18 gears, no biggie.

[DAKMOR]

i think i can drive that after fiddling with the idea in my head.

to date, my third favorite car and driver article. article

[JakeRobb]

After reviewing that diagram, I still have no idea how to go about shifting gears with that transmission.

[sko_spo]

mon-fri

[DAKMOR]

Originally Posted by JakeRobb

After reviewing that diagram, I still have no idea how to go about shifting gears with that transmission.

its simple, u start in LO or "0" gear in Range:L Splitter:L. then go to 1,2,3,4, then change Range to H and go 5,6,7,8. You can also use the Splitter to go between them for an extra 9 gears that may be required for more comfortable cruising/towing.

more like a 10 speed bike with a low and high front gear set actually. but the splitter is a bit of a mixup to be honest.

[T/A-Bob]

Why is the lowest gear called "lo" and not "1"?

[GrdLockV6]

Looks like fun!

[DAKMOR]

my question, is why arent there automatics in these things yet,.

[Koz]

From what I gather you start from a stop and your range selector is down (Lo), then you go from LO gear to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. I think in any of those gears, you can choose between H and L as well, so you can do Lo L, then Lo H, then 1 L, then 1 H...all the way up thru 4 H.

Now, if you want to shift into 5th, you move the range selector up (Hi) and shift into 5th. If you don't move the selector up, you'll shift back into first! And then you have the same H and L options as before.

I've never driven a truck or a vehicle with a trans that had more than 6 gears...so for those of you in the know, do you usually cycle through gears like that? Hitting the lo and hi for each gear? Or do you usually just pick one or the other while making your way through the gears?

[Koz]

Originally Posted by DAKMOR

my question, is why arent there automatics in these things yet,.

I believe some have automatics...perhaps they aren't as strong as manuals though.

[Bayer-Z28]

And...................


I've driven those before.. No big deal.... Yes, you just shift in the typical H pattern, but hit the splitter after you're thru 5th, then go back to the 1st position and grab 6th.

Originally Posted by T/A-Bob

Why is the lowest gear called "lo" and not "1"?

Low is seriously a creeping gear. no faster than about walking speed. To get a VERY heavy load moving from a dead stop when first won't cut it.

And automatics are used in some models, but it's an option and it all depends on what the company specifies. If they are going to have drivers who possibly can't drive a manual, they will opt for the auto. Just imagine the heat that an auto would produce trying to move 200,000 lbs.

Those EF Trans' are triple counter shaft models. I've swapped them out before when I was working at a crane rental service back in 2001-2002. and the Clutch can have a double or triple disc clutch setup. The flywheel alone can weigh 200+lbs. We had a small 15ton truck crane in the yard when we had to pull those.. It was actually a very easy removal. Install can be difficult, though. It has bell housing bolts surrounding the entire mating surface, not just the top 2/3. Some have a nice feature of a 'Clutch brake', when you completely floor the clutch it has an additional friction face to slow the rotation of the gears, seeing as these transmissions don't have synchros and the gears are bevel cut, not helical cut. -Rougher engagement. Some also have air shift.

[T/A-Bob]

I know this link is a re-post, but this thread reminded me of it. I really admire anyone who can shift gears like this

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/B...n-14_72637.htm

And of course his ET is pretty insane.

[97QuasarBlue3.8]

I think we need to install these in modern-day cars so people pay attention to their driving.

And talk about an anti-theft device... If you can drive it, you can have it!

[96_Camaro_B4C]

Some big trucks do have automatics. Allison makes them.

There are also "automated manuals" that basically have a computer working the clutch and moving the gear selector, but those still drive like a manual (just with someone who has a clue doing the driving).

Allison automatics are full torque converter automatics with clutch to clutch powershifts. They go up to 600+ hp and 1950 lb-ft in on highway applications, depending on the vocation. They blow away AMTs in performance and smoothness.

They aren't as popular (yet) in long haul, purely over-the-highway big rigs like that Lonestar, as they don't do much shifting (and manuals offer a slight fuel econ advantage when you spend the whole time cruising in a steady gear).

[97QuasarBlue3.8]

Originally Posted by 96_Camaro_B4C

Some big trucks do have automatics. Allison makes them.

There are also "automated manuals" that basically have a computer working the clutch and moving the gear selector, but those still drive like a manual (just with someone who has a clue doing the driving).

Allison automatics are full torque converter automatics with clutch to clutch powershifts. They go up to 600+ hp and 1950 lb-ft in on highway applications, depending on the vocation.

They aren't as popular (yet) in long haul, purely over-the-highway big rigs like that Lonestar, simply because they don't do much shifting.

I've driven an Allison 5-speed auto in a "little" (14-ton) truck, and it's very weird. It's a conventional hydraulic trans w/ torque converter mated to a Cat straight-six and it's awfully "jumpy." According to the techs, that's their nature. Why is that?

What kind of transmission is the type where you have to use the clutch to get going, but then it shifts itself? (Also, when stopping, you have to push the clutch in).

[Wacky Tower]

5 days a week