Trouble shifting on steep hill

Electronic crap in motors these days? Sounds like to me you need to learn how to shift! No matter what the weight of the load is you STILL go by the RPMs! Lower range gears shift at 1300-900 and higher at 1600. Why worry about whats behind you unless you are rolling back? Those drivers coming up on your rear can already tell that you are having a bit of trouble and are trying to intimidate you.

 

A couple of things I have found regarding shifting:
1. Every transmission is a little different. But sometimes I have to push in the clutch a little to get the stick out of a gear, especially if my timing is not right. But even in that situation, I can usually slip the stick into the next gear without having to push on the clutch. If the engine rpms are matching up to the tranny, you don't need to use the clutch to get into a gear....you can use the clutch, but you won't notice any difference in the shift. I do tend to use the clutch more for getting out of a gear than getting into a gear!
2. New drivers, including myself, should have the jake brake turned off when shifting, as it throws your timing off. If you have trouble shifting, having the jake brake on will only compound your problems.
3. Just so you know, when you shift, and the engine is at low rpms, the turbo in the engine has to "wind up" to deliver more power and that takes a few seconds. If you have a manifold gauge on your dash, you can watch the psi build up via the gauge. Also, the turbo can't deliver as much power at low rpms as at high rpms, so you will notice less power right after you shift, as you are at a low rpm. The manifold gauge will continue to climb as your rpms increase....up to 35 psi, which means the turbo is at maximum boost for your engine. The higher the gear you are in, the slower the engine rpms will climb, as the engine has to pull harder the higher the gear. The electronics that control the engine can actually allow more fuel and hence more power to be delivered to the engine when in the top gears where it is needed, rather than when in the lower gears where it is not needed as much....Mack/Volvo have that feature on their electronic engines, and I am sure others do to.

 

You are exactly right....I used to think that I needed higher rpms in the low gears, but found out that by the time the rpms come down so you can shift, you have lost all your ground speed! So lower rpms in the lower gears is better, so you can shift faster!!

 

im used to driving FLs and some Internationals,now im stuck in an old Mack daycab.problem is when i shut down the engine at a stop i leave it in neutral.When i start up the truck it takes a monumental effort to get it in gear,any gear.never had this prob.tried giving it some throttle,no luck,clutch to floor,no luck let it sit a few miutes while i do paperwork,no luck.im tired of the grinding noise and its down right annoying.it doesnt do it everytime but enough to make me wonder what im missing.

 

Never been in a Mack before...but you did say "clutch to floor"...so your clutch brake is way out of adjustment I'm thinking!

 

Or gone all together.

 

You must be driving an old mechanical motor if you're using that for you're operating range. Or you've got a castrated gutless motor. You shouldn't be crossing over about 1600 in the basement and you shouldn't be crossing 1700-1800 up on the high side. I keep my revs below 1400 in the basement and around 1500 on the high side depending on weight with an 18spd. I don't split the basement and try not to split the high side. The exception to this is pulling grades. I pull grades at higher RPMS and I prefer to pull them around 1800rpm. Shifting is still the same though and its nothing to grab 3 gears going up the grade to keep that rig rolling. Shifting comes with experience and knowing you're truck and you're motor. Today's motors are gear quick and get up in the taller gears fast. What you're describing with shifting at 1900 is an old mechanical motor from way back when. The old big cams and B models yes you're operating range was up there in them higher RPMS but not with today's motors.

 

all this is takong place while the truck is idiling btw.it shifts fine when moving tho.

 

I agree. In low range I would shift between 1300-1400 Rpm. In high range is shift at 1600.

 

Well yeah!!

Who uses a clutch when moving? Plus...the clutch brake isn't in the picture when moving!