what transmission is better?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by chimbotano, Sep 11, 2013.

  1. Sep 11, 2013 #1
    chimbotano

    chimbotano Heavy Load Member

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    Thank you guys for helping me with my questions. I have another question.....I have a 2007 Columbia/freightliner with Detroit engine 900,000 miles and the transmission is a meritor 10 sp. I was having problems with this transmission so I have not other choice than to fix it or put a new/rebuilt transmission. My question is: what would be the best alternative to fix it? (2,500) or to put a rebuilt eaton fuller? 13sp or 18sp (5,000 to 6,000). Which transmission will be a better choice for this engine? I haul light and heavy loads and most of the time is in the western states.
    thank you for you help.
     
    chimbotano, Sep 11, 2013
    chimbotano, Sep 11, 2013
    #1
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  3. Sep 11, 2013 #2
    bubbanbrenda

    bubbanbrenda Road Train Member

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    I personally would stay away from meritor, unless your very heavy and off road 13 will do just fine, if your over 100,000 and/or off road you might need 18.
     
    bubbanbrenda, Sep 11, 2013
    bubbanbrenda, Sep 11, 2013
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    chimbotano Thanks this.
  4. Sep 11, 2013 #3
    Mr. Haney

    Mr. Haney Road Train Member

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    I'm willing to bet you have an overdrive 10 speed. If so find out the final drive ratio. If it is very close to 0.73:1 then I'd go with the 13 or 18. This would give you the option to split the top gear, were as your stock transmission has a very big jump from 9th to 10th gear. This sometimes forces you to turn higher engine RPM to be able to pull hills that you could split the gear with a 13 speed and pull the hill at both the optimum engine RPM for fuel mileage and the Hp needed to do the job.
     
    Mr. Haney, Sep 11, 2013
    Mr. Haney, Sep 11, 2013
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    chimbotano and cetanediesel Thank this.
  5. Sep 11, 2013 #4
    Freightlinerbob

    Freightlinerbob Road Train Member

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    A $3500 price difference won't be recouped very quickly on fuel savings, but if you're going to keep the truck for a while and you've got the budget, you'll like the 13 a lot more.

    Whatever you do, once the transmission is out, put it back together with a new clutch and motor mounts. That era FL chassis has some motor mount issues that you don't want to have to fix later.
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2013
    Freightlinerbob, Sep 11, 2013
    Freightlinerbob, Sep 11, 2013
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    chimbotano and cetanediesel Thank this.
  7. Sep 11, 2013 #5
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Makes sure you know what rear gears are in it before changing too much, many companies were getting 10 speed direct with tall gears.

    I drove one that was geared not so tall with a direct, and they replaced a 10 speed Meritor with the same thing in a reman. That had to do with parts availability and labor making it too expensive to rebuild the Meritor, but it shifted fine after I broke it in(took a month).

    Remanned Eaton was fine from the start, but not as good as a new one in a new truck.
     
    25(2)+2, Sep 11, 2013
    25(2)+2, Sep 11, 2013
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    cetanediesel and chimbotano Thank this.
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