Opinions On Ultrashift Transmissions

i drive transam equipment with eaton auto's
they are all KW 660 and 700
fine equipment for OTR
if your buying used Transam trucks
they are well maintained and come with apu's and a frig

I AM NOT A DETRACTOR THAT HASN't DRIVEN THE EQUIPMENT YOU ASKED ABOUT

 

Yes I leased one when my 06 started its downhill spiral....it had a "power" or "economy" mode on the transmission, I also loved that it would automatically apply the brakes if you were stopped on a hill, I also loved that it senses the load and started you in the appropriate gear, and backing up was nothing like the other "clutchless" transmissions

 

Not true. It takes a few days to learn how to do it, but once I learned how to properly manage the fuel pedal, I had absolutely no trouble moving the ishift I used to drive an inch or two at a time. I could easily bump docks just a gently as I could with a manual. No trouble at all.

 

real truck drivers learn to drive the equipment they are given to drive
every truck drives differently

 

And a professional can drive anything with wheels.... and some things without

 

I have a 07 W9 w/ 18 speed Ultra shift. When they work, they're great but when you have issues - oh ##@! Over all, I like it. Need to get to know how to trouble shoot it for minor problems (like any other equipments). There are (2) selonoids for upper + lower shift ranges that could get dirty (craps - oil, water, dirt) coming through the air lines or the rubber "O" rings that could go bad in them, that causes most common problems. They're little hard to get to but 4 small bolts to remove each cover to get access each ones.

I pull 48 spread flat at the moment and it's great. Even after those 800+ miles day, you're less fatigue.

 

I bought my first automatic in 03 in a Western Star, it was a 10spd Eaton Autoshift, pulling a triaxle in the oilfield, it had a clutch to start/stop with, and in the 4 years I owned it, it was flawless, I loved it, and anytime it was icy/muddy conditions I would pop it into Manual and run it that way.

Traded it on an 06 Volvo 880 with a 18spd Eaton, put my right arm back to work again, we expanded in 09 to a W900L with another Eaton Autoshift 18spd this time, as we were primarily pulling 8axles.

After tweaking the shift pattern to a heavy haul 1800 program, it was alright, I had surprisingly great luck with the ISX in that engine, compared to the 09 Peterbilt we also had with the same engine but a manual 18spd.
I was told because the autoshift, always shifted at 1800-1900rpm, and kept the revs high, compared to drivers lugging the manual down then shifting, accounted for only doing a turbo every year, compared to 6 months in the manual.

Recently picked up a 2012 Volvo 630, with Ishift, main reason was this was going to be my truck, and the service I got from the dealer on my previous Volvo was amazing, I decided to go try again, minus the 06 D16 engine issues I had, the truck was great. So far, almost 6 months old, I love it, I recently put a green driver in it to learn how to haul fluid, and it was nice... both hands on the wheel, get your loading/unloading down pat, and then I will transition him to the manual.

I did some city driving with it, and I loved it, pull up to a red light, foot on brake...sip your coffee, green light, apply foot feed...

In the almost 6 months of ownership, roughly 70,000KM it hasn't had a check engine light, or a trip to the dealership yet. We put more hours on than normal, so the semi annual safety is due in November, I plan on getting the topset done, engine webasto installed and hopefully they won't see me till next Spring.

We got rid of our W900s in favour of 2 new 2012 T660s, both with ISX 550hp... so far on the same hauls as we did with our 09 W900 with 550 ISX, we are burning 50litres a day less... using roughly 15litres of Urea to do it. I have it figured out this way.. saving roughly 55$ in fuel, spending 12$ in Urea (I buy urea in 1100litre totes, as I figure I need it so may as well drop the money and save a bit)

The fuel economy between the 3 units, hauling same loads day after day is almost exact, the difference between the Volvo and the 660s is so close, you would need 100units to make a difference.