Stll having big problems downshifting

Well there's one issue. Learn your gears and what the corresponding speeds are. In a panic situation, on a 10speed, know that 15-20mph is 6th gear.

 

how i was taught in school: slow/brake to 1000-1100 rpms, clutch neutral, tap the fuel and then grab the lower gear. Get in the truck and do it with the truck off to get the timing and the rhythm down..Make the engine noises with your mouth if you have to..worked for me. Now i float up or down without the clutch as easily ad i breathe..comes with practice and tme out on the open road. good luck

 

This is going to get huge groans but here we go.


Do this on flat ground until it clicks
Scrub the crap out of your gears, get moving shift a couple times and then realky gently try to shift. Your gears are going to grind because your not matching the correct rpm for it to slide in. If you're gently trying to get it in gear it won't grind too loud and you'll feel a rapid vibration in the stick.

Now slowly apply more throttle until the stick starts to pulse slower. When it starts pulsing slower that means you are really close to the rpms that will get into that gear at that speed. A little more throttle and it will click in.

Or you can tap the throttle take it out of gear and romp on it, go to the gear you want and try to slip it in as your motor is reving down. Do not have the engine brake on whole trying these methods.


These are two simple basic ways to get a feel for what you're doing. The first method is really bad for the truck but you shouldn't damage anything if you just do it a few times to get the feel/idea of shifting.

What you need to develop is a feel for matching the rpm's with the speed for each gear. Downshifting requires a higher rpm than the gear you're currently in. Once it clicks in your mind you'll be home free

 

Hey Steve, sometimes it is just that much easier to be with someone hands on. I am only 150 miles straight north of you off of 24 hwy. I seldom get out of the office anymore but if you are game let me know some weekend and if you want to bring your tractor up here I'll be glad to give you a hand. However be forewarned that half of the people here will tell you that I am doing it wrong, I cannot use the clutch to save my ###, been that way for 40 years.

 

Here is an old trick I learned on this forum a few years ago, and it helps on downshifting to find the right gear on a 10 spd just by looking at the speedometer. I found it helpful as a new driver.

15 mph = 6th gear It is easy to remember cause you add the 1 and 5 and get the gear = 6
25 mph = 7th gear 2 + 5 = 7th
35 mph = 8th gear 3 + 5 = 8th
45 mph = 9th gear 4 + 5 = 9th
So when you look at your speedometer you can quickly figure out what gear you should be in as you downshift while in the high range. You pretty much have to skip gears while braking...you just don't have enough distance to run through every gear when downshifting.

I get your problem with only having 2 feet and 3 pedals.....when downshifting. The 2 most important pedals are the throttle and the brake...but those both take your right foot.....which is what you are having a problem with.

So when coming up to 25 mph ramp just get into 7th gear ....ride the brakes down to idle, and then slip it into neutral and use your brakes to slow you down to your desired speed of 5 mph or so....then slip it into the gear that matches 5 mph and then you are set for a turn or to stop.
You will be in neutral for more than 3 seconds, but that is ok.....you are not being tested by a DOT examiner, you are slowing down your truck!
If you want to start using your brakes in 8th gear, then you would be going 35 mph, and brake down to 5 mph while in neutral......PROBLEM SOLVED? You will have to figure out what gear in the low range matches up to 5 mph, but that should be easy for you do after a couple of tries.

 

This is one method I learn when I first started driving almost 30 plus years ago. Its the heel toe method of down shifting.Put your toes on the brake pedal and raise the rpms with the heel of your foot. You might want to try it if you,re getting fustrated.

 

If you're double clutching. Push clutch in pull out if gear give it a quick rev clutch in pull stick.

I noticed when I was learning I down shift better at low RPM like 13 or 14 then at as they say 15. There is something that works for everyone you just need to find that spot
Goodluck

 

I am an instructor, and have been for many years. first jake off, second you have to loose ground speed, slow down till your rpms are 1100-1300 rpmsTap the clutch only far enough to release the shifter, slide it not neutral bring your rpms up 400 rpms, hold the rpms and tap the clutch again and let it slide into gear. I would practice under normal load conditions.

 

Hope you printed all this excellent advice Steve.

 

If you need to downshift your rpms are too low. Take it out of gear, rev it and let it drop into gear. In time you will become a pro at it.