Trouble shifting on steep hill

I've seen many rookies get into that clutch brake when double clutching. Gears start grinding and for some reason their foot goes to the floor and they think that is going to make the transmission magically go into gear. Its like that song. Got the whole gearbox steady straight up grinding. Haha.

And you can always tell the drivers that use the clutch. They're usually the ones who limp into the truck stop and have a massive left leg and a twig for a right leg. I never realized how much effort it takes to push that clutch in until I tried it with my right leg once. Too bad I'm not left footed might be able to make a career out of being a field goal kicker if I start double clutching now and quit driving in 40 years hahaha.

 

lol,yes,just clarifying.the dam thing just wont go into gear from neutral.im perplexed.

 

Several trucks I've driven have this problem of getting into gear from a full stop, some more than others. One thing you will notice is that right after you come to a stop, if you engage the clutch all the way and then immediately and SOFTLY attempt to put it in gear you will notice the gears are still moving but coming slowly to a stop. Wait until the gears stop, then let up on the clutch PART WAY and it should fall into gear nicely. If you are waiting at a stop light after getting into gear then engage the clutch all the way again and wait until it is time to go.

Clutches can also vary in how much pressure is required to engage them all the way, from the 80+ lbs of force on the old Fords and KW's I used to drive, to a very soft 15-20 lb pressure on the new Freightliner I'm driving now. I know that on those hard to clutch trucks at long lights I wouldn't engage a gear until the light turned red or I knew it was close to turning red in order to save leg power.