Taking rigid lessons gearbox question

triple-M

Hi all I have a question,im new to the world of trucking having only 2 lessons behind me,I took my lessons so far in an 01 scania rigid lorry with a four over four gearbox as the instructor called it which i just cant get the hang of I keep knocking the switch on the gearstick with my knee up or down,and I find the gears confusing to the extent that I want to take further lesson in a truck with a straight six gear box,Im wondering if anybody knows of any motoring schools on dublins northside that teach rigid lessons in a truck with a straight six gear box,or would i just be better off sticking with the four over four and trying to get used to it?

any advice or recommendations greatly appreciated

AllGunsBlazing

Personally I would say stick with the lessons in the 4 over 4. I was in the exact same situation this time last year but you have to give it a chance. If and when you go into the workplace you most likely will encounter a range change box at some point so better to master it now.

Trying to go from low box to high (and vice versa) in a pre '03 Scania can be rather fidgety, and I can sympathise after learning to drive in a '00 Scania myself.

The only advice I could give is to be very deliberate and methodical with your gear changes when going low/high or high/low, otherwise it won't take the gear and will stay in nuetral.

triple-M

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

Trying to go from low box to high (and vice versa) in a pre '03 Scania can be rather fidgety, and I can sympathise after learning to drive in a '00 Scania myself.

thanks for the response,im just wondering did something change in the post 03 scania's?and if so did it make life any easier for newbies??
thanks;)

AllGunsBlazing

triple-M wrote: »

thanks for the response,im just wondering did something change in the post 03 scania's?and if so did it make life any easier for newbies??
thanks;)

Not really, they have a new gearbox that is a little more solid and user friendly than the older model. But stick with the truck you are in and you will get the feel of it, trust me on this.

It varies for everyone but I took ten lessons before going for the test (I was also a total novice to trucks) you have only taken two so far. Give it at least three more lessons and I bet you will feel much happier with the gear changes.

Remember, dont rush through the gears changes. When changing ratios - flick the switch first, take her out of gear and let it sit in neutral for a moment then go for the high gear (the same applies for going down to lower box). Do not flick the switch as you are changing gear this will confuse the transmission and you will have no gear at all.

Like everything with driving you will only learn through repetition, so stick with it!:)

triple-M

perfect advice,you've given me a little confidence boost,I suppose its like learning to ride a bike,once you learn you never forget A+

jimmyw

I am a bit surprised that your instructor is teaching you in a splitter box, as in Waterford at least the 2 I used were both straight 6 speeders, but maybe thats not unusual, I dont know any different. But I would think if you can at all to stick with it as was said before most lorries out there are splitters. The brother took me out in a 03 scania during my lessons that he was driving for a former workmate and when I drove it I thought s**t:p wont be able to do this at all cause I made a complete b***s of it. Then I went out again some time later and was not too bad and feel I could get used to it given some practice.

triple-M

jimmyw wrote: »

I am a bit surprised that your instructor is teaching you in a splitter box, as in Waterford at least the 2 I used were both straight 6 speeders, but maybe thats not unusual, I dont know any different. But I would think if you can at all to stick with it as was said before most lorries out there are splitters. The brother took me out in a 03 scania during my lessons that he was driving for a former workmate and when I drove it I thought s**t:p wont be able to do this at all cause I made a complete b***s of it. Then I went out again some time later and was not too bad and feel I could get used to it given some practice.

im going to give it a go anyways but i would prefer to find a truck school with a 6 speed straight box,im not too concerned about which one is better to have as th only reason I want a C and D licence is to make me eligible to apply for a paramedic job

jimmyw

triple-M wrote: »

im going to give it a go anyways but i would prefer to find a truck school with a 6 speed straight box,im not too concerned about which one is better to have as th only reason I want a C and D licence is to make me eligible to apply for a paramedic job

What type of licence do you need for that? Do you even need a c class for that, James.

triple-M

jimmyw wrote: »

What type of licence do you need for that? Do you even need a c class for that, James.

I remember when the hse were recruiting last year a requirement to even be able to sit the aptitude test was to have a full C and D licence I chanced applying with just a provisional D and got turned down straight away

Wishbone Ash

jimmyw wrote: »

I am a bit surprised that your instructor is teaching you in a splitter box

A 'four over four' is NOT a splitter box!

A splitter box would be a standard 'four over four' with an extra 'half' gear i.e. a possible total of 16 gears OR a standard 'three over three' with a splitter giving a possible 12 gears.

triple-M wrote: »

I remember when the hse were recruiting last year a requirement to even be able to sit the aptitude test was to have a full C and D licence I chanced applying with just a provisional D and got turned down straight away

Are you sure it wasn't a full C1 or D1?

A standard fire tender would require a category C but for anything in the ambulance area a C1/D1 should suffice (depending on number of passengers).

psycho-hope

nope you need a full C1 and D1 , the idea being the new ambulances wit the tail lift are over a ton and you might be required to drive a mini bus from time to time, I know a few stations where every 6-8 weeks you drive the mini bus that brings elderly or disabled people to hospital appointments/daycare centres if they have no transpot of there own

jimmyw

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

A 'four over four' is NOT a splitter box!

A splitter box would be a standard 'four over four' with an extra 'half' gear i.e. a possible total of 16 gears OR a standard 'three over three' with a splitter giving a possible 12 gears.

Are you sure it wasn't a full C1 or D1?

A standard fire tender would require a category C but for anything in the ambulance area a C1/D1 should suffice (depending on number of passengers).

I stand corrected then wishbone:o
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_transmission#Synchronized_transmission

macroman

Keep at the 4 over 4, it'll take time to get the hang of it, just run through the gears in your head when shifting and be aware of the position of the switch. Consider yourself lucky... I had to learn in an old Bedford Fire Engine with no power steering. A shoulder wrencher and a half - especially on a roundabout :rolleyes:

AllGunsBlazing

macroman wrote: »

Consider yourself lucky... I had to learn in an old Bedford Fire Engine with no power steering. A shoulder wrencher and a half - especially on a roundabout :rolleyes:

My father would concur, more than twenty years of driving just Bedford TK's left him with arms that look more like tree trunks!

Boy, those Bedfords were real workhorses though. He eventually got a truck with power steering when he switched to over Hino FD's in the late 80's. Lap of luxury it was by comparsion and that's really saying something considering how spartan the old Hino's were themselves.

RustyNut

Hey hows it goin,
Makes me feel real old to say it but Im over 25 years driving trucks so have a little knowledge. I would strongly advise you to stick with the range change as they are used in so many trucks and are only a matter of practice. If you think ahead and plan gear changes they work flawlessly the trick is to allow the gear box the time it needs to work, this will stand by you as you progress with your licence.I cant think of any artic tractor unit that does not have a range change box (maby the little volvo yokes that guinness use, never been in 1)and most will have a splitter as well. And as its relevant I will tell this story. My brother in law drifted from job to job for a few years then decided to get his rigid licence and become a driver. His lessons and test were all taken in a volvo fl something or other with a straight 6 box and test passed 1st time. I pulled a few strings and got him a start with one of the better food distribution companies, on his first run he was sent out in a daf with range change and ended up leaving it at a drop in blanch shopping center because he couldnt use the gear box leading to a lot of embarrassment for him and me and the loss of a dam good handy job with sick pay pension and all the stuff that can be hard to get as a driver.
So stick with it its well worth it, after 25 years of every thing from delivering timber to building sites with a ford d serious to adr work all over Europe I still enjoy my job driving a daf xf 410 pulling a fridge on supermarket work.
Hope Ya find this helpful and not to long winded...:D:D