Trouble downshifting on an 8-speed

this is true, just rexlax and try not to get to exctied when you miss a gear it happens to all of us, even after 32 years i'll admit i can miss a gear.
don't be afraid to rev up past the "sweet spot" and let let rpms come down to ease it in. key is be light on to stick don't try to force it

 

I have only been in Truck Driving School for 5 weeks (weekends) I could not downshift to save my soul, our instructor could not tell me what I was not doing either. One of the students in my truck watched what I was doing and figured it out for me. I was #1 not double clutching, then I was not putting it in neutral before I tried to put it in the lower gear. In other words I was clutching only once and trying to force it into the lower gear. So after he told me what I was doing wrong, I have not had a problem. First Clutch to take it out of gear into neutral, rev up the RPMs then clutch again and put it into the lower gear works great

 

That's a good deal when the others can help you out.....
If everybody pitched in and helped each other out....This world would be a better place....

 

In my old Mack, it was pretty easy. I had to push in the clutch, rev up a bit taking my RPM up a little high, though not redlining and put the 1-5 stick into neutral. I would then hold it in place by the next gear down with a little bit of pressure, not enough to grind it, but enough to get it into place and then it would slip right in when the Rs were right. In my Pete with the spicer (Did I mention I really hated that truck?) you had to tach it out and double clutch it. I doubt either are what they were back then these days but it may help you to find some comfortable middle ground that works.

 

Awesome advice! I too have had problems with shifting when I was training and then I went to US Xpress which was fully auto shift. A couple of years ago I left to go back to school and have thought about going back to USX but I've heard they're weeding out their auto shifts and I'm a little nervous about down shifting as well. My brothers have taught me a lot and have also taught me how to float but I'm still having trouble with down shifting.

I've seen a lot of good advice on this forum. Thanks so much to you and all the other's for such awesome advice.

 

Amen! And that is all I have to say about that ... but the site script does not think my reply was long enough so I added all this extra stuff!

 

not in california....i floated a 10 speed the whole drive test.