Driving a 3A

[athawk11]

I try to avoid downshifting into 1st, but on the rocky steep trails, you almost have to do it while moving.  I clutch out of 2nd...try to feather the throttle up a bit then slide into 1st.  Problem is...I'm not good a feathering the throttle.

[aboyandhisdog]

Hi Tim,  I'm sure we've both had to get to 1st on the fly at exactly the same point on the same trails!  There are just times you don't have an option.  I actually will pause in neutral for a quick clutch in and out and then with revs at idle, pull it into 1st as quick as possible.  Usually good results, but I would like to refine this technique if possible.  Just hearing (and feeling) that gear clash really burns my biscuits!

[bretto]

And you hope no one hears it.

[RICKG]

, but on the rocky steep trails, you almost have to do it while moving.�

This is where splitting 1st gear with the OD really come in handy!

[Mark W.]

LOL in High school I remember banging the tranny between 1st and reverse to try to get unstuck MANY times. We did horrible things to that tranny and it never failed to run down the road or across the trails.

I drive a Kenworth chassis Dump truck and trailer with a 13spd Road ranger for a construction company and we are HARD on our trannys just due to the nature of the work we do. Most of our trucks are pretty much without a clutch break a month or two into the 8 month season. So theres lots of grinding. The thing to remember is not to try to force your way through the grinding but to grind lightly while feeling your way into gear.

[johnrb3b]

Having grown up in Iowa farm country and learning to drive on tractors, double clutching was just part of the drill. Every shift on a tractor was double clutched - no synchros - none.
Of course most of the time you chose a gear and started off down the field because all but road gear were so low that you could start from a dead stop in all. But when pulliing a loaded feed wagon or hay rack, you had to start out in 1st, double up to 4th or 5th and once you got out of the field to the road, it was time for raod gear. Up shifting was easy.
Once you got to the barn and it was time to start down shifting, that's where the skill came in.

We also had a WWII surplus, 2 ton truck with a grain box on it. It was a 5 speed, no synchro tranny with a 2 speed rear end. What fun to stir that box. Every shift a double clutch with split shifting the rear end as well.
My grandpa didn't double clutch, just ground the gears together on every shift.� The rest of us learned to shift without a crunch.

I can drop the 3B or the Wagon into 1st at any speed below 10 mph. Above that it's kind of hit or miss.

Bring on the video.