Only problem with a synchro box on a yank truck is you will end up with a left calf like Fatima whitbread as most of them have a clutch that’s feels like its set in half set concrete.
kr79:
Only problem with a synchro box on a yank truck is you will end up with a left calf like Fatima whitbread as most of them have a clutch that’s feels like its set in half set concrete.
They can’t possibly be any worse than driving an old Leyland Clydesdale in town. 
Although seriously as far as I know they were using air assisted clutches over there even before they were using them in euroland in the old DAF 2800 or at least I think it might have been the yanks who thought of the idea first.As there are documented reports of Bendix Westinghouse air assist clutch actuation being used during the 1960’s over there and the old Leyland Hippo also seems to have had it in the 1960’s by all accounts. 
Carryfast:
fly sheet:
chazzer:
kr79, you mention a Volvo in your yard with a eaton/fuller box, why anyone would forgo a nice synchro box is beyond me but I have been driving a Penske rental Volvo with the E/F box in it so it must be an option that is offered, apart from that a lot nicer to drive and you can actually see where the back of the trailer is in the mirrors.I drive a Volvo with a 13 speed in it Chazzer, its fairly good I think, most of our fleet has I-shift now but I can’t get on with that, I did try one for 15,000 miles but it was’nt for Me. Volvo are offering incredible warranties from the gearbox back if You have an I-shift I’m talking 500,000 miles plus which is a good selling point up here, I’m sure our fitter told Me the I-shift was $5000 more from new than a Fuller box. I think these Volvos are smashing trucks they’ve got all thats good about an American lorry but with the scandinavian bits thrown in.
In which case they might as well do the job properly by putting a big power Scania V8 in a Pete or a KW but make it a glider kit so that it can run on open exhausts with no smog bs.I’d guess around 800 hp in that case.
Carryfast its as flat as witches ■■■ mostly over here, my 485 13 litre is more than addequate at 36 tons gross.
Fly Sheet I have to say the old 13 speed in my old Transcon EHJ was a lovely box and the clutch was’nt too heavy when you needed to use it but it flew through the gears without it and it was’nt that difficult to make a clean change. Trouble is since having a replacement knee surgery several years ago it gets rather painful after a day of using a Peterbilt clutch so I am looking forward to a I shift box, plus while we’re on the subject of stupid american design faults why can’t they come up with a better idea than the two parking/trailer brake valves to pull and push, surely two european handle style ones would be a lot easier to use.
Oh yes EHJ had a great gearbox in it, ive noticed some blokes are retro fitting what they call The Puck type ramge change splitter like was in the transcon & DAF of that era! An air clutch would be nice for the traffic for sure. The old if it aint broke is at work regarding the handbrake pullers for sure.
I liked the foden type set up for the 13 speed same type as the twin splitter.
An air clutch would be nice for traffic. Rush hour through Chicago can be a chore at times
kr79:
An air clutch would be nice for traffic. Rush hour through Chicago can be a chore at times
Blimey so they were using air assisted clutches over there during the 1960’s but not now in the 21 st century.
No air assistance on my clutch and as Kev said, Chicago can be hard work, I spent three hours there once due to a flood, usually I go around in the day time as the traffic is mental, but this time I was caught out and my left leg was killing me, I only use the clutch to pull away, so probably used it a fifth of the time and still it got to the point where my leg was shaking as I tried to push the clutch down 
Oh and Carryfast, clutch or no clutch, makes no difference to anything, there is no right or wrong way, as long as it slips in with no grinding then it’s a good gear change 
kr79:
The original Renault magnum concept was like that no normal doors just one at the back. Someone told me the reason it never made it to production was if you jackknifed three may be no way out. Don’t know if there’s any truth in that.
I saw a prototype in South of France,it had sliding doors in anticipation of the Chunnel ( that was still being public enquired at the time)
newmercman:
No air assistance on my clutch and as Kev said, Chicago can be hard work, I spent three hours there once due to a flood, usually I go around in the day time as the traffic is mental, but this time I was caught out and my left leg was killing me, I only use the clutch to pull away, so probably used it a fifth of the time and still it got to the point where my leg was shaking as I tried to push the clutch downOh and Carryfast, clutch or no clutch, makes no difference to anything, there is no right or wrong way, as long as it slips in with no grinding then it’s a good gear change
It’s unbelievable that they seem to have gone backwards in that regard.
As I said the old Clydesdale was one of the worst that I can remember for it’s clutch and as you say in that case those smooth clutchless changes are second nature without thinking about it just to give the left leg a rest.As for the DAF 2800 the old ZF constant mesh in that wouldn’t have put up with clutchless changes anyway so just as well that the Dutch put a decent air assisted clutch on it. 
But maybe it’s just that the yanks have given up on trying to make drivers drive a fuller by the book using the clutch for every shift so they’ve decided to save some money by ditching air assisted clutches instead.In which case clutchless changes have actually resulted in more work not less when you eventually have to use the clutch in town.