[Douglas]

We've just started driving over the road in tech school last week, and I've had a bit of trouble grinding the gears. I'll have the rpms right (for the truck we use it's arond 1200 to 1700), but sometimes it still grinds and won't go into gear.

When you shift, should press the clutch a split-second before you move the shifter into neutral, release the clutch, then press it again and move the shifter into the next gear right after you press the clutch (so that it looks like you're almost pressing the clutch and moving the gearshift simaltaniously)? Or actually be trying to move the gearshift as I press the clutch?

What I've been doing is I'll press the clutch for a couple of seconds, move the gearshift into neutral, release the clutch, press it again for a couple of seconds before trying to move the gearshift into the next gear. A fellow student told me I was hesitating.

I've only been out on the road one time, so I haven't had a chance to try it again. Monday we should be going back out. Any advice?

[Kranky]

Sounds like you're waiting too long and the rpm's are dropping too low by the time you go for the next gear.

Just keep practicing, it'll come to you, it's kinda like a 6th sense you have to develop, knowing when the rpm's match the road speed for a particular gear.

Good Luck.

[pegasis2]

it sounds like you are going into gear to slow. keep practicing it will come to you. Sometimes it will go into gear without double clutching. good luck

[kips41]

Douglas

Try and develop a rythem. Try and use saying the phase: "clutch one thousand one" to yourself when you shift.

When you are going out of gear put a little pressure on the stick as you depress the clutch and it will go right into neutral.

Then say one thousand one as you double clutch and go into the next gear.

Going from one gear to the next is about timing and this will help you with your timing. This works real well on flat ground if you are going
downhill your pause between gears will be shorter, going up an incline
the pause will be longer.

You will get the hang of it, just takes a little time and lots of practice.

[rickstephens]

might sound crazy here but depending on your age find a old show called the addams family and listn to the song da da da da shift shift and get a plunger and sit in a chair and practice i know it sounds crazy but it will help

[One]

I agree w/ the others, you are waiting too long- the big point in dblclutching is that it takes you a certain amount of time to depress the clutch twice which coincides pretty closely with the amount of time it takes for the engine to slow. Move your foot quickly and as you push the gear in:
If you feel the gears slow down and then drop in, you went too fast;
If you feel the gears speeding up- too slow.
Remember to use very light pressure on the shifter only. If you feel those gears speeding up, GENTLY speed up the engine with throttle and feel the gears slowing down again and the gear drop in.
When you have the timing pretty close, start experimenting floating the higher gears (5+)
Let me know if this does it for you! :wink:

[mistergreen]

And when you get good enough you can float from 1 or 2 all the way to 10 (all the gears I have)

[autohauler06]

when you push in the clutch you should be taking it out of gear or putting it in at the same time. When downshifting you can use the clutch to get it out of gear and rev it and put it into gear without the clutch so pretty much the clutch isn't needed but I don't recommend this to anyone who is in school or going for their state road test. It is grinding cause you are missing the gear. Either rev it higher or move the lever faster or a combination of both. Here take a look at this thread it was discussed not to long ago. Take a look at what was said. Look at what I wrote. http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...hlight=#246089 It is really simple once you learn how to diagnose the problem. All trucks are different but dont worry. It all comes with experience.

[ssoutlaw]

Originally Posted by Splitshifter

Sounds like you're waiting too long and the rpm's are dropping too low by the time you go for the next gear.

Just keep practicing, it'll come to you, it's kinda like a 6th sense you have to develop, knowing when the rpm's match the road speed for a particular gear.

Good Luck.

I agree with splitshifter, this is most likely the problem!!

[Rookie McRookerson]

I didn't read any comments about possibly mashing the clutch. Could part of his problem be that he is depressing the clutch too far, like he's driving a car? I know I had that problem when first starting in school.

You only depress the clutch half way.

One of our instructors said "it's ballet, not rugby." "Shift - one - two!"