Some guidance on shifting a Eaton Fuller 13-speed!!!!

What do you think the percentage of new drivers that operate trucks with twin sticks is?

 

Umm I am willing to bet around ZERO%

 

Oh it's not as bad as you think. Only difference between the 2 is instead of going back to low you'll go back to one when you hit the high side. You will do fine if nothing else watch a few of the youtube videos out there on shifting a 13spd. NOT a 13 double over a 13. They do have a different pattern. Good luck I'm sure you'll do find there driver.

I would say 0% is probably pretty close. Everybody sees 2 sticks and thinks it's complicated though. It's not all that hard if you had a grandfather that owned an old grain truck with a 5x4. That being said I doubt I could shift one now. Could get it rolling after 20 minutes waiting for the brownie to warm up but going down the highway doubtful.

 

These days there aren't many twin sticks that I know of. The first big truck I drove about 35 years ago was a 1959 White with a 5 x 3, well, I guess I did drive a GMC gasser with a 5 speed and two speed rear end before that. Been out of big trucks since about 1977, getting back in with a "B" for now, road test next Thursday...

TS

 

The difference between a 9 and 10 speed is negligible. What I would do is simply drive it like a non-split tranny. Chances are for the road test you won't be fully loaded anyway and the only time those splits come in really handy is when you are heavy or on a hill to keep you in the engine's optimal RPM for torque. So I wouldn't even worry about splitting until after the test. Then talk to someone there who is willing to show you how to do it. Heck, even the road tested might be able to teach you if you are up front with them.

 

I would take the 5x3 over the gasser with 2 spd rears. Drove an old dump truck with a 5spd and 2 speed rears still had the pull out choke control. Killed that truck 6 times in a matter of 2 blocks because I couldn't get that 2 speed to shift. Finally said screw it and rev it up and took whole gears.

 

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Yep those old two speeds could be temperamental, never really felt comfortable with it...

I have a 13 speed shift knob in my Dodge 4 x 4 pickup with manual 6 speed, the range control and splitter are active for other things, I have the range control hooked up to allow disengaging the front axle, very cool for backing a trailer in 2-low. The splitter is used to activate my exhaust brake, one of the best accessories on my pickup, LOL. Sure get some looks...

Apologies to the OP, I think we are off subject, my advice as others have said, if doing the check ride empty, just ignore the red splitter and drive it as a 9 speed...

TS