Someone Help Me Shift!!!!!!!!

[codered]

Ok, I started driving today, and I cannot for the life of me downshift!!!! Goin up throught the gears is ok....(little bit of grind), but I cant downshift at all. I let the jake do most of the work today...but I need help!!!!!!! Any suggestions. i drive an 8LL tranny.

[BigWheels]

Well I'm sure you do something like this:
1. Clutch in (not down to the floor).
2. Shift to neutral.
3. Clutch out.
4. Tap the gas to raise the RPM's.
5. Clutch in (not down to the floor).
6. Shift to next lower gear.
7. Clutch out (not to quickly nor to slowly).

Where in the process are you having trouble?

Keep practicing and you'll get better and better!

Also see this thread:
http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...ic.php?t=27091

[Kranky]

What the hell, an 8 LL is one of the easiest out there.

To downshift: take it out of gear, raise the RPM's to what they would be if you were already in the next lower gear, then it should slide right in.

About 400 to 500 RPM's from one gear to the next.

Don't wildly jab the throttle and try to slam the stick into gear, just raise the RPM's to a steady level for the next lower gear and "feel" it in, adjusting the throttle accordingly til it slides in to gear.

[codered]

I think my problem is that when I take it out of the gear I am in, I get very nervous about not being able to stop. I also have a bad habit of jabing the throttle. My biggest issue is on the highway, and I want to slow for a corner or a curve in the road....I take it out, and then I cant downshift it so I get worked up over it and end up using the brakes...which when hauling 70,000lbs, wont take long to eat brakes.

[Aligator]

You're taking your foot of the throttle when you pull it into neutral. Don't do that.
Keep steady pressure on the throttle; ease it into neutral; increase pressure on the throttle; press (don't jab) the shifter into gear.

[kilog55]

how can you be OTR and not know how to properly downshift? most road tests they want to see you up and down shift. take the jake off when you are downshifting it will drop the rpms too fast.

most trannies will slip in around 1200-1500rpms you should use the speed to know what gear it will go into at. i've only driven eaton 10 speeds and mack twin stick 5 speeds but it was easy enough to figure out.

[BigWheels]

Ok, I started driving today....

First things first: Are we to assume you attended a driving school or did Uncle Bill teach you how to drive in his truck? Or, for chuckles and giggles, did you borrow Uncle Bill's freightliner and are taking it to Texas for the weekend? :shock: Seriously, we need to know what's going on when you say you started driving today.

I think my problem is that when I take it out of the gear I am in, I get very nervous about not being able to stop. I also have a bad habit of jabing the throttle. My biggest issue is on the highway, and I want to slow for a corner or a curve in the road....I take it out, and then I cant downshift it so I get worked up over it and end up using the brakes...which when hauling 70,000lbs, wont take long to eat brakes.

Short term solution: take baby steps. While you're traveling along with no traffic behind you, try downshifting to the next lower gear. If you fail, no biggie, get her back up to the speed and try again (again with no traffic behind you). After a few successes you'll feel more confident in downshifting.

Long term solution: practice in an empty parking lot, (or anywhere there's room to turn around) preferably with an empty trailer. Downshift from 6th to 5th to 4th. Repeat. Again. You can practice with just the tractor but it will kick you around a bit more than if you have the weight of the trailer attached as well. Sure this may look weird going in circles around a parking lot but who cares?! Just do it! :rock:

Keep us posted on your progress.

Remember...the brakes alone will stop you. But for now, avoid the mountains!

[codered]

Ok, I have been driving for a while....mostly farm stuff...easy. I did not attend any school and have had my CDL for 3 years now. Never drove a stick on a regular basis, so that is my problem.

I see what you are saying about taking my foot off the throttle...cuz that is exactly what I am doing. I let off completly, is that my problem?

[codered]

Can anyone post a list of RPM shift points??? Or suggestions for me?

Don't worry about it. It takes time. I passed my test grinding the crap out of the gears trying to downshift. Most of the time people tend to over rev the engine then force it into gear. I got my license and it was maybe 4 months later that I was able to do it smooth.

[GMAN]

You should be able to downshift at around 1,500 rpm. I keep meaning to check this. I have gotten so used to shifting by sound that I don't pay much attention to the rpm's when I shift. Don't force the truck into any gear. Keep a steady foot on the accelerator. You may need to adjust up or down on the rpm's until it easily goes into gear. If you have the engine brake on, it may assist you in adjusting the rpm's down. Don't sweat it. You will be able to do it with time. You only need some practice.

[BigWheels]

If you have no troubles upshifting, watch the RPM's when you upshift and listen to the engine.

For downshifting, reverse the process.

Generally, you'll be downshifting when the RPM's fall between 1,000-1,200. Then you'll rev the engine up to between 1,500-1,700 RPM's.

Try this: shift with only your thumb, forefinger, and middle finger on the top of the stick (practice first when upshifting so you get the hang of what it feels like). You won't be able to jab the stick into gear. Rather, you'll need to wait until you can gently ease into the gear you want.

Believe it or not, it takes very little pressure to put 'er into gear when the RPM's are just right.

I remember when I was first learning how to shift. The driving instructor made sure the little plastic piece on the top of the freightliner stick was never firmly in place. When I got busy grinding the gears, the piece would pop out and fall to the floor. Then the instructor made me stop (on the practice range) and put the plastic piece back into the stick. Needless to say I got tired of stopping/starting/stopping/starting really fast. :? :sad: :evil: The 3-fingered method above helped me avoid popping that darn plastic piece out of the stick in no time at all.

Keep at it!

[kilog55]

on 10 speed trans you go by the speed it is a little easier to downshift that way.

so

45mph 9th gear
35mph 8th gear
25mph 7th gear
15mph 6th gear
5mph 5th gear then 4th 3rd 2nd and 1st if you wanna be silly


thats how swift teaches ya.

but with other trannys it's a little differant, but it will slide right in at the right speed and rpm just like a regular stick in a 4 wheeler

[Kranky]

on 10 speed trans you go by the speed it is a little easier to downshift that way.

so

45mph 9th gear
35mph 8th gear
25mph 7th gear
15mph 6th gear
5mph 5th gear then 4th 3rd 2nd and 1st if you wanna be silly

Those reference points are valid for a particular rear axle ratio.

In a truck with a different rear axle ratio they would be incorrect.

[kilog55]

i dunno it always worked for me so far in f-liners

[Aligator]

..........I see what you are saying about taking my foot off the throttle...cuz that is exactly what I am doing. I let off completly, is that my problem?

That's the problem.
Leave your throttle foot alone. Clutch in and go to neutral and then clutch out....the RPM will increase a little; increase them some more by pressing the throttle (about 400 RPM more); then press the gear shift into the next hole. Feel that "bumping"? That's the gears bumping together; use the throttle (gently) to make it stop so the gears will mesh.

You'll notice that you won't use the clutch to get back into gear - just to get out of gear.

[Kranky]

And once you get that part down, you can move on to the next level.

Put your right foot half on the brake and half on the throttle and learn to apply the brakes while also working the throttle and downshifting at the same time.

Once you get the hang of it, it is a very smooth way to slow down or stop, while using the engine and jake brake to assist.

[BigWheels]

And once you get that part down, you can move on to the next level.

Put your right foot half on the brake and half on the throttle and learn to apply the brakes while also working the throttle and downshifting at the same time.

Once you get the hang of it, it is a very smooth way to slow down or stop, while using the engine and jake brake to assist.

Just tried that.

Heard a "clunk" and then watched in my mirror as my trailer ran over what was left of the tranny. :shock:

Seriously, I'll have to try that method. Haven't heard of that before.

Here's a little ditty to help me remember:

Put your right foot in,
Put your right foot out,
Put your right foot in,
And shake it all around....

OK...seriously...I will try that out. 8)

[Kranky]

I've been doing it that way for over 30 years and I ain't dropped a tranny yet.

But everyone has their own method, what works for one may not work for another.

Let me know how it works out.

[Fredog]

on 10 speed trans you go by the speed it is a little easier to downshift that way.

so

45mph 9th gear
35mph 8th gear
25mph 7th gear
15mph 6th gear
5mph 5th gear then 4th 3rd 2nd and 1st if you wanna be silly

Those reference points are valid for a particular rear axle ratio.

In a truck with a different rear axle ratio they would be incorrect.

swift can teach that because all their trucks are geared the same, you need to learn to up and down shift by rpm and feel, then you will be able to drive anything. like someone said earlier, you need to match the rpm's to where they would be in the gear if you were already in it, then it will go right in, also shifting with the jake takes lots of pratice, turn it off until you get better at it