Why You Should Learn To "float The Gears"
Topic 7740 | Page 1
First learn double clutching because the exam will require you double clutch.
Then when you're solo float the gears.
Float The 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.
Floating is FUN - and a great skill to have.
My BMW 320i lost a clutch slave in Atlanta on tour once. I could "bump start" it in first and float it a a mechanic 5 miles away.
Knowing how to float can definitely save your butt.
Rick
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I will float my gears on my motorcycle when i'm just slowly accelerating up and down, lazy Ness I suppose.
First learn double clutchingbecause the exam will require you double clutch.
Then when you're solo float the gears.
Yea what he said
Float The 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.
Floating is FUN - and a great skill to have.
My BMW 320i lost a clutch slave in Atlanta on tour once. I could "bump start" it in first and float it a a mechanic 5 miles away.
Knowing how to float can definitely save your butt.
Rick
What is "bump starting"?
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Floating is FUN - and a great skill to have.
My BMW 320i lost a clutch slave in Atlanta on tour once. I could "bump start" it in first and float it a a mechanic 5 miles away.
Knowing how to float can definitely save your butt.
Rick
What is "bump starting"?
When you pull to a light - you stop the engine and put the car in gear. Light turns green - you start the car in 1st and it "bumps along" while it's starting. Float up and down to the next traffic light.
Not to be confused with "push-starting" a manual trans car - where you push it - pop the clutch in 2nd when the battery is dead, or the started is gone. Doesn't work in FI cars with a dead battery - you have to have enough voltage to run the fuel pump and ECM.
Probably be a rough ride in a truck, though...
Rick
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Clutch cables would break on our Macks, with no neutral switches, you would put it in first gear and hit the starter for a rolling start and float it back to the shop,,,,,,
How in the world do you learn to float? I am having enough trouble just double-clutching.
I float and can't break the habit for my road test with dot... Instructor is yelling at me for it but I can't get my foot to listen to my mind... Lol
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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Tips For Shifting
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I've seen many times on here rookies or people in school mention that they like double clutching and don't really feel the need to learn how to float gear. This in itself just seems silly to me. Well I thought I would give those people a little scenario I myself ran into a couple days ago.
I was on my way back to the warehouse from completing all my deliveries for the day. I had just crossed into Maine and was coming up on the York tolls. From here our warehouse is still about 40 miles or so. So I move over to the right till lanes. Now normally I'll float gears up shifting, and occasionally when I down shift. Well in this particular instance I chose to use my clutch while downshifting into the toll plaza. Well wouldn't you know it I depressed the clutch pedal and it went straight to the floor and didn't come back up. Oh crap! I was still rolling so I kept on going. My company leases our trucks from Ryder and the closest going north was in Portland about 45 minutes away. So I had a choice. I could either shut it down on the side of the highway and probably end up needing a tow because once stopped I probably wasn't getting it back in gear. Or make it to Ryder. I chose to make it to Ryder. Going up the highway was fine but then I had to exit. I knew the exit so I planned accordingly. I brought my rpms way down and let myself fall out of gear and just burped the throttle to downshift. I made it through the toll and through the next light. And I did manage to make it all the way there. Mechanic came out and saw that the linkage under the cab that connects to the tranny had completely broken off.
Long story short is I saved my company a ton of money by not needing to get a tow plus since I'm hourly, the time I wouldve been paid to just sit there. Obviously this scenario won't be the same for all. However had I not known at least how to do it, I would have left myself no options.
Just some food for thought
Float 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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.