Hi
I am talking my C test but keep failing on gears.
When I learnt we only used 4,5,6,7,8.
This is on a 4 over 4.
But now the lorry has to be loaded, I now have to pull away in 3rd.
I keep crunching 5th.
Also when going along in 7th doing 40 you then come to a 30, so I break down to 30 but cannot find 6th gear it wont go in.
Does anyone have any advice as its breaking the bank.
When moving from 7th I tend to hold the gear stick underneath the main top part to pull it out of gear, should I be using my hand on top.
Find a trainer that has a truck with a gearbox that works!
Did you have the same issue when training or just on test?
Did you train with a loaded set up?
Which training school are you with?
Sorry mate but I think you’ve got yourself a poor trainer with a rough vehicle by the sound of it.
You need to be taught how to hold the gear lever. And the lever needs to be firmly attached to a gearbox that works properly.
I suggest you go for assessment elsewhere and see if that improves the issue. These are often free so well worth a try IMO.
Pete
Sounds just like the shagged gear box I had to try and use with my first trainer. Was a nightmare trying to chance gear. Was just pure pot luck getting it into 5 and 6 was just as bad. The other cogs weren’t much better.
I dumped that training company after the first fail. When for an assement drive at another place and thout I had died and gon to gear box heaven.
First time driving that lorry on roads I never driven on and I never once had a single problem with the gears. It was only then I learned just how shagged the other box was I had bin using.
Last thing you need when learning or on a test is a broken gear box, you can’t concentrate on the road ahead when you can’t even find a gear. I mistake was not going for assement drives in other places. I would hopefully of found all this out befor choosing.
Was it a blue scania you where driving ?
Have you considered double clutching?
It sounds like the 'box is ■■■■■■ out to me so maybe double clutching would help.
Personally I double down all the time ( I know professional driver and synchromesh blah blah blah) but I think with the 'box in “my” lorry it gives a smoother change.
Alternatively are you trying to rush the 'box? I find that doubling stops this.
Other than that as everyone else has said bin your trainer and go else where
Did you book your training directly with the school where you are training or through a broker/middleman who took your money and then farmed you out to a training school ?
Peter Smythe:
Sorry mate but I think you’ve got yourself a poor trainer with a rough vehicle by the sound of it.You need to be taught how to hold the gear lever. And the lever needs to be firmly attached to a gearbox that works properly.
I suggest you go for assessment elsewhere and see if that improves the issue. These are often free so well worth a try IMO.
Pete
What Pete said
Get another trainer with a proper gearbox!!
I failed my first test due to the gearbox being knackered. I couldn’t get the gears in and ended up slowing down and getting 4 minors for approach speed! needless to say i was absolutley fuming with the training company for putting me in such a vehicle!
Tipper Tom:
Have you considered double clutching?It sounds like the 'box is [zb] out to me so maybe double clutching would help.
Personally I double down all the time ( I know professional driver and synchromesh blah blah blah) but I think with the 'box in “my” lorry it gives a smoother change.
Alternatively are you trying to rush the 'box? I find that doubling stops this.
Other than that as everyone else has said bin your trainer and go else where
Yep, your engine speed needs to match your road speed.
If it’s loaded pull away in 2nd, don’t ever slip the clutch (won’t last 5 minutes) straight into 3rd, then 4th now preselect the lever/button on the gearstick/up, clutch down, into neutral, clutch up, clutch down, into 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th. (If it’s a loose gearbox, you could double the clutch for every gear)
Slowing down- brake, (engine revs slow down), clutch down, neutral, now give it a good pump on the go go pedal, rev it & pull or push the gear lever into 7th or 6th ( or even 5th) just ease it in, the revs will eventually match the road speed & the gear will be selected. To get back into low range/4th-preselect the lever (down)on the gearstick then into neutral/double the clutch with a rev & ease the lever in.
It all happens quicker than I’ve tried to explain it, each gear change takes about a second, if you get the revs right you don’t even need the clutch (only for starting off & stopping/to stop you stalling it !)
As Tom says, don’t rush it, it’s not an F1 Car but don’t leave it too long whilst changing gear, once you’ve mastered it, it’s like riding a bike- You never forget.
When you’ve passed your test, jump onto an automatic & don’t worry about 5000 gear changes a day. LOL !
Sounds like you have a crap training vehicle , get yourself to a real trainer that invests in their business, if they can’t be bothered to invest in their own business then why should you invest your hard earned into it.
martinviking:
Tipper Tom:
Have you considered double clutching?It sounds like the 'box is [zb] out to me so maybe double clutching would help.
Personally I double down all the time ( I know professional driver and synchromesh blah blah blah) but I think with the 'box in “my” lorry it gives a smoother change.
Alternatively are you trying to rush the 'box? I find that doubling stops this.
Other than that as everyone else has said bin your trainer and go else where
Yep, your engine speed needs to match your road speed.
If it’s loaded pull away in 2nd, don’t ever slip the clutch (won’t last 5 minutes) straight into 3rd, then 4th now preselect the lever/button on the gearstick/up, clutch down, into neutral, clutch up, clutch down, into 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th. (If it’s a loose gearbox, you could double the clutch for every gear)
Slowing down- brake, (engine revs slow down), clutch down, neutral, now give it a good pump on the go go pedal, rev it & pull or push the gear lever into 7th or 6th ( or even 5th) just ease it in, the revs will eventually match the road speed & the gear will be selected. To get back into low range/4th-preselect the lever (down)on the gearstick then into neutral/double the clutch with a rev & ease the lever in.
It all happens quicker than I’ve tried to explain it, each gear change takes about a second, if you get the revs right you don’t even need the clutch (only for starting off & stopping/to stop you stalling it !)
As Tom says, don’t rush it, it’s not an F1 Car but don’t leave it too long whilst changing gear, once you’ve mastered it, it’s like riding a bike- You never forget.
When you’ve passed your test, jump onto an automatic & don’t worry about 5000 gear changes a day. LOL !
I was thinking third was too high loaded bit I didn’t want to criticise the bloke too much.
Pre selection of the range change is something I do but when I had one if our other drivers as a passenger he moaned about me doing this. I took no notice
Tipper Tom:
martinviking:
Tipper Tom:
Have you considered double clutching?It sounds like the 'box is [zb] out to me so maybe double clutching would help.
Personally I double down all the time ( I know professional driver and synchromesh blah blah blah) but I think with the 'box in “my” lorry it gives a smoother change.
Alternatively are you trying to rush the 'box? I find that doubling stops this.
Other than that as everyone else has said bin your trainer and go else where
Yep, your engine speed needs to match your road speed.
If it’s loaded pull away in 2nd, don’t ever slip the clutch (won’t last 5 minutes) straight into 3rd, then 4th now preselect the lever/button on the gearstick/up, clutch down, into neutral, clutch up, clutch down, into 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th. (If it’s a loose gearbox, you could double the clutch for every gear)
Slowing down- brake, (engine revs slow down), clutch down, neutral, now give it a good pump on the go go pedal, rev it & pull or push the gear lever into 7th or 6th ( or even 5th) just ease it in, the revs will eventually match the road speed & the gear will be selected. To get back into low range/4th-preselect the lever (down)on the gearstick then into neutral/double the clutch with a rev & ease the lever in.
It all happens quicker than I’ve tried to explain it, each gear change takes about a second, if you get the revs right you don’t even need the clutch (only for starting off & stopping/to stop you stalling it !)
As Tom says, don’t rush it, it’s not an F1 Car but don’t leave it too long whilst changing gear, once you’ve mastered it, it’s like riding a bike- You never forget.
When you’ve passed your test, jump onto an automatic & don’t worry about 5000 gear changes a day. LOL !
I was thinking third was too high loaded bit I didn’t want to criticise the bloke too much.
Pre selection of the range change is something I do but when I had one if our other drivers as a passenger he moaned about me doing this. I took no notice
Always used 2nd if I’m fully freighted, these ‘Loaded’ Training vehicles will probably only be half loaded with 4 IBC’s on, only weighing 4 or 5 tons, so 3rd will probably be ok. I was taught to pull away from a dead stop with minimum clutch, (to try to lengthen its life)
When I say preselect. I mean ‘Just before you change gear’ not in the middle of the gear change. I won’t even go into Splitters yet, don’t want to confuse the OP any more for the time being !
martinviking:
Tipper Tom:
martinviking:
Tipper Tom:
Have you considered double clutching?It sounds like the 'box is [zb] out to me so maybe double clutching would help.
Personally I double down all the time ( I know professional driver and synchromesh blah blah blah) but I think with the 'box in “my” lorry it gives a smoother change.
Alternatively are you trying to rush the 'box? I find that doubling stops this.
Other than that as everyone else has said bin your trainer and go else where
Yep, your engine speed needs to match your road speed.
If it’s loaded pull away in 2nd, don’t ever slip the clutch (won’t last 5 minutes) straight into 3rd, then 4th now preselect the lever/button on the gearstick/up, clutch down, into neutral, clutch up, clutch down, into 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th. (If it’s a loose gearbox, you could double the clutch for every gear)
Slowing down- brake, (engine revs slow down), clutch down, neutral, now give it a good pump on the go go pedal, rev it & pull or push the gear lever into 7th or 6th ( or even 5th) just ease it in, the revs will eventually match the road speed & the gear will be selected. To get back into low range/4th-preselect the lever (down)on the gearstick then into neutral/double the clutch with a rev & ease the lever in.
It all happens quicker than I’ve tried to explain it, each gear change takes about a second, if you get the revs right you don’t even need the clutch (only for starting off & stopping/to stop you stalling it !)
As Tom says, don’t rush it, it’s not an F1 Car but don’t leave it too long whilst changing gear, once you’ve mastered it, it’s like riding a bike- You never forget.
When you’ve passed your test, jump onto an automatic & don’t worry about 5000 gear changes a day. LOL !
I was thinking third was too high loaded bit I didn’t want to criticise the bloke too much.
Pre selection of the range change is something I do but when I had one if our other drivers as a passenger he moaned about me doing this. I took no notice
Always used 2nd if I’m fully freighted, these ‘Loaded’ Training vehicles will probably only be half loaded with 4 IBC’s on, only weighing 4 or 5 tons, so 3rd will probably be ok. I was taught to pull away from a dead stop with minimum clutch, (to try to lengthen its life)
When I say preselect. I mean ‘Just before you change gear’ not in the middle of the gear change. I won’t even go into Splitters yet, don’t want to confuse the OP any more for the time being !
That’s what I do. I preselect the range change just before I clutch to neutral, clutch out, rev, clutch in select gear clutch out and carry on.