Float or Clutch

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Cruz31307, May 31, 2010.

How do you shift....

  1. *

    Float

    78.6%
  2. *

    Double Clutch

    22.3%
  1. jeepskate99

    jeepskate99 Road Train Member

    I don't know how it works but with our old Mack's it's easier to shift fast with the clutch. Unless of course you don't care about grinding or having notchy shifts then you can float fast.

    As far as beating the truck, perhaps.
     
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  3. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

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    Maybe he bent it trying to turn his fat ### around and get in the sleeper...

    Probably wasn't your fault...But I hafta tease you about it anyway.:biggrin_2559:
    If you're shifting faster when you double clutch than when you float...You're beating the hell out of the truck.


    But you don't seem to care...And that doesn't really surprise me.
     
  4. Truck Driver

    Truck Driver Medium Load Member

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    Dec 5, 2007
    Sacramento, CA
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  5. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

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    Haha. Actually, the truck was driven by a ###### from the way it smelled when i picked it up..... :D So you might be right.


    It wasn't THAT bad. But I had the opposite problem a lot...sometimes you would put it in gear, it would feel like it was all the way in gear, but youd roll on the throttle and it'd be in neutral.... :D That usually happened when i smashed my hand between the stick and dash.
     
  6. davenjeip

    davenjeip Medium Load Member

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    Dec 20, 2009
    Port Charlotte, Fl
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    I float the gears, but it's common that I do tap the clutch to get it out of gear on a downshift.

    I have no issue with those that double clutch, especially since you'll need to do it on the driving test for most companies since they want to see that you know how to do it. However, even if you don't do it on a daily basis, you really should know how to float the gears on the chance your clutch goes out and you have no other way to drive it. Lost one in a truck I used to drive and had to get it through an hour of stop and go traffic to get to a shop, so I would have had no options if I didn't know how to float.
     
  7. jeepskate99

    jeepskate99 Road Train Member

    You could say that we beat our trucks but the mechanics don't seem to think so. We don't go through clutches or transmissions. Half of the trucks we have are over 900k too.
     
  8. Hubcap

    Hubcap Medium Load Member

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    Rhome Texas
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    Is it a Mack 5 speed? I had to drive one of those for three years..It drove me crazy. That is why I take medication today. Blame it on the Bulldog!
     
  9. jeepskate99

    jeepskate99 Road Train Member

    I blame my condition on them too. But it's more about the lighting going out all the time and I drive overnights! :biggrin_2556:

    I should have taken pictures of all the melted pigtails on our 08 Pinnacles.
     
  10. Buffalo Chip

    Buffalo Chip Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2007
    Buffalo, NY
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    Since I am in training I do the double clutch ... my trainer (glorified steering wheel holder) tries to float the gears but it's mostly gear grinding when he tries ... i am so emberassed when he is driving and grinding gears :dontknow:
     
  11. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

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    Don't be so hard on him...He's probably only been drivin' for 6 months or so...:biggrin_25523:
     
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