I’ve been driving a 2013 DAF CF 12 speed 6 wheeler that when you put it in reverse especially up a slight incline that’s so jerky the only way to smooth it out is to left foot break at the same time as accelerate otherwise it stalls or rolls forward. The truck has 250000 Km on the clock. I think its dangerous but the transport manager disagrees and says no one else has defected it. I’m using LR and often truck is up to 26 tonnes. Your thoughts please.
Is it an Astronic auto as if it is it’s a sign the clutch actuator is on the way out and the argument will resolve itself in the near future as it will go completely and leave you stuck somewhere.
ukjamesuk:
I’ve been driving a 2013 DAF CF 12 speed 6 wheeler that when you put it in reverse especially up a slight incline that’s so jerky the only way to smooth it out is to left foot break at the same time as accelerate otherwise it stalls or rolls forward. The truck has 250000 Km on the clock. I think its dangerous but the transport manager disagrees and says no one else has defected it. I’m using LR and often truck is up to 26 tonnes. Your thoughts please.
I drive Dafs regularly. A frustrating marque of truck. I particularly hate the pre 2014 types which seem to need a fairly rough boot to get the best out of them.
I have come across this problem a few times in both pre 2014 and some post 2014 Daf Cf’s. Almost feels like all those years ago learning to drive and the ‘kangaroo petrol’ sketch.
I like the advice given about the clutch in the other post. Irritating but in my experience that’s Daf’s for you.
PS its an automatic. Or rather an automated manual
If its the clutch actuator I presume its not a difficult repair ?
Sitck in turtle mode, this limits the rpms to approx 1300 and also slips the clutch for you
Trickydick:
Sitck in turtle mode, this limits the rpms to approx 1300 and also slips the clutch for you
Good advice. The “normal” reverse is best saved for motorway work.
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Another possible cause is a sticking friction plate on the input shaft
Thanks for reply. This jerking in reverse up slight inclines is in LR or turtle mode. I’ve driven the 2018 DAF CF auto and its smooth. Just never driven an old model CF.
My experience with Arsetronic so far, if the clutch judder in reverse up a slight incline is particularly bad, then the clutch/thrust bearing will give out not too far in the future.
And yes, Traxon clutch control is worlds apart from the previous box, box improved all round, however credit where it’s due there is no disputing the reliability of the Arse box itself and it has done its job in preventing non drivers from abusing the engine gearbox and clutches which happened with increasing regularity on manual boxed versions.
ukjamesuk:
Thanks for reply. This jerking in reverse up slight inclines is in LR or turtle mode. I’ve driven the 2018 DAF CF auto and its smooth. Just never driven an old model CF.
Do not compare a 2013 model to a 2018 model as the 2018 will have a Traxton gearbox which is a 100% improvement on the AS-TRONIC to the extent it has been compared to an I-Shift …The AS-TRONIC was never the best in reverse ,it was generally all or nothing …As I mentioned you may have a sticking clutch plate
Juddian:
My experience with Arsetronic so far, if the clutch judder in reverse up a slight incline is particularly bad, then the clutch/thrust bearing will give out not too far in the future.And yes, Traxon clutch control is worlds apart from the previous box, box improved all round, however credit where it’s due there is no disputing the reliability of the Arse box itself and it has done its job in preventing non drivers from abusing the engine gearbox and clutches which happened with increasing regularity on manual boxed versions.
At the end of the day unlike volvo ,ZF made a box that they had to integrate with various manufacturers systems,reliability wise ,im only talking the gearbox internals ,the range change could fail ,I probably done about 10 in it’s production life ,main body about 3 ,1 was ZF never heat treated the selector fork correctly and they wore out within 1000 miles ,in fact the others where for forks ,but they where close to the million miles ,the range and split had synchros ,and the input shaft speed sensor exciter ring inner ring was a square where it fitted on a round shaft lol
OK so if it’s a sticking clutch plate . Would other forum members be happy reversing it around building sites ? Also I presume the clutch or something else will stop the drive being transmitted to the wheels eventually. So I guess I have to just wait for something to fail ?
ukjamesuk:
OK so if it’s a sticking clutch plate . Would other forum members be happy reversing it around building sites ? Also I presume the clutch or something else will stop the drive being transmitted to the wheels eventually. So I guess I have to just wait for something to fail ?
I have only gave you a possible fault ,afterall i haven’t driven it .They where never terrific in reverse …But taking your word for it being bad ,what i suggest is a possibility ,on later AS-TRONIC models there was an off road switch which gave a more harsh clutch engagement ,which was to prevent you getting stuck ,as you know you need to keep momentum
Interesting it is a construction cab model but I haven’t found a switch for off road mode. Until recently I’ve driven old DAF manuals , Mercedes manuals and the new post 2014 auto DAFs so this is my only experience of a pre 2014 auto DAF and its the only one on the fleet and the previous driver no longer works for the company.
Im thinking clutch slip as it reverses maybe 1 meter and then just suddenly rolls forward I catch it with left foot break and off I go again in reverse. If I use the hand break I get multiple stalls while trying to reverse off the hand break
ukjamesuk:
Im thinking clutch slip as it reverses maybe 1 meter and then just suddenly rolls forward I catch it with left foot break and off I go again in reverse. If I use the hand break I get multiple stalls while trying to reverse off the hand break
Ah, this sounds familiar now.
If there’s any danger whatsoever of even the slightest wheelspin, always turn off traction control (TC) or ASR…could be called either depending on make of vehicle.
If you don’t turn off traction control soon as the vehicle senses wheelspin it will cut the power and apply the clutch, with TC/ASR switched off the system will allow a wheel or wheels to spin but still maintain power and drive.
Also depending on which wheels are driven, dump the air in the lift axle, that will increase the weight onto the driven axle helping to maintain grip.