Trouble shifting on steep hill

plan to down shift the truck 10 mph ahead of time when loaded heavy going up the grade. by the time you get into the next gear. the truck will be down to the speed to catch the gear. if it is an assigned fleet truck. then it is probably programmed with progressive shifting. that maybe some of your trouble. a good cure. shifting the truck below 1500 r.p.m's at all time. it will keep the progressive shifting program from kicking in. most fleet trucks are set-up to red flag any shifting over 1550 to 1600 rpms.

 

Downshifting without the clutch is a problem for me.....

 

When getting rolling on a steep hill, I let the clutch out to the point at where it starts to grab. Right about then, I let the clutch out just a bit faster while releasing the brake. In first gear, even with up to 140,000 pounds, I've never stalled the engine out doing this.

Once it is rolling smoothly, I will blip the throttle, not letting the rpms get high, lower revs are best. The higher you go with the engine, the longer it takes for it to drop. So, I blip the throttle, let off real quick and catch the next gear. Each successive shift is at just a little higher revs each time. By the time I reach the high range, I am taking the engine to the 1600-1700 range.

You learn a lot if you drive trucks on a farm. You have situations where you get soft ground that will kill your momentum rather quickly. I also found out about the use of the diff locks on slick surfaces and how that affects your steering ability.

Oh, look up "progressive shifting" if you're not aware of it.

 

my Cummins seems to like to be shifted at around 1300-1350 rpms. on a hill, maybe a little higher because it will slow down quicker. I found it shifted way better at the lower rpm.

 

I had that problem at first. I thought the solution was to increase rpms to make up for the quicker drop. That helped little, but the real solution is quickness. Don't raise rpms any higher than normal, just jerk that ##### out and up. And learn to float, double clutching just slows you down.

 

good point! plus double clutching will burn out the clutch.

a tip on flowing the gears. trying to think of the best way to explain this tip. while keeping light steady tention on the shifter. in the direction of your next gear. you of to start pulling it out of gear the same time you let off the fuel pedal.


how to use the range selector the right way. on a 10 speed. you have to move the range selector while in netrual only. between 5 and 6 gear. preselecting in fifth gear will wear the fork,gear,shaft out in the transmission. it's a very expensive repair. and if the parts brake on you while you are on the road. if it goes to a dealer or shop. they are going to say the transmission was preselected by the driver. voids the warranttee. how to know when the range selector parts are bad. you will here a high pitch whing sound plus viberation when switching the range selector. they normally brake about 350k miles. so disreguard what the manual and instructions or the other drivers tell you about being able to preselect with out damage.

 

Don't worry about traffic and don't be in a big rush to empty your fuel tank. Sounds like you're over thinking it and trying to rush the shift. Just relax, you'll get there.

 

Actually, there is a valve in the transmission that prevents the range solenoid from activating unless the transmission is in neutral. The only time you don't preselect the shift is if the transmission uses a splitter type assembly.

 

Depending on the engine/truck...instead of "revving" the engine to get into a lower gear, ease on the accelerator to raise the rpms..then slip her in.

I say it depends on the truck because, for example, certain international engines have HORRIBLE throttle control

 

I keep stalling going up hill please help 13 speed eaton fuller