ive done this on my new truck and old truck. i can find the "sweet spots" on my gears at certain RPMs were i can switch between gears with out using the clutch. ive never done it under load, i think it would be bad for it of course. but if i was empty and did this, would it be bad for the tranny? ive been able to row through all the gears before. i would think it would maybe wear out syncros im just not positive. so is this bad?

 

I did it for a while, but I remember reading on here that the synchro's aren't good enough to float gears in these trucks, it's a hard habit to break, too. I find myself floatin gears all the time, and have to remind myself not to.

 

I did it a lot on a 92 we had... I also hear it's not good for them.

Sure is sweet, tho...

 

Not questioning you guys, I do it sometimes too, specially in town. Can anyone explain in detail why it is bad to do?

 

No detail, but I hear that the syncros are not built to support the strain of full drive line power at once. I know we are just dropping it in gear when the rpm's match up, however...

But I can't fully explain it. I just pressed the "I Believe" button...

 

The synchros in my tranny in my 24v are shot anyway, so floating gears is easier than it is with using the clutch. I can't see it being hard on the synchros unless you are hanging off the shifter trying to get it into gear. I just put light pressure on it until it drops into gear. It shifts faster floating them then it does using the clutch.

 

And, I could be wrong, too. Just hearsay. I have a slushbox anyway...

 

I think the hard part on the synchros is for those guys who apply pressure to engage the next gear.

Shift like Tate and you will go forever........

 

There has been this discussion on here in the past and I seem to remember that the synchros, ie backing plates, would get worn earlier than if using a clutch when shifting. My old trans went in easy, my new trans doesn't so I quit trying to slip shift it. Its a lot of dough to replace worn backing plates.

IIRC the new backing plates had teeth that came to a point like a handsaw blade, the worn ones were rounded down almost flat.

 

thats what i was thinking too, cause its very smooth when i slip it into the gear. how is it that big rig drivers float gears? i heard somewhere they really only use the clutch on take off? is that right? im sure of course their trannys can support floating gears better though. i just do it when im feeling lazy in town

 

there are no synchros in them. so it easy to do it. all about rpms. ya only use the clutch to start and stop.

 

Idk if it's bad either but I have done it alot on all my previous trucks, but sometimes the gears (when using the clutch) would not go in unless pressure was applied. The kind of pressure that feels like your going to break the shifter off, then sometimes the gears would just grind. So know I always use the clutch on my new rig.

 

Stoopid thing to do. This is a fully synchronised transmission and float shifting without the clutch is wrecking the friction lining on the baulk ring of the synchromesh units in the transmission.

Most big rigs use non-synchronised transmissions, but a few gears are usually synchronised-usually DD and OD.

Very dumb thing to do. Don't do it. When you use the clutch, the synchromesh baulk ring is holding the inertia of the gears on one side and the weight of the truck on the other side.

If you shift without the clutch, it's the weight of the truck on one side of the baulk ring, and the torque of the engine on the other side. Rock and hard place and VERY VERY hard on a brass/bronze or carbon clutch (baulk ring) that fits in your hand.

I can explain this further but very tired of explaining this on Cumminsforum. There always seems to be a fool who argues with me based on having done it without breaking. I have overhauled several transmissions destroyed by this practice. NOT FOND OF IT.

 

Once again, someone FINALLY knows what they're talking about. Shifting without the clutch is just plain stupid on a synchro trans. They are NOT built to be shifted like that. I don't understand at all why anyone wants to abuse their trans like that.

 

I treat all 3 of the NV5600's that i drive just like i would an 13 or 18 speed Eaton. I even find myself double clutchin the 5600's.... If you cant shift gears with one or 2 fingers while not using a clutch, dont try.... Its not for everyone....