Shifting a 102A3 5 speed

[TrevorH]

I am hoping to drive home my new bus this weekend and just had to ask this first.  I have driven large vehicles before but nothing in a stick.  Any tips or suggestions or warnings on how to shift one? Or warnings? The only standards that I am familiar with are in cars, trucks and offroad buggies. The only think I have heard so far is to not depress the clutch completely unless at a dead stop shifting into first (clutch brake).  As always thanks for the help, I really dont feel like learning how to changeout a clutch just yet...

[tekebird]

wow,

hope you have a short learning curve.

I think if you search the archives Russ (RJ) Long has a good shifting article.

[buswarrior]

Trevor, another member here, Russ/RJ Long has an excellent article over on BNO in the "Articles of Interest" part of that BBS. 

Try here:  http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/12262/16204.html?1167073154

That should get you started!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[tekebird]

just found and was about to post the link myself

[TrevorH]

Nice this looks like its gonna be fun.  How hard is it to add a tachometer? 8V92T

[tekebird]

not hard...... a tach will make your learning curve alot flatter/shorter.

[HB of CJ]

TrevorH, if you can walk and chew gum at the same time you will do just fine.  Nothing to it actually.  A tack is not really needed with just a five speed.  Use the speedo instead.  Remember to put it against the governor and don't be afraid to grind gears a little.  Double clutch, have fun, act goofy, smile alot and be sure to stop and smell the roses.  Nuf' said. 

[Tenor]

Have you thought about seeing if one of our busnuts would be able to meet you at the time of pickup?  One thing that could help is to find a BIG parking lot or a really dead road to practice in.  When I picked up my first bus, I had never driven anything bigger than a 27ft motorhome and nothing with a diesel.  Sticks were no problem, except for this one!  Thankfully I brought my friend along with me (with more years driving truck in reverse than I've driven forward) and he helped me get the feel of the stick and timing the deceleration right to allow it to go into gear.  Good Luck and have FUN!

Hey everyone, does this thing have an electric reverse in it?  I've never driven more than a 4 speed spicer.

[TrevorH]

Wouldnt I want to keep in the lower rpms to be as fuel efficient as possible?  According to a piece of paper taped to the dash the shift pattern is    R     2     4   
       L___L___L
       1     3    5

[Fredward]

Trevor,
I'll chime in on the "put it against the governor" thing. Driving one of these things is unlike anything you've ever driven before unless you've driven a diesel farm tractor. You put it in first, don't touch the throttle and let the clutch out slowly. The governor will keep it running and get you going. Then you can literally mash your foot on the throttle and hold it near the floor. The engine will wind up to about 2000 RPM and level out. It won't over rev. Then leave it in first gear and drive for awhile at 15 mph. Up and down hills, with your foot near the floor, the bus will stay at 15 mph. Same thing applies to the higher gears. Once you get the feel for operating at 2K you'll know when to shift. Coincidentally its at this point that the pressure is released from the gears and you can slip the lever out of first and sneak it into second as the engine revs down. But that takes awhile to figure out. I drove mine using the clutch four about six months before I figured out how to shift without it.

Absolutely to not run at lower RPMs in higher gears. Two strokes should not be lugged. Just keep it screaming and it will run cooler and last longer.
Fred

[Busted Knuckle]

Trevor,
"put it against the governor"
You put it in first, don't touch the throttle and let the clutch out slowly. The governor will keep it running and get you going. Then you can literally mash your foot on the throttle and hold it near the floor. The engine will wind up to about 2000 RPM and level out. It won't over rev. Then leave it in first gear and drive for awhile at 15 mph. Up and down hills, with your foot near the floor, the bus will stay at 15 mph. Same thing applies to the higher gears. Once you get the feel for operating at 2K you'll know when to shift. Coincidentally its at this point that the pressure is released from the gears and you can slip the lever out of first and sneak it into second as the engine revs down. But that takes awhile to figure out.

Absolutely to not run at lower RPMs in higher gears. Two strokes should not be lugged. Just keep it screaming and it will run cooler and last longer.
Fred

Excellant way off putting it! Happy motoring remember they was called scream'n jimmy's for a reason! LOL!
FWIW   BK 

[chazwood]

Would that advise apply to a 6v92t with a 740 auto?. Seems like it runs and shifts a lot better if you just stand on it and let her rip. (But don't want to hurt it.)

Thanks.

[dparker]

Chaz,

I have old trucker drivers tell me that with the DD 2 strokes the best way to drive them is to slam your finger in the door as you get in to get yourself mad at it and drive it like you stole it --

I could not find the post but a couple of months ago a guy suggested that you run it as hard as it willl go then watch the exhaust out your mirror as you get to the speed you want (i drive mine wide open most of the time as it only run about 78 mph) then just back off the trottle as long as you maitain your speed and you will see the hint of black (un burnt fuel) smoke disappear from the exhaust which will translate into a bit of extra heat that the engine cannot turn into motion ... make sense and works well for me ...

dp

[makemineatwostroke]

Tervor, your 8v92 was designed to run between 1400 and 1800 rpms drive it that way and you will have less oil leaks and better fuel mileage and a long lasting engine and a tach is a good idea  FWIW

[chazwood]

Chaz,

I have old trucker drivers tell me that with the DD 2 strokes the best way to drive them is to slam your finger in the door as you get in to get yourself mad at it and drive it like you stole it --

I could not find the post but a couple of months ago a guy suggested that you run it as hard as it willl go then watch the exhaust out your mirror as you get to the speed you want (i drive mine wide open most of the time as it only run about 78 mph) then just back off the trottle as long as you maitain your speed and you will see the hint of black (un burnt fuel) smoke disappear from the exhaust which will translate into a bit of extra heat that the engine cannot turn into motion ... make sense and works well for me ...

dp

sounds good to me.

Thanks.