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.

 

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!

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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)

 

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.

 

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