

All they need to do is put truck in first gear and let engine idle and let the clutch out. The engine will pull, if not something is wrong. When you do it at idle your not slipping the clutch as much, so it will last longer.

 

I got to where I would just start in low even empty. No harm in it.

 

1st gear start??? really??
2nd maybe on a hill loaded heavy.
3rd on the flat.
10 speed.
love to hear the bobtail run thru all the gears from a red light.lol
it ain't a Honda with synchros.lol
need a "rolls eyes" button.

 

Yep. New drivers that are experienced on a manual transmission have a more difficult time adjusting to driving a big rig.

Never ever give it throttle until you have let the clutch all the way out and the truck is rolling. I normally start in 1st with a 13 speed on a flat. If I'm loaded and starting up a hill I start in Low. If I am starting on a downgrade I may start as high as 4th, allowing the truck to get a rolling start before beginning to let the clutch out.

You said you are floating gears after you get moving. That's good. Shift with your finger tips to better be able to softly match your rpm's to the gear and it will go a long way to eliminating grinding gears.

Relax. Have fun. Enjoy.

 

For about six months I teamed with a driver that ALWAYS started in 4th, slipping the clutch and revving the rpm's. It didn't matter if we were starting up a hill or making close quarter maneuvers in a customer yard or truck stop. After a drop and hook in a tight yard the smell of burning clutch was overpowering in the sleeper berth.

 

Enjoy your new clutch.

 

My problem with low is that it's so far away from first, that my rpms can't drop fast enough to catch 1st before I'm stopped again. I have to split low, then I don't have to split after 1st. It's annoying. Idk how 13s do it

 

Yes, there's a wide gap between low and 1st. I wind it up well over 1500 rpm's and catch 1st well below 1100 rpm's, even lower than that if I am pulling a steep hill.

 

Brickwall, been driving for over 30 yrs and never ruined a clutch.
have had multiple trucks , (Volvos and Freightliners),from 500 miles 500K, no new clutch ever needed.