Floating Gears At My New Job.
Topic 22108 | Page 1
Curt, floating gears is really no different than double clutching as far as the timing and the RPM is concerned.
Here's a tip. Put a little pressure on the shifter with your hand. I'm talking about pressure like you want to take it out of the gear you are currently in. Say you're in 3rd gear, you want to be putting pressure on the shifter just as if you are about to take it out of third and go to fourth. When you get your RPM up where you want it, quickly let off the throttle and the pressure from your hand will cause the transmission to come out of third. Then as your RPM is dropping get a little pressure on the shifter as if you're trying to get it into fourth. When the RPM is correct it will slip right into gear like you're an old pro at this.
The timing is virtually the same as double clutching, only you don't need to use the clutch. You're gonna love it when you get the hang of it.
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.
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.
Double Clutching:
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.
Thanks old school. 😊 I never learned to double clutch either so I’m green all the way around.
Curt, floating gears is really no different than double clutching as far as the timing and the RPM is concerned.
Here's a tip. Put a little pressure on the shifter with your hand. I'm talking about pressure like you want to take it out of the gear you are currently in. Say you're in 3rd gear, you want to be putting pressure on the shifter just as if you are about to take it out of third and go to fourth. When you get your RPM up where you want it, quickly let off the throttle and the pressure from your hand will cause the transmission to come out of third. Then as your RPM is dropping get a little pressure on the shifter as if you're trying to get it into fourth. When the RPM is correct it will slip right into gear like you're an old pro at this.
The timing is virtually the same as double clutching, only you don't need to use the clutch. You're gonna love it when you get the hang of it.
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.
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.
Double Clutching:
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.
The only other "tip" would be, in the beginning always start in a gear lower than normal even when empty.
I found that when I started in a higher gear I would tend to rev it out a little higher and have a few more hangups than normal.
So start in a lower gear and shift lower in the rpms just as Old school explained.
Thanks old school. 😊 I never learned to double clutch either so I’m green all the way around.
Sorry Curt, I forgot who you were for a minute there. Now I remember who you are. You started your trucking career in, let's just say, a non traditional way. We always recommend getting some professional training like Paid CDL Training Programs or maybe going to Private Truck Driving School. You ended up having a friend train you, and somehow you passed the driving test without even knowing how to double clutch! Geez, I'm not even sure how to help you now.
I don't even know how in the world your boss got you covered on his insurance, but I hope you are really careful, because if you have an accident you may just kill any chance you have of getting hired anywhere else. I can't recommend your approach, but I hope you somehow figure it out and manage to be safe out there. I know you didn't come in here looking for a sermon, but I'm really just pointing it out so that others reading this don't get the idea that this in ideal way to start your truck driving career.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Hi Old School. I went to truck driving school and passed my test through them. I just took my test with a 28 foot pup with a six speed synchronized. My boss told me to skip learning double clutching because they were going to teach me to float.
Thanks old school. 😊 I never learned to double clutch either so I’m green all the way around.
Sorry Curt, I forgot who you were for a minute there. Now I remember who you are. You started your trucking career in, let's just say, a non traditional way. We always recommend getting some professional training like Paid CDL Training Programs or maybe going to Private Truck Driving School. You ended up having a friend train you, and somehow you passed the driving test without even knowing how to double clutch! Geez, I'm not even sure how to help you now.
I don't even know how in the world your boss got you covered on his insurance, but I hope you are really careful, because if you have an accident you may just kill any chance you have of getting hired anywhere else. I can't recommend your approach, but I hope you somehow figure it out and manage to be safe out there. I know you didn't come in here looking for a sermon, but I'm really just pointing it out so that others reading this don't get the idea that this in ideal way to start your truck driving career.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
Double Clutching:
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Can't say I have any advice but I just started floating gears last week about 30 years after I first leaned to double clutch.
I leaned to drive dump/ready mix concrete trucks back in the 80s at my family's trucking company. My dad was the chief mechanic and after too many blown up transmissions he had a strict "drive it like the manual says" policy and he assumed any failure was a violation of that policy. Since I had to sit across the dinner table from him every night I didn't risk it.
Fast forward 30 years and I have made a career change and started driving. First 15k miles was in an auto while training but in Jan I started with a local company driving a 10 speed. Just kept on double clutching until I over did walking while in Las Vegas and injured my knee, something called the IT Band.
Knee was tender when I clutched so I said what the heck let's give floating a try. Within a few attempts it was dropping in just fine. Still DC in the low gears if pulling hard and sometimes when down shifting but I'd say I am floating about 75% of the time now.
Let's just hope dear old dad isn't rolling over in his grave at my new indiscretion. Of course he always floated when he drove so I guess it was a case of "Do as I say not as I do."
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.
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.
Double Clutching:
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.
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Hi all Hoping for some encouragement. I just started my first driving job. My boss and trainer want me to float a 13 speed. I have had two lessons so far on floating and it’s a hard concept to get used to. Progress is very slow and somewhat intimidating. Is the progress this slow for everyone? Or is it just that I’m not getting it? Thanks for any input. The good news? I Have.A Job. 😊 but very very green. Getting my CDL was just the beginning. They taught me how to pass my exam, now I have to be taught how to drive
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: