road ranger AAAGGGHHH!

Watch the rev counter and don't push the clutch down too far Royce.

Good Luck

Dave

Don't worry about it, every truck I've driven with a road ranger it makes that sound.... there must be something wrong with them.. LOL

Cheers

Richard

That's why they put em in a closed up box, can't have the teeth dropping out on the road.

Hi Royce,
I can sympathise with you, but you haven't lived till you've driven a B series Mack with a quadbox.

Good luck with your test.

Disco.

Heres somthing I cut and pasted, Hope it helps

"ALWAYS use the clutch in ALL gear changes".
Some of the older style rto910's and rto913direct boxes could be driven with out a clutch but damage was sill there, Plenty of 'cowboys' out there will tell that "we non't need clutches they are only for sisseys" wrong if you do an endorsment with any Heavey vehcile instructor and do not use the clutch you will FAIL

Here Is some tips from the notes i hand out when training Road Train drivers for thier endorsments.

**** IMPORTANT***.Always preselect all range shifts when upshifting or downshifting. the preselection requieres that the range lever is moved to the needed position before starting the shift.
Preselected range shifts are completed auto maticly as the gear stick is moved through the neutral position and into the next gear, This preselection of ALL range shifts prevents damage to the gear box and provides a much smoother shift.

*The Range lever selects LO or HI ranger And is used once during the up shift sequence and once during the downshift sequence.

* SPLITTER SHIFT*
* When in LO or HI range the ratios can be split by useing the splitter button The Lo range "L: rearward position privides for LO to 4th gear.the LO range "HI" forward postion splits each of these gears giving 10 ratios in LO range.
The HI range "L" rearward position povides for 5th too 8th gear The HI range "H" forward postion splits each of these gears privding 8 ratios in HI range 18 progressive ratios can be obtained.

*The clutch Brake*
Most trucks will have one of these.the clutch brake is applied be depressi ng the clutch pedal al the way to the floor. When applied the brake slows down and can stop the transmission frount box gearing.This make for easer initial gear selection from standstill.
***NEVER**** use the clutch brake when upshifting or down shifting. Only to be used for initial gear engagment when standing still.

A coulpe of quick tips.
Awayes select an initial starting gear that provided sufficent reduction for load and terrain.

Always use normal double-clutching procedures when making lever shifts.

Never slam or jerk the gear stick to complete gear engagments

Never coast with the gear stick in the neutral position.

Never move the range lever with the gear stick in neutral whilst the vehicle is moving.

Never make a range shift whilst in reverse.

Never downshift at too high a road speed.

Never make a splitter shift whist moving in reverse


UPSHIFT PROCEDURE
CAUTION..Never move the range lever or splitter button with the gearstick in neutral while the truck is moving.

Splitter shift.LO range "L" to LO range "H"(LO "L" to LO "H")

1. preslect just before makingan upshift by moving the button forward while maintaining accelerator position.

2. Then immediately release the accelerator, depress the clutch pedal once to break the torque release the pedal to reengage the clutch, allow the engine to decelerate until the shift is complete. continue driving or upshifting the transmission shifts from "L" to "H" when synchronouns is reached.

Combination lever and splitter shift. LO range"H" to LO range "L"
(LO "H" to 1st "L")
3.Pre select just before making an upshift by moving the splitter button rearwards while maintaing accelerator position.

4.Move the shift leaver, double-clutching to the 1st gear position.
NOTE. if the splitter is not moved the gear box 1st HI once the final clutch engagement is made.

5. Continue upshifting through the shift pattern. Double-clutching during lever shifts, and single -clutching split shifts while the leaver is in the same position.

Comination lever and splitter shift, Lo range "H" to HI range "L" (4th HI to 5th LO) Range change
6.preselect just before making the upshift by moving the button rearwardswhile maintaining accelerator position.
7. pull up the range lever move the gear stick double-clutching to 5th slot . If the splitter is no moved the transmissin will be in 5th "H" once the final clutch engagment is made.
8. splitting the 'top' box is the same as splitting the bottom box.

Time for brekky will put more up soon the down shift sequence
Cheers

Don't panic Royce,

It requires confidence.

Once you get it, you'll get it!

Where are you doing the training - at (near) Morwell?

Good luck

Peter

None of the above can be right. We haven't heard from Doug yet. LOLOL

My old man had a 13 spd roadranger in his T line international in the early 80s.he could go up all 13 and down all of about 10 without a crunch(can only go down to about 4th or 5th-wont go lower without the crunches) it just takes practice. it took me a few years to do it without the crunching or even a restart.as for using the clutch every change-NO WAY ON THAT THING!! the clutch was really heavy,only a few operations and my leg and hip was hurting. so chin up sunshine you will get it right.

Hey bro...if you can't find it..grind it!!!

Two days training- and test tomorrow !! Hmmmmm.

What signman said, only 2 days training and you can jump into one of these things. It's not surprising so many run into things.
Dean

Get the revs right and don't delay in your down change and you won't crunch.. If you are getting your revs right, but then have a pause in between your revs being up and then changing down, well by the time you go to change down you have lost your revs.. hence crunch..

You'll be right Royce.. but if you are not confident at sitting your driving test and your instructor isn't confident you'll pass it... then don't waste your money, postpone your test and get in some more lessons.

RTOLF16/6/18....Use the clutch to start and stop,,,thats it.
Every other change is on the fly so to speak. Just get the revs right.....lol

meow.

doggytease.

mate, its not that hard to do, but as others have been kind enough to tell you-you must get the revs right !!

A simple statement to make, here is some theory as to what to do.....

what you are trying to do is to make 2 different gears rotate at the same speed , and at the time YOU want , then a smootrh shift will happen.

I've had about 40 years driving various nonsynchro boxes, so I don't have a problem changing the gears, but it is a bit tricky to start with

In the examples given below, your gearbox/engine combination will be different,the numbers I give are only to illustrate the point. But with a bit of practice you will be ok

How to change down - If you are travelling on flat ground at 40kph in 4th gear the engine will be doing 1300 rpm
and you want to change down to 3rd gear then you have to think to yourself -'what rpm will this engine be doing at 40kph in 3rd gear ?' - probably about 1700 rpm
Press the clutch in, move gearstick to neutral, let clutch out, rev engine to from 1300 to 1700 rpm, push clutch in move gearstick to 3rd = no crunchies
If you are going downhill, then the truck will speed up during the gearchange(gravity) so rev the engine a bit more - say to 1800 rpm
If you are going uphill, then the truck will slow down during the gearchange (gravity again) so only rev engine to 1600 rpm.

How to change up - push clutch in, move gearstick to neutral,let clutch out,push clutch in, change up 1 gear
DO NOT REV ENGINE IN NEUTRAL when changing up



Be quick with the clutch/gearstick movements

Hope this helps a bit

brownie

G'day Royce


I have my L plates for HR aswell and been learning to drive the work truck. It too has a road ranger, bloody terrible thing to drive when your trying to learn arn't they.


It's all about getting the revs spot on when getting the gear change and not trying to change too quick. The guy that is teaching me kept telling me to change with out the clutch but i found while learning its alot easier using the clutch.


I found that when going up through the gears to get the revs up to about 2200-2500 and then double the clutch and its all smooth, coming back down letting the revs drop to 1500 then give it a quick stab of the throttle and down she goes. But i spose it all depends on what truck it is too.


Good luck with it

Cheers

Congratulations Royce, see, nothing to it if you let RR know who's boss.

It is supposed to be doing what you want it to do, not the other way around.

Dave