Help

I have a serious problem. I'm at swift in Memphis. Have tested twice and failed the road. They are aware I had a new road instructor who told us to float. I take my 3rd test Monday at 1. They tried to get me in a truck Friday but we're short instructors, and they are aware what happened. Downshifting is my problem. Any suggestions. Thinking of stealing a truck tomorrow to practice tomorrow!! Anyone in the area feel like doing any charity work!??

Downshifting always been easy to me I have a problem up shifting sometimes do you let it rpm drop about 4 points then rev up? I let mine drop to about 1300 shift to nutral rev up to 1500 1600

I have a serious problem. I'm at swift in Memphis. Have tested twice and failed the road. They are aware I had a new road instructor who told us to float. I take my 3rd test Monday at 1. They tried to get me in a truck Friday but we're short instructors, and they are aware what happened. Downshifting is my problem. Any suggestions. Thinking of stealing a truck tomorrow to practice tomorrow!! Anyone in the area feel like doing any charity work!??

Don't panic downshifting problems are always most people's hang up when starting to drive. I teach my students a method I call the the flint stone theory. Bam bam on the up shift and bam fuel bam on the downshift. Bam being the clutch. Say this while shifting at the proper RPMs and you may find pretty good results. Hope it helps

Makes sense. How hard will that be to actually try it for the first time on my 3 rd test? I scored 32 points they are aware of the problem with the new instructor but that doesn't help me when I am in the actual testing part. So you think I can get some rhythm in my head to help me pass?

I've been driving for awhile know you can get a rhythm The way I was teach it's like a guitar hight strum sound up shift low bass sound down shift if that makes sense Engine And road speed is another way

Makes sense. How hard will that be to actually try it for the first time on my 3 rd test? I scored 32 points they are aware of the problem with the new instructor but that doesn't help me when I am in the actual testing part. So you think I can get some rhythm in my head to help me pass?

Tell you what email me bstson90@gmail.com I'll give you my contac info

I do know that if you over shoot the rpms by a little, you can sort of just keep your shifter against the desired gear and it will slide into gear when the rpms reach the right spot. Often, if I miss the gear, a quick 2nd rev will get me there. You gotta watch your speed though. After that 2nd try, you may have to pick the next lower gear because your speed has dropped too far.

I don't know if that helps, but it's my brief, limited experience.

B.Z. suggests:

I do know that if you over shoot the rpms by a little, you can sort of just keep your shifter against the desired gear and it will slide into gear when the rpms reach the right spot. Often, if I miss the gear, a quick 2nd rev will get me there. You gotta watch your speed though. After that 2nd try, you may have to pick the next lower gear because your speed has dropped too far.

I don't know if that helps, but it's my brief, limited experience.

You're describing glide shifting, the style most drivers use. The problem is there is a requirement for the state skills test to use double clutching. That's the problem Retha is having. And that is a mass of coordination than needs to be worked out, sorta like patting your head and driving your belly at the same time.

There are plenty of discussions on the whys and wherefores of double clutching (or not) on the forum.

I don't know if this will help any, but if you downshift around 1000 or 1100 rpms, when you go into neutral rev to about 1700. The reason you want to rev a little higher is that the rpms will drop a little while you are getting it back into gear.

The two biggest mistakes I saw other students make in cdl school was not revving high enough when downshifting and depressing the clutch too deep. Depressing the clutch to the floor engages the clutch brake, which makes it next to impossible to shift up or down.