Quote:
Originally Posted by Hangernaid
Alex, you are leaving part of the problem out. I am, at least for now, a USX driver and I hate the autoshift. I do like having more room in the cab because there is no stick, so I guess it is a tradeoff.
The problem with the autoshift is that there is a delay while the trans gets in sync with the engine. This can sometimes be as much as 10 seconds, but it is usually 4 to 6 seconds.
The worst (or most embarassing) is when you set up to back into a hole and several trucks are waiting for you to move, you set up, hit the R button, and the trans takes 10 slow seconds to drop into gear. Meanwhile everyone is looking at you as if you are trying to figure out what to do. It has happened to me when I had my nose in the road lining up to back into a hole and the trans took it's sweet time to drop into gear. I almost got hit that time.
The Volvo engine with the Eaton Autoshift does not have the power to pull a greasy string out of a cat's ...... It usually is not an issue because USX usually pulls light loads. Last night I had a Ricketts load that has us over 79,000 pounds. THEN that setup sucks. OK, we usually do not pull that heavy, but it does happen.
I never attempted to identify any problem. I made a remark (over a month ago) about it being simple to slide a button from auto to manual - nothing more nothing less.
I can say as another USX driver, I don't have the problem that you've stated above. The most it ever takes the tranny to get in synch with the engine is a couple of seconds, a blink of an eye if you will. Maybe because my Freightlinger has a Detroit engine i have no idea