Quote:
Originally Posted by Roadhog
I have to caution against Millersod's advice. Keep in mind, this is the new driver section.
A new driver should be encouraged to learn the proper way of shifting a manual. If you learn the right way, you will always have the skills you can draw on in an emergency.
I don't particularly have anything against a seasoned driver floating some gears, but I personally know a million plus mile driver that only knows how to float and can not double clutch, and that is one driver I will not share the cab with.
Well, as a seasoned driver, I do know how to float the gears. However, I've only done so one time. The pin that is the pivot point for the clutch peddle broke in a KW T-2000. In order to get it to the dealer to have it fixed, I had to shut down the truck at a red light, then start it in gear and float the gears when the light turned green.
I DO double-clutch every gear for one reason. I've driven quite a number of trucks that had "notches" in the gears of the transmission. The truck had been driven without the gears fully meshed. Part of it wore and the rest did not. Even had one that broke teeth out of it. When they took it apart, the mating parts were worn not fully meshed. They wear faster, and fail sooner. About a year, or so, before I bought my own truck, two of us were given brand new trucks. We had to watch the temp guages on transmissions and rears until they broke in. Within 2 years, his tranny failed. When they took it apart, he'd been running with the gears less than half meshed. They are not designed for that. And, with the little I've done by way of floating the gears, I find that it is very easy to apply throttle without having the gears fully engaged. Once it starts to wear at that point, it becomes harder and harder to get it completely in gear.
So, if I had a fleet of trucks, and found out that you are floating the gears, I believe I'd find a reason to let you go. Floating the gears just makes you a BBR.