Got a job next week driving Merc Actros. Got call from TM giving me details of job etc. He admits he has never driven a lorry but told me that gearbox was a “push pull thing” 
Any advice on what type of gear shift they have please?
8 high gears , 8 low gears working on a paddle. There is a half gear paddle which is a lot better to use than the full gear paddle. 2 buttons either side of main paddle, left button in pull back paddle gives you reverse. Right button in gives you neutral.
Great tip, sitting at lights/junction etc start in 3 high. 3 clicks in half gear paddle , 1500rpm , 3 clicks half gear paddle , 1500rpm , 2 clicks half gear paddle.
Just remember 3,3,2.
As you’re approaching a junction, slowing you can pull back main gear paddle and it gives you the best gear so it changes down for you.
There is a pre-select function but in all my years driving a merc i never got my head round this concept 
I used to call it the machine gun box, i wonder if anyone on here knows why
I miss my merc 
my daf auto is a ■■■■■■■■■■■■■
Not the powershift with joystick?
12 speed auto
I used to call it the machine gun box, i wonder if anyone on here knows why
Could it be because if you try to race the gearchanges and do it to quickly then it makes a horrible rapid clicking noise at you … i used to hate that noise, heard it to many times 
rockape2620:
I used to call it the machine gun box, i wonder if anyone on here knows why
Could it be because if you try to race the gearchanges and do it to quickly then it makes a horrible rapid clicking noise at you … i used to hate that noise, heard it to many times
sounds like a tommy gun
merc0447:
rockape2620:
I used to call it the machine gun box, i wonder if anyone on here knows why
Could it be because if you try to race the gearchanges and do it to quickly then it makes a horrible rapid clicking noise at you … i used to hate that noise, heard it to many times
sounds like a tommy gun
Hahaha indeed it does now you come to mention it 
Quick story to which is kinda on topic…
I used to work for Whites (Netto contract) they have some god awful mercs and they are bright yellow with a green stripe, anyway this paticular truck was X reg and a total heap of crap, i was on the roundabout at J25 of the M25 at 7am about to head onto the M25 westbound, lights go green, selected gear, released clutch and nothing, no gears, im sure you all know how busy this roundabout is 
anyway long story short these trucks have a built in reset procedure for when the gearbox throws a wobbly, it kinda goes like this (im being told what to do over the phone) clutch down…paddle forward and hold for 5 seconds…clutch up …paddle backwards …clutch down ect ect …took ages … massive traffic jam …me sweating buckets…bad times 
Love the new mercs with this system though…almost as nice as Scania’s …almost but not quite
merc0447:
8 high gears , 8 low gears working on a paddle. There is a half gear paddle which is a lot better to use than the full gear paddle. 2 buttons either side of main paddle, left button in pull back paddle gives you reverse. Right button in gives you neutral.
Maybe in a left ■■■■■■??
right button to select gear or reverse. left button for neutral play with it and get used to it take your time with the changes and you wont win the jackpot
if it has a t joystick and a clutch pedal you have the telligent box.its called telligent because it learns how to drive from your input ie.
-to start off place your hand on the t ,press and hold the button under your thumb and push the t for ward then clutch untill you hear 2 clicks,you now have your pull off gear
-to progress up the gear range place hand on t and push forward(no thumb when moving along)telligent picks your next gear
-reverse procedure to go down gears or reverse
-when you get out on your own during a break get the manual and read it 
best of luck
Thanks for the reply folks.
Sounds bloody complicated. You’re scaring me to death 
Anyone got any pictures of the thing?
keano1:
Thanks for the reply folks.
Sounds bloody complicated. You’re scaring me to death
Anyone got any pictures of the thing?
Its not that complicated…here is the simple use
paddle is by your left arm (on the armrest)
push forward to engage gear (display on dash shows what gear your in)
keep pushing forward till your in top gear
pull back to go back down gears …simple as that
Just ignore all the talk of the lower paddle and half gears, as soon as your in the drivers char you will understand
not gonna tell you how to get reverse though 
rockape2620:
not gonna tell you how to get reverse though
You ZB
To get reverse, STOP., Get Neutral. Press the thumb side button in, pull back and depress clutch.
Merc0447 gave some good tips.
If you’re unit only, light or empty, 3 upward clicks of the paddle followed by a declutch will take it up one and a half gears en bloc.
If you are sat at lights, you can push the T forwards to engage gear some seconds before the lights change, then declutch & she’ll engage the gear.
Approaching junctions, use brakes to slow,(as you should) then just pull the T back & it will engage what it thinks is the most appropriate gear.
Actually they’re a very relaxing drive.
merc0447:
8 high gears , 8 low gears working on a paddle. There is a half gear paddle which is a lot better to use than the full gear paddle. 2 buttons either side of main paddle, left button in pull back paddle gives you reverse. Right button in gives you neutral.Great tip, sitting at lights/junction etc start in 3 high. 3 clicks in half gear paddle , 1500rpm , 3 clicks half gear paddle , 1500rpm , 2 clicks half gear paddle.
Just remember 3,3,2.
As you’re approaching a junction, slowing you can pull back main gear paddle and it gives you the best gear so it changes down for you.
There is a pre-select function but in all my years driving a merc i never got my head round this concept
I used to call it the machine gun box, i wonder if anyone on here knows why
I know why you call it a machine gun box! I did my class 1 training with one of the said Actrosses, and it took an hour or two to get used to it, no where near as much fun as an Eaton twin-splitter mind you. Yeah, it’s all coming back to me now, 5 years on (amazing how time flies), neglect to put the clutch all the way down and it was da-da-da-da-da-da!! and then ‘OFFS not again’ from the instructor immediately afterwards
I miss my merc
merc0447:
I used to call it the machine gun box, i wonder if anyone on here knows whyI miss my merc
…you can’t rush 'em
I miss mine too
keano1:
Thanks for the reply folks.
Sounds bloody complicated. You’re scaring me to death
Anyone got any pictures of the thing?
It won’t take long to get used to it
I used to call it the machine gun box, i wonder if anyone on here knows why
mines got a football rattle in it only had it about 3 years and it’s still there on occaisions
i used to own one these and in my humble opinion the only box thats come close to a twin splitter, so simple and soooo easy to use and by it’s refussal to give you to high a gear (the machine gun) eliminates a lot of driver clutch abuse.
paul b:
i used to own one these and in my humble opinion the only box thats come close to a twin splitter, so simple and soooo easy to use and by it’s refussal to give you to high a gear (the machine gun) eliminates a lot of driver clutch abuse.
i need to agree with you paul, my first encounter with it and i was like ‘‘what the ■■■■ is that’’ Could go up and down the gears with a few clicks. All the changes where so smooth unless you miss geared it Every single week id get 100% on the driver grading and i put that down to how well i got on with the box.
My new auto daf feels like a baby elephant changing gears, its so slow at junctions it borders on dangerous. And i cant get 100% on driver grading with it
i miss my merc i hope she is having a happy retirement somewhere in Africa
philmots:
Not the powershift with joystick?12 speed auto
Currently driving them on a 58 plate at an agency customer.
Nice box, but it ain’t no I-Shift.
Ken.
Just a quick thank you to all those who offered advice/help about the Actros gear shift. Glad I copied down the info and took it with me on Monday morning.
Got the ‘machine gun’ sound a few times at first but didn’t take long to get it sussed Not bad to drive but couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding when fully loaded
Thanks again
