Panic situations/Downshifting

Watch me in about 2 years, will show you how to retire from trucking...actually, going to buy an RV and still keep driving, except for MYSELF!! LOL

 

There is more, but those are the basics. You also have to raise or lower the rpms once in neutral, to manually synchronise the engine with the tranny for the next gear.

It is a little bit of a dance in there sometimes, but it becomes second nature after a while. Heck, there are even automatics out there now, so it may be a lost art before long.

 

You can do on your personal car, but little tough on the gears while you are learning. Need to know rpms/gear, etc. I used to do on an old pickup truck just for fun when a kid!

 

I never pay much attention to the RPM's in my car when shifting -- it's pretty much just done by ear. I do, however, try to keep the car running around 2,500/3,000 RPM's for fuel efficiency. You know something, tho? Now I'll be watching the tach when I shift. LOL

Thanks, basscase!

 

I can double-clutch on my Subaru? As I mentioned to basscase above, now I'll be watching my rpm's when I shift. And if I can do it on my car, you know I'm gonna try it. Give me a week. LOL

And don't worry. Little Red (my Subaru) can take it... and right now I have a sticky lifter which makes engine speed REALLY audible! I really need to get it up to my mechanic for a "B12 shot".

 

Well, in a car you don't have to worry so much about rpm when shifting up or down. In a big truck however, if the rpm isn't right when you shift, it won't go into gear. You are coasting till you get it right, or you stop and start over.
It is way different.

 

If RPMs are 'right,' will just float into gear 'if not want to use clutch.' No gear clash! Good luck, Ducks...you can do it...may get the truck driving bug and we'll see you out OTR in the near future! LOL

 

alright everyone. heres the update. my boss, when he drives, does not downshift, he just "feathers" it and then pops it into neutral about 250 feet away from the stop. then when possible he grabs a gear. any thoughts? he said i did a good job today, except for my backing!

 

If you can talk him into it-------there is a device on the market called a Gear Master. Its a digital tachometer of sorts with a sliding scale and it shows optimum power range and what gear you Should be in for whatever speed. If you miss a downshift (or upshift) with this thing---you need to stay home.

Its a crutch but an excellent training aid. Im just a beginner myself, I learned with that device and now Im trying to wean myself off of it. The down side to it is that Its kind of pricey-but if he is a perfectionist, maybe he would but one.

 

Yep but you also need to watch the road speed for those gears because if you are too fast for that gear then it will not go in to that gear.