Beyond 10-speed Shifting

Can someone explain in terms that a rookie can understand, how to shift a 13 or 18 speed transmission. I trained using an Eaton Fuller 10 speed. I have seen the 18 speed transmission in the Kenworth T-680 and it seems very intimidating.

I will try to make it simple on how I use my 18 speed. The way I look at it is like a 9 speed with half gear steps.

You will hardly ever use the low gear position below reverse unless you are REALLY heavy or on a steep hill starting. You would start out in what would be 2nd gear on a 10 speed. The shift pattern is a "H" pattern with 4 positions in low range and 4 positions in high range. Pretty simple to shift and you will quickly get the hang of it. I have the button on the left side of the shifter in the back or low range position almost all the time. So I go through the 4 gears with the button on the left in the back or low range position. I then pull up on the range selector in the front and normally go through the first 3 gears in high range but then around 45-50 mph I move the button to the left to the forward position let off the throttle and press the throttle again. You have just shifted from 15 to 16 then move the button to the back and shift into the last gear position and you are now in 17 then move the button forward and do the same thing letting off the throttle and then press down again.

Shifting the gear positions is just like a 10 speed with the exception of the lower left gear as that is low and rarely used. It is basically a "H" shift pattern. The range selector on the front of the shift knob works just like a 10 speed does to get you to the upper range of gears. The button on the left is the one that basically splits the gear you are in into a high and low. You shift that just by moving the button forward or backwards and then just manipulating the throttle.

Being able to split a gear is going to be wonderful for you... LOL Say you are nearing the crest of a hill and you are in 6th gear on a 10 speed and just do not have enough to crest the top of the hill so you have to drop into the lower range to make it the rest of the way up the hill. Now on the 13 or the 18 all you have to do most of the time is flip the button on the left side to the back.

If you look at is simply it may make more sense. The 10 speed shifts a full gear each time. I look at the 13 and 18 speed as being able to shift in 1/2 gear increments. The only difference between the 13 and the 18 is that the 13 you can only split the upper gears and in the 18 you can split all of them.

Sorry not very good at explaining this stuff but hope this helps.