Question:
i need info on using a eaton, mainly shifting down, coming from england not many trucks use eaton's most use ZF transmissions just like a car or pickup , so can anyone help me plse
ty
Answer:
I drive a KW T-600 with an Eaton/Fuller 13 speed. Its simple. Like any other semi the gears are not synchronized....hence you double clutch. Or you learn the sweet spot and slip shift.
If you are loaded light, don't bother starting out any lower than 3rd gear.....but if the truck "shudders" when you let out the clutch...start out in 2d. On the 13 the RED lever on the left side of the stick is the gear splitter. It will not work in low range gears (1-4), and it will only work to "split" 5th thru 8th gear. The black lever on the front of the stick is the hi/low range shift. Down is low, up is high. It is moved up to go into 5th and higher gears. Once up, it stays up, until you downshift below 5th gear. Always lift the lever before leaving 4th gear so that it has time for the air actuated mechanical parts to move before you try to put it in 5th gear, conversely...before leaving 5th gear going down...push the lever down so that you don't have a gear clash and possibly chew up a gear or two. Also, the hi/low will work in "L" or what is considered "granny gear", which is only used to crawl out of a dock that is steeply inclined....
Generally speaking, it is unnecessary to use the red splitter until you are in 8 "high", which is actually 12th gear....then you push the lever forward to go into 13th. This shift does not require clutching...just lift your foot off the fuel pedal to bring the rpm's down and it will shift itself. Its made to do that automatically. Downshifting from 13th to 12th is done the same, in reverse.
If you choose to split all of the gears from 5th on up....thats ok, but its alot of extra work...that is unnecessary....unless climbing a hill/mountain.
At what rpm to shift...I can only tell you that a CAT C-15 Acert twin turbo shifts best between 1300 - 1500.....and will lug down to 950 before it needs downshfting....or at least thats the trick with my engine. Detroits and Cummins , as well as other Cats will have their own sweet spots....probably close, but maybe not.
When downshifting below 12th....you have to push in the clutch (not to the floor because that will engage the clutch brake and stop its movement)...when the clutch is in move the stick out of gear, let the clutch out, bring up the rpm and then push the clutch back in (not all the way) and put the truck in the lower gear and let the clutch out. You can also "slip shift" while downshifting......but if you are just learning.... DO NOT EVEN TRY IT while upshifting or downshifting....an examiner on a road test will flunk you automatically in most case....and if you are not familiar with the truck...you can damage the drive train.
Hope that helps.So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:
You'll lke this tranny once you get used to it. The extra gears in the high range are espcially useful climbing hills, since they're "closer together" in rpm than a transmssion with fewer gears -- easier to settle-into a full throttle 1,700 rpm hill climb....
But, as posted above, you'll probably skip more gears most of the time, especially when you're light or bobtailing. I'm jealous. I'd love to have more gears again -- even starting out from a dead stop. It's nice to have more options for each individual situation, and you'll get used to picking them without even thinkng about it pretty quick.

Answer:
Oh....I just figured it out....he's from "England" the country. Not England the trucking company. I was wondrering why C.R. England was using weird transmissions.....
Sjywalker said the important stuff. I'd just add -- shift slowly and gently. Take your time and let the gears do their thing before engaging them. These transmisions shift much slower than self-synchronizing designs.

Answer:
One thing I forgot to mention.....the E/A 13 spd is really a 9 spd where you split the top 4 gears. When you split the top 4, you are really just using 1/2 of a gear ratio on each split....and the net rpm difference is only around 250 rpms. Thats why I rarely, very rarely ever split anything except "12th" to go into 13th. But if you are climbing a steep grade....it can make things "easier" on the truck, and possibly prevent you from have to downshift as much. And shuffler is very right.... slow and easy is the best way...... trying to shift too quickly will result in alot of trying to get back into the gear you just left to get speed back up.....and a lot of grinding noise.So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:
Great Question & Excellent Detailed Answers.(Skywalker)

Answer:
Hello Magnum 440,
Bet you wish you had a nice handy Renault Magnum with a 480 Mack/scynro box or Opti-drive auto and not those hard to learn roadranger equipped USA trucks?
What are you doing in Montana,are you on a harvest run?
Personnely I found changing down easier when I used the brake pedal with my left foot and kept a constant 200rpm's blip on the throttle pedal,just make sure you don't do this when being examined

Answer:
...but I thought I'd add something.
Once you get used to that 13-speed, you will absolutely LOVE that tranny. I don't think there is another that is better. Unfortunately, it is become a rare item (IMHO).
So, if you are thinking of making a change and driving something else and/or for someone else, you probably will not see that transmission ever again. A shame indeed.
Ralph M Bohm/N5WPGRalph M Bohm / N5WPG
CB handle: Truckman
Glenburn, ME 04401-1003
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amateur_Radio_Truckers/

Answer:
If you were asking advice on how to use a 13 speed---you got it already.
If you were asking the difference between Eaton/Fuller and other 13 speeds; there really is none.
Except for the shape of the hand grip, the name on the hand grip, and the quality of the transmision itself Eaton/Fuller vs. say Rockwell or Spicer is no different than Levis vs. Wrangler...they are both denim jeans.It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
Don't use it in the low range.
Step one:First gear in high range, ease off the hammer and flick the secondary into gear.
Reset after each gearchange and and continue to repeat step one.
Some drivers don't use this option if they're empty.
Lowrange as normal (like a 10 speed truck)
Highrange
shift to first gear and run up RPMs, let off on the accelrator and flick secondary gear in.
Next high gear
during the shifting mode flick back to off and repeat sequence.