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TIPS? Super 10 and different truck

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Firebird, Aug 15, 2007.

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  1. Aug 15, 2007 #1
    Firebird

    Firebird Light Load Member

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    Aug 13, 2006
    Bristol, VA
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    Hi all,

    As some you may remember I currently driver for TWT(Tidewater Transit) and like the company, but....

    A&R Transport came along and offered me a lot more money doing exactly what I have been doing with TWT, hauling bulk tanks.

    I have been driving for just about a year now and the only truck I have driven is a newer Volvo with a straight 10 tranny. All of A&R's trucks are long nose Pete and KW condos with Super 10's. As I found out doing the road test, those are completely different critters than that Volvo I am used to.

    The first thing I did was pulling out of the yard. The safety guy said make a right and I swung it out of the lot just like I would in the Volvo, guess what? It didn't work, I ended up almost jumping the curb on the opposite side of the road...oops!.. back up a little and get on the road. We head up the road a little ways and he asks me if I am going to stay over the center line the whole trip, I think "?" and realize that the front of the truck is NARROWER than the back. I started getting more comfortable just in the 20 minutes it took to do the road test, but man it was different than my old Volvo. Oh yeah, you can't stick your head out the window when backing. All that is there is a big chrome stack.

    The Super 10 is crazy. I hear a lot of people swear by them, and I hear a lot of people swear at them. Personally I am swearing at it right now.The Volvo has got the turning radius of the Pete and K/W beat hands down.

    Does anybody have any tips on that Super 10? I understand the concept, 2 consecutive gears in each hole. I realize that practice will make all the difference, but I was kinda looking for something to speed up the process:biggrin_25525:

    Thanks,

    Dave
     
    Firebird, Aug 15, 2007
    Firebird, Aug 15, 2007
    #1
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  3. Aug 15, 2007 #2
    Pete_379X

    Pete_379X Super Chrome

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    The only tip I can give ya is good luck on that super 10. I've tried and I can't do it. You will get used to the turning radius eventually. I went from a company T-600 to a 379X and it took me a minute to get used to it. Not that the turning radius was that good on the T-600.. just better than the ext. nose pete I bought.
     
    Pete_379X, Aug 15, 2007
    Pete_379X, Aug 15, 2007
    #2
  4. Aug 15, 2007 #3
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    the road less travelled
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    I've heard it described as half of a 13 speed,and that is easier to drive than a straight 10. you have to quit moving the shifter for every gear and start flicking your thumb instead. I don't have any problem switching from a straight 10 to a 13 or 18 and I actually much prefer either of those to a straight 10. Unfortunately , I got switched out of one 10 speed to another,after driving an 18 about 2300 miles. I think it will probably come to you. You just have to remember what you are driving at the time.

    Oh yeah, a transmission retrofit had an overdrive top installed on a direct transmission, reversing the top two slots in both ranges, I could drive that, too, once I figured out the new shift pattern.

    :biggrin_2555:
     
    25(2)+2, Aug 15, 2007
    25(2)+2, Aug 15, 2007
    #3
  5. Aug 15, 2007 #4
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Leave the jake on the low setting. That will help the most with that super 10.
     
    Brickman, Aug 15, 2007
    Brickman, Aug 15, 2007
    #4
  7. Aug 15, 2007 #5
    VULCAN1999

    VULCAN1999 World's #1 Grandpa

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    Super 10 is much easier in the long run to drive. Little rough on the old thumb at first but that's it. Just think in a couple months you'll be able to thumb wrestle anyone to the ground.
     
    VULCAN1999, Aug 15, 2007
    VULCAN1999, Aug 15, 2007
    #5
  8. Aug 15, 2007 #6
    Firebird

    Firebird Light Load Member

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    Aug 13, 2006
    Bristol, VA
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    Well, I suppose that thumb wrestling trick could be interesting doing a reset at the local truck stop...LOL

    Thanks for all the replies. I still have a couple of questions though...

    Let's say you are in first and going to second, just flip the button forward?..Does it change then, or once you let off the gas or what? So you don't have to bring the gearshift out of gear, flip the button, then bring it back to the same hole?

    I have heard that some of them change automatically in the top gear(9-10)?

    Thanks again,

    Dave

    Just found this...kinda cool

    http://books.google.com/books?id=Ia...1AA&sig=lILNAtGSCtS3OlrT10ndruJnJDY#PPA212,M1
     
    Firebird, Aug 15, 2007
    Firebird, Aug 15, 2007
    #6
  9. Aug 15, 2007 #7
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Flip the button, let off the throttle and then hit it. Just like a 13 spd or 18 spd split shift.
     
    Brickman, Aug 15, 2007
    Brickman, Aug 15, 2007
    #7
  10. Aug 15, 2007 #8
    VULCAN1999

    VULCAN1999 World's #1 Grandpa

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    It amazes me when I hear people say they hate this type of tranny, it makes for half the shifter moves why wouldn't you like it?
     
    VULCAN1999, Aug 15, 2007
    VULCAN1999, Aug 15, 2007
    #8
  11. Aug 15, 2007 #9
    Firebird

    Firebird Light Load Member

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    Aug 13, 2006
    Bristol, VA
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    I'm not saying I like or dislike it. I am going to be driving a Super 10 after driving a straight 10 for the last year and I was just trying to get some pointers on it.

    Of course in 6 months I will be able to tell you whether or not a like it, but for now it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
     
    Firebird, Aug 15, 2007
    Firebird, Aug 15, 2007
    #9
  12. Aug 15, 2007 #10
    FozzyNOK

    FozzyNOK Road Train Member

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    Easiest transmission next to the autoshift. The benefits far outweigh any of the negatives as far as I'm concerned. The easy part of this transmission is that the pattern is a easy to remember "H" pattern. As some of the posters related on this thread, this transmission shifts like the upper range of the 13 speed. Think of this as a 4 speed that you basically have to split each gear. Also think of this as an 8 speed and it makes even more sense.. reverse and low really don't count anyway...

    Example of the upshifts:
    • First, pull the thumb switch REARWARD for low range (or 1st gear) and push the gear shift into first gear.
    • as soon as the transmission is in gear, flip the thumb lever FORWARD to pre-select 2nd gear.
    • You will Start off in 1st gear... start forward and raise the rpm, because you preselected 2nd, just let off of the accelerator and the transmission automatically shifts to 2nd when the rpm drops.
    • As soon as the transmission shifts to second, pull the thumb switch to the REAR and start applying power,
    • When you reach the proper rpm, double clutch and move the gearshift to 3rd.. start applying power to raise speed and rpm
    • Flip the thumb switch FORWARD, come off of the power, the transmission shifts to 4th..
    • Continue until desired speed is obtained.
    To Downshift the Super Ten:
    • If you are in 10th (8th) and up to speed, get off the power and start dropping rpm...
    • Preselect 9th by flipping the thumb lever to the REAR..
    • When rpms drop 250-300 rpm, quickly "snap" the rpm up and the transmission will shift to 9th.
    • When the transmission is in 9th, flip the thumb lever FORWARD to preselect 8th
    • Drop speed and rpm using the brakes
    • when the rpm drops, double clutch and move the gearshift to 8th,
    • When you are in 8th, preselect 7th by flipping the thumb lever to the rear...
    • and so on.
    You have to know that for the most part, the super-ten makes a lot of shifts unnecessary. Most of the day on the open road, you'll spend all day without moving the gearshift lever at all! Most speeds from 45 to 60+ is done using the thumb lever and the accelerator only.

    The transmission has a reputation for not being able to shift FAST. You shift sports cars fast! There is no need to shift trucks fast anyway!!! I never used the engine brake to shift. Other than being really annoying, it causes more problems than its worth especially for new drivers to the transmission.

    The Super ten "Top 2" allows fully automatic shifts from 10th to 9th..
     
    FozzyNOK, Aug 15, 2007
    FozzyNOK, Aug 15, 2007
    #10
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