| Author | Message | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 2226 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.91.142.236  Rating: N/A |
Lifted this call for help out of the darkness: Rocbyu2: I have 1983 mci9 with a8v71 5speed I have driven stick shift since 3rd grade but I can't get this to change without grinding and won't gear down at all I drive a 40ft Chevy 7500 box truck everyday so I know how to drive one can anyone help me to see what I am doing wrong or is tranny shot happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1601 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 76.4.123.74  Rating: N/A |
BW>> Double clutching is in order or adjust clutch. I drove one and had a problem with it doing the same thing. Gomer | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1422 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.202.23.98  Rating: N/A |
I've driven trucks for 50 years from 18 wheelers to medium duty with all kinds of transmissions and the 4sp on my 4104 is the hardest thing to shift gracefully I've ever driven. The fact that the clutch is 35'-40' away has a lot to do with it!! Just keep practicing, you'll get it eventually. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1652 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 97.224.33.187  Rating: N/A |
 BTDT RCB | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1876 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.187.179.204  Rating: N/A |
Shifting a truck and shifting a bus are two different animals. Pay attention: Adjust the clutch per DA BOOK!! Make sure there is minimum slop in the shift linkage. Repair as needed, if needed. Read this: http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/12262/16204.html?1167073154 Practice. Practice some more. Repeat. FWIW & HTH. . . | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 381 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 66.87.70.84 Rating: N/A |
Those are square cut gears. They only fit together when the engine rpm and the wheel speeds are correct. I see no reason to use a clutch, that just lets the tranny roll free, then the hole is lost. I can drive one all day long and not scrape a gear. I run it to the governor in each hole and when I let off I drop the RPM until it drops in. You can run it to the governor in each gear and use a marker to mark the top speed for that gear. Now when you want to shift down for a hill, you slide it into neutral floor the throttle to the governor and it will drop right in. On a grade, shift about 2 mph above your mark so as you lose speed you will still carry enough speed to drop right into the hole. Does that make it a semi automatic, I only use the clutch to stop. | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 744 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120  Rating: N/A |
Another thing is (at least on GMs) is to make sure the throttle is free and set up exactly as by the book. On our 4104, the P.O. put 3 return springs at the gov instead of one rather than service the throttle cable. If the throttle returns too fast or too slow it messes up the shift points. When it's right it's sweet. | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 349 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
Your Chevy box truck, if it is a 6spd is a fully synchronized transmission. The large transmissions in buses and trucks are non synchronized-it is up to you to match the rpm's from the engine to the transmission to attain a smooth shift. Takes practice. Double clutching is a good way to learn-but you have to be quick about it since the Detroit 2 strokes decelerate much quicker then 4 stroke engines giving you a shorter time to get it into gear. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1437 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.202.4.115 Rating: N/A |
I found that shifting up with my 4-sp 4104 was just as easy without using the clutch, it requires a slight pause before shifting. Down shifting is a different thing, never could do that well without double clutching, especially on hills where the faster double clutching the better. I finally got pretty good at that. |