Shifting Gears

Can't say much for double clutching as I never learned (and didn't need it for my road test at my employer) but in terms of shifting gears - Try to relax a little. Don't slam it in to gear. Every shift should be just one fluid motion. It you do that, the gears will fall into place unlike if you force it. Don't forget to raise/lower the splitter immediately after you hit 5th (going up) or 6th (going down).

As for downshifting specifically - THIS IS WHAT I DO.

On the interstate start slowing down GRADUALLY long before you come to your exit. That way you have time to downshift through all/most of the gears. It's good practice this way. This also works for stop signs (except you will come to a complete stop instead of continuing on).

Coming up on red lights, start slowing down a ways before the light like above, but only go down a gear or two (enough to where you are going at a speed that if the light turned green you wouldn't have to stop at all and you could just grab gears again).

You'll get it buddy!

I am in orientation at Prime, Inc right now and something that has helped me tremendously is the practice I've had using their simulators. That way if you screw up you can stop on the interstate, in the middle of an accident scene (yeah, I did that, shuddup!*) and its fine because it's not in real life.

*I learned on an 8 speed and Prime's are 10's. I forgot the gear pattern...


Hope this helps and doesn't confuse the hell out of you!

 

Clutch in, pull it out of gear, rev to 12-1500 rpms. press clutch, and slide it in as they begin to drop again. Be gentle, think of it as a lady, if you have to force it in, something isn't right.
15 mph = 1+5 = 6th gear
25 mph = 2+5 = 7th gear
35 mph = 3+5 = 8th gear
45 mph = 4+5 = 9th gear.

I am not trying to insult your intelligence with this basic math just trying to make it make sense and what my instructor taught us.

when you fall below 10000 rpms or you start to lug, that's a pretty good sign that it is time to down shift. That is the crash course they taught me in school. I just took my road test Monday and did it that way and throughout the entire course and did fine and passed.

Something else, say you are cruising at 45 MPH and you are in 9th gear and you notice that your truck is at let's say 13000 rpms. Well that would be the sweet spot for it to float in when you are going 45 MPH's, but they tell you between 12-15000 because that usually works too.

 

Good tips here from everyone, unless you're learning on a Super 10, are you? That's where you must move the lever every gear up or down. In any case, stop worrying is my best advice. A trick I used when first starting was to practice in my head just before I went to sleep at night.

 

In addition to what everyone else said keep your palm off the shifter. Use your finger tips only. You can feel the gears meshing better that way and won't be slamming it into gear jarring the truck.

You can even trick your tester a bit if you're having trouble getting your RPMs right you can gently lean the shifter against the gear you're trying to get and feel it grind, as the grind gets slower you're getting closer then just drop it in. With a real light touch you won't actually hear it grind you will just feel it in your fingertips so they won't dock you points for grinding.

 

Thats also how you start to learn floating..

 

Once you go I shift, you don't want to go back.

 

Only push the clutch in an inch or two - not all the way to the floor where the clutch brake is.

You may either be trying to shift too fast - or too slow.

I had to relearn a 13 speed - it's taken me almost 3 months to get used to it after a 10 speed - it wants shifted QUICK, not gentle and slow like the 10.

You'll get it. Just don't hit nuffin.

 

Oh my GOD!!!!!!!!!! 2 + 7 = 7?????????? Your little formula is off great advice there nice job