How to Shift the Straight Ten Transmission
Many semi trucks have transmissions with several more gears than a standard five- or six-speed automobile transmission. This is due to the extreme loads the trucks carry, allowing the vehicle to make maximum use of engine torque. Shifting a straight 10 transmission may seem complicated at first, but it is very similar to shifting a standard five-speed transmission with an additional switch that changes gears one through five into gears six through 10.
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Instructions
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Depress the clutch and place the gear shifter in the "Neutral" position. The "Neutral" position is in the middle of the gearbox. Switch the hi/lo switch on the shifter to the "lo" setting, if it's not already.
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Depress and hold the clutch. Shift into first gear. First gear is at the bottom left of the gearbox.
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Push the accelerator while simultaneously letting out on the clutch pedal. The vehicle will begin moving and the RPM meter will increase. Shift into the next gear once the RPM climbs over approximately 2,000.
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Depress and hold the clutch, release the accelerator and push the shifter into second gear. Push the gear shifter up into neutral then up again and slightly to the right to enter second gear. Simultaneously release the clutch and press the accelerator. You should complete this step in a fast, fluid motion.
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Continue with the same method until you reach fifth gear. Third gear is directly below second gear. Fourth gear is up and to the right of third gear. Fifth gear is directly below (bottom right of the shifter) fourth gear.
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Depress and hold the clutch, release the accelerator and pull the gear shifter into neutral. Switch the hi/low switch on the shifter to the "hi" setting, then move the shifter into the "first" gear position. When the switch is set to "hi" this becomes sixth gear. Push the accelerator while simultaneously letting out on the clutch pedal. The engine will engage and the RPM meter will increase.
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Shift into gears six through 10 similarly to shifting into gears one through five; each gear in the "hi" setting becomes a different gear--first gear becomes sixth gear, second gear becomes seventh gear, third gear becomes eighth gear, fourth gear becomes ninth gear and fifth gear becomes 10th gear.
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Downshift by depressing the clutch, releasing the accelerator and shifting into a lower gear. Slowly release the clutch but do not press the accelerator. Downshifting slows the vehicle. Use the brakes as well if you need additional stopping power.
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Shift into reverse by depressing the clutch and pulling the gear shifter into the "reverse" position. Reverse is to the left and up. Note that reverse has two speeds. Start reversing with the switch set to the "lo" setting and switch it to "hi" once engine RPM increases above 2,000.
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References
- Photo Credit Truck image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
