After our pre-trip, seat adjustment, mirror adjustment, and safe start, there is one more thing to look at before we start moving. After looking at all of the gauges, look at the air gauges, and make sure the pressure is close to 120 lbs. Now push the clutch all the way to the floor and move the gear shift to the first gear position. Now push the red and yellow parking supply valves in to release the brakes, keeping the right foot near the service brakes, in case the truck begins to roll.
Now let the clutch out slowly until the clutch engages, push the accelerator gently and start moving. Accelerate slowly until the tachometer reaches 12 to 14 hundred rpms, then release the accelerator, tap the clutch in 2 inches and shift to neutral. Then tap the clutch in 2 inches and shift to second gear. Again accelerate gently to 12 to 14 hundred rpms, release the accelerator, clutch to neutral, clutch again to the next gear.We repeat this until we reach 5th gear.
When we get to 5th gear we pull the air splitter up BEFORE we shift to 6th gear (the first gear slot). The reason we do this, is because the splitter moves the transmission to the higher range of gears (6th through 10th), and it is air operated. There is an air line that runs from the high low selector down along the gear shift shaft to the transmission that switches the transmission to the higher range of gears. When we shift from 5th to 6th gear, as soon as we hit neutral, the air shoots down through this air line. THE AIR DOES NOT GO THROUGH WHEN THE TRUCK IS IN GEAR. It is important to pull the button up before shifting so when the gear shifter hits neutral, the air shoots down right away. This is why we pull the splitter up before we shift, and push it down before we downshift to low range.
Now that we have pulled up the selector and shifted to 6th gear, we raise the rpms higher before shifting. From 6th to 10th gear it is beneficial to get between 15 and 17 hundred rpms before releasing the accelerator, tapping to neutral, and tapping to the next gear.
Now let the clutch out slowly until the clutch engages, push the accelerator gently and start moving. Accelerate slowly until the tachometer reaches 12 to 14 hundred rpms, then release the accelerator, tap the clutch in 2 inches and shift to neutral. Then tap the clutch in 2 inches and shift to second gear. Again accelerate gently to 12 to 14 hundred rpms, release the accelerator, clutch to neutral, clutch again to the next gear.We repeat this until we reach 5th gear.
When we get to 5th gear we pull the air splitter up BEFORE we shift to 6th gear (the first gear slot). The reason we do this, is because the splitter moves the transmission to the higher range of gears (6th through 10th), and it is air operated. There is an air line that runs from the high low selector down along the gear shift shaft to the transmission that switches the transmission to the higher range of gears. When we shift from 5th to 6th gear, as soon as we hit neutral, the air shoots down through this air line. THE AIR DOES NOT GO THROUGH WHEN THE TRUCK IS IN GEAR. It is important to pull the button up before shifting so when the gear shifter hits neutral, the air shoots down right away. This is why we pull the splitter up before we shift, and push it down before we downshift to low range.
Now that we have pulled up the selector and shifted to 6th gear, we raise the rpms higher before shifting. From 6th to 10th gear it is beneficial to get between 15 and 17 hundred rpms before releasing the accelerator, tapping to neutral, and tapping to the next gear.