Deuce Shifting Questions

[F18hornetM]

Good info. Well I've learned something again, I didnt know they recommened "not" downshifting. I guess they put that in the operators manual because some kid will go from 5th to 2nd. I do down shift sometimes, but drive it like a truck, never pick a gear where the rpms would be out of range, so i cant see that hurting anything.
I agree on using the clutch too, better on the trasnmission. I still think these are "trucks" and if driven like a " truck", wont have any issues.

 

[Floridianson]

Thanks yea I down shift maybe 4 to 5 if I have to make a Fast slow down because of a light or a car stops short. The only problem with that is overreving the motor past red line. If you have to do the watch the road for shure but you must keep and eye on the tac while your doing it to. If you over rev then push in the clutch and harder on the brakes and release clutch again and see if your still over reving. Like I said before I use the weight and speed of the truck to carrie me pretty far when comming to a light or easey stop or turn and save my clutch and brakes. I also when a good distance from a light allways figure it is going to turn red and let off abit and see how my luck is.

Back on the 1 low thing if you were crossing that creek and there were good size rocks in there that you could not see you want to be in 1 low and give the truck time to climb over them or dig not stall out. If you were climbing over logs in the wood 1 low would be my choise again as most trucks in 1 low will climb over good size stuff with out adding any fuel. First high could be used if there is good ground with nothing blocking the tires like the creek with no rocks or a soft place that steals power and once again I don't wind out that gear just walk it out till the ground get hard then wind out and see if you can make the shift with out the truck stopping. If it keeps rolling you did good if it stop it was still to soft

I had a little tractor that in deep reduction could climb a good size hill with little rocks and the high rpm and low tire speed it would not even kick the rocks out. That was the right gear for the job. I disagree with anyone that says you must use 1 low or high when empty. and on good ground or payment.

 

[Floridianson]

oops DP

 

[dozer1]

Is it 100% confirmed that these are syncronized trannies in the deuce and M809 5 tons? I will admit that I didn't know for sure. I always have been single clutching each shift at this point. I do know that syncro trannies require the use of the clutch. Non syncro like most OTR trucks you can float.

On a side note. My '95 Volvo semi has a 14 speed syncro in it. You must use the clutch for each shift. You can skip many of the gears tho, and use 7 or 8 of the speeds. Most truckers havent heard of this trans as it was not accepted by the american trucker very well. So it wasn't offered for that long. I personally like it and find it very smooth. It is the only semi I have ever owned tho. I didn't know any better that it was an oddball when I bought it.

 

[F18hornetM]

I dont watch the tach, you can tell by just how fast your going and hear the engine, I never get anywhere near redline...just never run it that hard as I'm never in a hurry driving it. More like crusing around. Joy riding!!

 

[m16ty]

Is it 100% confirmed that these are syncronized trannies in the deuce and M809 5 tons?

Yes. 100%

 

[Katahdin]

I use the lower RPM end of this table (B) for downshifting. On 40mph roads I downshift 4 to 3 for most moving turns. I also downshift when getting off a highway exit. On one approach to my driveway I downshift to second going up a hill. The lower the RPM, or if you're going up a hill, the smoother a downshift seems to be. I don't downshift for stop lights.

 

[Floridianson]

I dont watch the tach, you can tell by just how fast your going and hear the engine, I never get anywhere near redline...just never run it that hard as I'm never in a hurry driving it. More like crusing around. Joy riding!!

Im talking your up to speed like over 50 and you must stop or slow down fast so you don't have a crush and smash. You need to watch the tack there friend.
You should be close to red line when up shifting or you are lugging. When climbing a hill on payment you should should be close to red line and when the rpm start to drop you down shift it goes right back to a little below red line or if you know what you are doing it hits right on red line to carrie you up the hill or you next reduction in rpm and another down shift.
You wont drive a real truck over the road by not useing red line and 30 or more tons on you donkey or inless you got lots of HP lots!!

 

[mcmullag]

most powerful at 2000 rpm

F18hornetM,

"I dont watch the tach, you can tell by just how fast your going and hear the engine"
...just to help you out here, you don't want to 'lug' the engine either. I watch the tach like a hawk when I am cruising around town. I have some steep hills here to climb, just in my hood and I am at 6000 ft altitude so my baby is struggling even when empty.
I try not to be below 1500rpm and not above 2500rpm.

 

[DieselBob]

On a side note. My '95 Volvo semi has a 14 speed syncro in it. You must use the clutch for each shift.

Learn something new every day. I had not heard of a OTR truck having a syncro trans in it. I'm one of those that would not have been happy with that transmission. I learned on twin stick Macks and then 13 & 18 speed RR's and I can't imagine have to clutch every shift.

 

[F18hornetM]

F18hornetM,

"I dont watch the tach, you can tell by just how fast your going and hear the engine"
...just to help you out here, you don't want to 'lug' the engine either. I watch the tach like a hawk when I am cruising around town. I have some steep hills here to climb, just in my hood and I am at 6000 ft altitude so my baby is struggling even when empty.
I try not to be below 1500rpm and not above 2500rpm.

Your right lugging is not good on any engine, But i dont need to look at the tach to tell if its lugging, and I bet you dont really need to look at it either, I bet you can tell by the sound/feel as well, try it sometime, dont look at tach..
I doubt there is a trucker out there that really needs to look at his tach before he shifts.
And your 1500-2500 rpm range seems where mine likes it as well, and that is a common rpm range for any diesel, i just dont have to look to tell if its too low or high.
Maybe I take it for granted, I have spent 30+ years working on diesels. The tach is there for a reason, so if it makes it easier on the truck use it.

 

[F18hornetM]

Im talking your up to speed like over 50 and you must stop or slow down fast so you don't have a crush and smash. You need to watch the tack there friend.
You should be close to red line when up shifting or you are lugging. When climbing a hill on payment you should should be close to red line and when the rpm start to drop you down shift it goes right back to a little below red line or if you know what you are doing it hits right on red line to carrie you up the hill or you next reduction in rpm and another down shift.
You wont drive a real truck over the road by not useing red line and 30 or more tons on you donkey or inless you got lots of HP lots!!

Well if I'm about to crush and smash its going in any gear I can get it in that will help it stop before carnage. As far as red line, I agree most trucks and equipment are designed and make the most HP at a rated RPM, which may not be exactely red line as you stated. having said that, It doesnt hurt diesels in equipment or trucks to run them wide open [against governor]. I have certainly ran my share of M35s wide open [USMC] I have also repaired alot of equipment where operators have run the living pi$$ out of them..
However...I have no desire to run my 1970 M35 wide open..and its not necessary. But to each their own, My point in commenting to this post was, these are trucks and they drive like most any other truck.
If someone has never driving a truck before, and i dont mean a pickup and they buy a duece, they should at least get a freind who has driving trucks to give them a check ride. Would speed up the learing curve alot.
And since I have CDL's with all the endoresements, and have had CDL's since the beginning of the CDL program, I have been lucky enough to drive all kinds of trucks.

 

[dozer1]

Learn something new every day. I had not heard of a OTR truck having a syncro trans in it. I'm one of those that would not have been happy with that transmission. I learned on twin stick Macks and then 13 & 18 speed RR's and I can't imagine have to clutch every shift.

Yep Bob, the need to use the clutch for every shift was there demise. I probably would have felt the same way about it if I learned on a 10 or a 13 speed. I will add that they have a hydraulic clutch with air assist that depresses very easy. Like driving an S-10 or Dakota with a stick. It has no clutch brake and a 17" single plate clutch

 

[mudman]

They have a whole new lot of transmissions out there these days... I don't know how many of you really are "Truck drivers"... But have you seen the lot that drives these days, not a pretty sight. Born and bred on the farm, drove Macks (Thermodyne & Maxidynes), Corn Binders, K-wobblies, Petes, Fruit liners, Diamonds, Whites, everything from 4 speeds with a 3 speed brownie, to 18 speeds. Old and cranky and still drive a truck. Even drove the Winnemucca rd. The trans they have these days, some are semi autos and some are autos altogether. The company I work for buys Allisons just because Young'ans can't shift up or down and don't want to learn. The truck drivers these days are not drivers, just 30 day wonders. When you can back a set of doubles up or even triples out here in the west... then you are a "Truck Driver".!!

 

[jbsapp]

Is it 100% confirmed that these are syncronized trannies in the deuce and M809 5 tons? I will admit that I didn't know for sure. I always have been single clutching each shift at this point. I do know that syncro trannies require the use of the clutch. Non syncro like most OTR trucks you can float.

According to gimpyrobb, 1st and reverse are not synchronized in the deuce.

Probably why I cannot downshift to 1st without double clutching (which I don't do regularly, but have attempted). If I'm at a full stop with the clutch out and in neutral, I find it quicker to shift to second, and while keeping the clutch in, bringing it back to 1st to avoid chatter.

 

[mudman]

According to gimpyrobb, 1st and reverse are not synchronized in the deuce.

Probably why I cannot downshift to 1st without double clutching (which I don't do regularly, but have attempted). If I'm at a full stop with the clutch out and in neutral, I find it quicker to shift to second, and while keeping the clutch in, bringing it back to 1st to avoid chatter.

You will learn..."Grasshopper"!!!

 

[m16ty]

They have a whole new lot of transmissions out there these days... I don't know how many of you really are "Truck drivers"... But have you seen the lot that drives these days, not a pretty sight. Born and bred on the farm, drove Macks (Thermodyne & Maxidynes), Corn Binders, K-wobblies, Petes, Fruit liners, Diamonds, Whites, everything from 4 speeds with a 3 speed brownie, to 18 speeds. Old and cranky and still drive a truck. Even drove the Winnemucca rd. The trans they have these days, some are semi autos and some are autos altogether. The company I work for buys Allisons just because Young'ans can't shift up or down and don't want to learn. The truck drivers these days are not drivers, just 30 day wonders. When you can back a set of doubles up or even triples out here in the west... then you are a "Truck Driver".!!

I frequently drive by the Western Express truck driver training center. There's always a huge number of people waiting outside to get trained for a truck driving job. They must have a huge turnover to be training that many people.

We are in the machinery moving business and constantly unload truckloads of machinery. I had a "truck driver" one time pull up to the factories we were working at, he got out of the truck, and asked me if I would back it up to the dock for him. I first asked him how he got the job if he couldn't back the rig and then I backed it up to the dock for him.

 

[zeisshensoldt]

According to gimpyrobb, 1st and reverse are not synchronized in the deuce.

Probably why I cannot downshift to 1st without double clutching (which I don't do regularly, but have attempted). If I'm at a full stop with the clutch out and in neutral, I find it quicker to shift to second, and while keeping the clutch in, bringing it back to 1st to avoid chatter.

Is this perhaps why 1st and reverse are the only gears that ever grind for me? Whenever I'm at a dead stop and shift into 1st or reverse it always grinds 100% of the time. Is there something that needs to be done to avoid grinding or is my trans just dying? Also, is it absolutely necessary to keep the gas tank full at all times? I know the manual says to keep it full to avoid moisture inside the tank, but I can't afford to shell out $250 in diesel, so i usually keep the tank at 1/4th's full.

 

[BIG_RED]

If you're at a dead stop.. then press clutch, engage 1st, and release clutch/give a little throttle.. I'm not sure how any truck could grind unless you're not completely in gear...

 

[SMOKEWAGON66]

They have a whole new lot of transmissions out there these days... I don't know how many of you really are "Truck drivers"... But have you seen the lot that drives these days, not a pretty sight. Born and bred on the farm, drove Macks (Thermodyne & Maxidynes), Corn Binders, K-wobblies, Petes, Fruit liners, Diamonds, Whites, everything from 4 speeds with a 3 speed brownie, to 18 speeds. Old and cranky and still drive a truck. Even drove the Winnemucca rd. The trans they have these days, some are semi autos and some are autos altogether. The company I work for buys Allisons just because Young'ans can't shift up or down and don't want to learn. The truck drivers these days are not drivers, just 30 day wonders. When you can back a set of doubles up or even triples out here in the west... then you are a "Truck Driver".!!

Agreed...Im a trucker by trade. Was one in the army, and sadly they were all automatic or semi-auto trannys....todays drivers generally are not truckers...they are simply "steering wheel holders". Although Im fairly young, I grew up around OLD school truckers, and was trained as such. When I got out of the Army, I drove for my cousin, in a Pete with a Eaton/fuller 13 double over. It is one of my favorite transmissions. Ive driven 2 and 3 stickers, although I will admit Im no good at it LOL....AND I never could get more then 90 feet out of my doubles going backwards....long drawbar and all lol...but I have looked at my back bumper from my drivers side window a time or two trying to get into some plants to unload. Being a circle jerk, or a wiggle wagon can be fun sometimes.