I have quick question to ask all those guys driving bigger rigs.
How long does it take to get use to shifting that dam thing!!!???
I'm working on getting my CDL, and well, it is greatly troubling me at this point. I passed all the written tests (core, air brakes, combo) and am getting ready for my road test.
My friend has a sterling with the 8LL manual..............though I 'technically' shouldn't of been, I got a real good lesson the past week as he needed someone to truck snow from site to site.
I'm getting better, but it just still isn't coming to me. I've heard some guys say that it takes months to get use to shifting, while others take days.
Is it just me, or should I have no problems after a good week of driving........
I really understand the meaning of 'if you can't find them, grind them' at this point!!!
Should I be thinking of investing in a automatic at this point, or is it going to come to me?
I used to have probs with a 5 lo/hi setup at a previous employer - never had trouble upshifting in 1/2 gears, but downshifting was always hard. My solution: stop doing it. If I had a big load on I'd use all the gears going up, but only the Hi gears going down. If empty, I'd just not touch the Lo gears.
I love those quick shifting, unsynced trannies. Eaton Fuller 8LL is smooth as silk once you find the sweet spot. You will be able to shift with one finger. Start by trying to slip it out of gear without clutching. There is a spot when the road speed matches engine speed that it will just slide right into and out of gear. I only use the clutch to start and stop, the rest is done by matching revs to road speed. It is easier to learn the upshift, but don't give up on the downshifting, it's VERY DANGEROUS to rely only upon brakes to stop a loaded truck. Overheated brakes fade quickly and will fail, I guarantee it. To downshift, find the sweet spot and slip it out of gear, then take your revs up a bit to slide into the next lowest gear. I hit gears 7-6- usually 5-3-1 on the way down on an 8LL and can actually stop the truck without touching the brakes. You will find the shifts are all made at the same spot on the tach within about a 60-100 rpm window. Good luck, I hope you come to love these trannies as much as I do.
The straight RoadRanger is one of the easier trannies to shift, you just have to realize you have to shift faster than in your car or synchroed truck.
Start out with double clutching, but be quick, you have to catch the gear as the engine rpm passes the synchro point, these trannies have no synchroes.
Once you become comfortable with the rpm levels, you can easily shift up or down without the clutch and catch the next gear by adjusting engine speed.
Once you master the straight R/R, we'll tackle the over/under R/R and then move into 4 x 4s (I ain't talkin' pickups!)
Any of your non synchcro boxes whether it is a Roadranger, Mack, Spicer, etc. to start out should be double clutched for a learner. You should only push the clutch down about an inch. If you are getting a lot of grinding the truck probably has a clutch brake on it and you are engaging it every time you push the clutch down too far. Just tap the clutch lightly to get used to it. When you master that then start with clutchless shifts. When we first got our International back in 87 we ordered it with a 13 speed fuller in it. My dad decided to pick it up from the dealer and had a very long and rough ride from jersey to Orange County NY. Now Iwouldn't have anything else in a big truck. You have enough gears for any situation.
Cheers, Rob C
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