Power Upshifting: Easy Power Downshifting: ???

[RadarRider]

Well, I've finally gotten off double-clutching for my upshifts. For a while, I was having a hard time power shifting. The rigs we drive are Sterlings with the straight 7spd() & you've gotta rev them a lot higher (2500-2000rpm)than the International I drove with the 9spd(1500-1000rpm). I can power shift now with minimal grinding or missing gears. Now my problem is trying to power downshift. I know I'm not doing it right. I've been told to keep the rpms high, throw it in neutral, rev, then downshift. Everytime I try to keep the rpms high......they're usually too low. I give it fuel while it's in gear until I can throw the stick in neutral, then rev, then drop a gear & the truck jumps & doesn't sound like other rigs I hear. So now I'm reverting back to double-clutching when I downshift. What's the secret? What am I doing wrong? I really don't want my left calf to be twice the size of my right one, so can anyone give me some pointers?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by RadarRider

Well, I've finally gotten off double-clutching for my upshifts. For a while, I was having a hard time power shifting. The rigs we drive are Sterlings with the straight 7spd() & you've gotta rev them a lot higher (2500-2000rpm)than the International I drove with the 9spd(1500-1000rpm). I can power shift now with minimal grinding or missing gears. Now my problem is trying to power downshift. I know I'm not doing it right. I've been told to keep the rpms high, throw it in neutral, rev, then downshift. Everytime I try to keep the rpms high......they're usually too low. I give it fuel while it's in gear until I can throw the stick in neutral, then rev, then drop a gear & the truck jumps & doesn't sound like other rigs I hear. So now I'm reverting back to double-clutching when I downshift. What's the secret? What am I doing wrong? I really don't want my left calf to be twice the size of my right one, so can anyone give me some pointers?

It would match your forearm Shifting a truck is hard to explain. You just have to practice and get used to it. I had to drive @ work yesterday (first time in about a year). I went to pull out of work in my truck and when I got up to the main road, I nearly put my foot through the floor board, trying to hit my imaginary clutch. I also hit my arm on my console, trying to grab my imaginary gear shifter I guess it all just comes back to me that quick

[redline73]

you can usually feel it out when you up the revs and mostly it will just fall into gear while down shifting. Of course im used to 13 spds/Super 10's. I just use the clutch to stop and go, never touch it to downshift.

I once had an old timer tell me double clutching does nothing, accept wear your clutch/trans brake out.

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Last edited by redline73 : 09-02-2009 at 07:26 PM. Reason: typo

[RadarRider]

Originally Posted by redline73

you can usually feel it out when you up the revs and mostly it will just fall into gear while down shifting. Of course im used to 13 spds/Super 10's. I just use the clutch to stop and go, never touch it to downshift.

I once had an old timer tell me double clutching does nothing, accept wear your clutch/trans brake out.

So now, wait a minute; you're saying the stick will fall into gear while the rev's passing the correct RPMs, right? I've been practicing power downshifting(haven't used the clutch @ all!), but the way I'm doing it still doesn't sound like the same way I hear experienced truckers do it. I give it a little fuel while the RPMs are low, pop the stick back, give it either a little rev or big rev depending on how low/high the RPMs are or if I'm on an uphill or downhill, & then try to pop it into it's next gear. Lately, I think my problem is how much of a rev I should give it & end up grinding. Sometimes, too, I don't think I'm giving it fuel correctly to pop the stick into neutral. It's like, the truck jumps a little when I give it that quick rev & all the other trucks I've seen power downshift never do that....I just don't know.

[SixStringMadness]

Originally Posted by RadarRider

So now, wait a minute; you're saying the stick will fall into gear while the rev's passing the correct RPMs, right? I've been practicing power downshifting(haven't used the clutch @ all!), but the way I'm doing it still doesn't sound like the same way I hear experienced truckers do it. I give it a little fuel while the RPMs are low, pop the stick back, give it either a little rev or big rev depending on how low/high the RPMs are or if I'm on an uphill or downhill, & then try to pop it into it's next gear. Lately, I think my problem is how much of a rev I should give it & end up grinding. Sometimes, too, I don't think I'm giving it fuel correctly to pop the stick into neutral. It's like, the truck jumps a little when I give it that quick rev & all the other trucks I've seen power downshift never do that....I just don't know.

It sounds to me like your putting it into gear as the RPM's are increasing, that's why the truck is "jumping". You either want to gradually bring the RPM's up to the right RPM and let it fall into gear or pass the right RPM's and put it into gear as the RPM's fall back down past the gear matching RPM (which is the easier but sissy way to do it) You seem to have it, just keep practicing. You'll get it, it just takes a little touch and feel

[redline73]

it wont "fall" persay you rub up against the next gear with the shifter and feel it out, dont jam it or force it. My rule of thumb was to rev it up approx 500 rpm to catch the gear and keep it within useful jake-braking

[RadarRider]

Originally Posted by SixStringMadness

It sounds to me like your putting it into gear as the RPM's are increasing, that's why the truck is "jumping". You either want to gradually bring the RPM's up to the right RPM and let it fall into gear or pass the right RPM's and put it into gear as the RPM's fall back down past the gear matching RPM (which is the easier but sissy way to do it) You seem to have it, just keep practicing. You'll get it, it just takes a little touch and feel

Originally Posted by redline73

it wont "fall" persay you rub up against the next gear with the shifter and feel it out, dont jam it or force it. My rule of thumb was to rev it up approx 500 rpm to catch the gear and keep it within useful jake-braking

Thank you very much for the advice, guys! The more good advice I get, even with the long weekend, I wanna hurry up & get back to work so I can give it a try! Thanks again!!!