Float or Clutch

I read the owners manual for my freightliner a few months ago during a similar argument. It confirms what I say. Besides that, think about this...

if the input shaft is directly connected to the wheels at all times....then how can it be spinning when the wheels are stopped?

How come if you do push the clutch all the way in in motion, for example by accident, it puts *no* noticable drag on the truck at all. Infact, one time i had a knee jerk panic reaction on ice....was in the "big one" 6 hour blizzard on the east coast around january or february, when nyc got 2 feet of snow...and thats exactly where i went...was going down an icy hill at 15 mph, drives locked up...and im talking about the kind of lock up where it stops the engine and the tachometer reads ZERO.. paniced and put the clutch to the floor...engine instantly restarted

now tell me, zero traction, wouldnt this magical clutch brake atleast put some drag on it?

And why is it that people on here try to tell me that the clutch brake is actually a band brake on the driveshaft? A werner mechanic who is clutch certified tells me its part of the clutch..as the name would suggest.

The only thing the clutch does is disconnect the swift driver from the swift driver manager. The transmission (when placed in neutral) disconnects the swift driver from the swift driver manager.

The only thing the clutch does is disconnect the otherhalftw from his clutch pedal. The transmission (when placed in neutral) disconnects the otherhalftw from the swift driver.

hahaaha

 

You're young...we can give some more sarcastic learning time...it is an art you know! If it helps you along...hang out with some British types, the dry humor rubs off!

 

Engine -> Clutch -> Input shaft (where clutch brake is located) -> Transmission -> Output shaft -> Drive shaft -> Axles.

Pushing in the clutch does NOT disengage the input shaft from the rest of the drive line. ONLY placing the transmission in neutral will do that. This is why if you are in neutral while idling, the clutch brake needs to stop the input shaft from spinning before the transmission will go into gear without grinding.

The input shaft is on the FRONT of the transmission. If it were directly connected to the wheels at all times like you say, you would never be able to shift gears. The OUTPUT shaft at the rear of the transmission is directly connected to the wheels through the drive shaft.


This is one type of clutch brake:

The keys (teeth) on the sides of the clutch brake line up with grooves on the input shaft, so that the clutch brake spins with the shaft. The brake pad material on both faces of the clutch brake provide the friction to stop the input shaft from spinning so that the transmission will go into gear.

They also come in 1-piece versions, which either have to be cut out or the transmission dropped to replace.


...and 2-piece versions that have screws that hold them together
...or like the one I just put in my truck 2 weeks ago:



It's just a tiny little thing. The drag it creates isn't enough to notice when stopping an 80,000 pound truck. However, it DOES wear out quickly if you abuse it (pushing the clutch pedal to the floor while the truck is in motion and the transmission is in gear). It is designed to stop the input shaft, not the entire truck.

 

I know you were being sarcastic, durr. Just being funny.

Ok but i wasnt the one that siad it was always connected to the wheels.

And why are people on here trying to tel me its on the driveshaft, which makes no sense at all....?

 

I worked for an LTL company where the day drivers didn't know anything about the clutch brake. The company got tired of us line drivers complaining so they took action by having the manufacturer come in for a little training session. He brought along a bad clutch brake where they are much smaller than a normal clutch plate and he explained that if you push the clutch pedal to the floor your trying to stop the truck with that small clutch. It's designed to get the truck into gear when stopped. End of story.

 

I required the new driver to use the clutch during the road test. I would explain that you need to know the truck before you start floating. You should also know what gear the truck should be in at any given speed. When I was driving on the surface streets and had a light coming up I'd let the truck idle down to almost a stall then skip a few gears and slip into the correct gear. If I had to stop then I'd down shift maybe three times tops. I wouldn't ever coast out of gear and I'd downshift into a the right gear if a light changed to green. It's total nonsense to downshift into every gear and it only shows you need to learn more about the truck.

I don't believe a new driver or any driver that just doesn't know how to shift should float for the simple reason that they can miss a gear and do so real damage to the transmission. I don't mean grinding or raking a gear I mean when it bangs and jumps out of gear. If you don't know how to shift with the clutch then you need to find someone that can teach you. The old myth that floating gears makes you a driver is bull. What makes you a better driver is knowing the equipment and making that equipment work for you.

 

Ever since i got out of school i started to float to me it seems like you dont lose as much engine speed ( RPM's ) when you float there for a better smoother shift , and it just "SLIDES" or "GLIDES" right in . but i did see how floating can ruin your day by you having to pick up your tranny from the highway !!!

 

I've never lost a clutch...And I've driven at least 150,000 miles...

 

I thought sure that was your clutch I found in the 49'er parking lot that afternoon after we had coffee!

So I guess I'll just take it back down and put it by the entrance with a sign on it saying..."Any of you steering wheel holders lose this?"

 

Mine would'a had my name stamped on it...