Downshifting A 10 Speed

Topic 30086 | Page 1

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Andrew T.'s Comment
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I have my road test in two days. I've been downshifting really well and upshifting. But ofc time to time, I'd lose a hear and know how to recover. I downshift really well 10-6. Was wondering if anyone here can explain how you downshift to 5 and lower gears. My truck I use is a 2020 International Durastar with Cummins engine. 10 speed Eaton tranny. My instructor basically has only trained me via trial and error. So I've learned most of my tips on youtube or from experienced drivers. I usually let my rpms to 10 and then clutch neutral and tap accelerator to 14 rpm and float into gear. My school doesn't double clutch except for upshift. Gears 8 to 7 or 7 to 6 I notice will shift smoothly at a rev match to 12 rpm. But my problems remain going from 6th to 5th gear. I usually let my speed go to 10 mph and rpms to 10. But it seems days it will slip smoothly with a little tap on the fuel and at times it goes in at higher rpms. Suggestions? Should I bring my rpms down to 900 since the gear is a lower gear and I don't have give much rpm? Let me know? I'd appreciate it.

Double Clutch:

To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.

When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.

This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.

Bobcat_Bob's Comment
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Try 900 and in at 12 to 13 that usually works for me on a 2019 Freightliner with same trans.

At least I think I've been doing it almost 4 years and kinds just do by feel and don't pay attention to the rpm gauge lol.

Deleted Account's Comment
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The school i went to also didn't have us use the clutch downshifting. We just placed our foot on the pedal to give the illusion we were clutching as floating gears isn't allowed during the state test. Upshifting we clutched. Are you required to downshift to the lower gears? I don't want to give you information that conflicts what your instructor is teaching you. However, for the Iowa test we started from a stop in 4th gear and came to a stop in 6th gear. It made it much easier not needing to find the sweet spot when just a matter of a couple mph was all that changed between 2nd and 3rd. Keep in mind the higher the gear you start in the chances of stalling the truck also go up.

Floating Gears:

An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.

David W.'s Comment
member avatar

You can never over rev when shifting, but if you under rev you’ll be stuck trying to catch up. Rev that engine up as high as you need to, to get your timing right. Like 20k

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