http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mf6AUbjT-s&feature=player_embedded#at=49

Now that takes a bit of skill, not going to be able to text on the Iphone and shift at the same time!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

waaaay to much going on there

I REALLY miss my old manual, usually drive the SL manual still not the same.

I don't understand the double stick in the video.
Would love to know the full shift pattern.
He doesn't use the clutch with the left shifter.
Seemed to double clutch with the right, not unusual for trannies from that era.

__________________
KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.

Not much clutching going on.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I was always under the impression that one stick controlled a multi-speed rear axle, while the other controlled the transmission, and through manipulation of the axle ratios against the transmission gear ratios, you were able to create very small steps up or down the gear range, which helped keep the engine in a very narrow RPM band.

On my uncles dump truck your not supposed to use the clutch after 3rd gear, you will wear it out, its all rev matching after that. The clutch is simply meant to aid you in getting the truck moving.

Also its a double sided clutch so you never keep the clutch depressed at a stop light, its always into neutral.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The "transmission" is actually two transmissions. The more modern ones put them both together in one case, while the old one in the video had a 5-speed front transmission driving a 4-speed "brownie box", which in turn drove the drive shaft. From watching another video of that type of truck, it looks like the shift pattern is:

Starting with the brownie box in the lowest gear, shift through 4 or 5 gears of the front transmission (I couldn't quite catch the count on shifts and the pattern looks different from what I'm used to on newer heavy trucks), then shift the brownie box up to the next gear while putting the front transmission back in first or second. Work through the gears on the front transmission, and then upshift the brownie box again and repeat. This is similar in concept to driving a modern heavy truck transmission, except that the "brownie box" is integrated with the main transmission and is now shifted by air controlled from one or two selector switches located on the main shifter.

For example, on the 8LL that I used to drive, low-low was produced by putting the shifter in the "low" hole, with the range selector down for low range, plus moving the selector on the side of the shifter forward to put it in deep reduction. From there, you upshift to low by leaving the shifter where it is, moving the side switch to the rear, then running the rpms up to 1800 or so and then letting off the fuel. Following that, you move the shifter through the different holes to get 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. For 5th, you move the range selector up for high range, then move the shifter back to the same hole used for 1st. Subsequent upshifts through 8th are made by moving the shifter. Low-low is only used for starting a heavy load uphill. Low is used for starting when heavily loaded, and when unloaded or lightly loaded, you start in first. When I was driving a lot, I usually floated all my upshifts, meaning I didn't use the clutch after I got moving, but I did use the clutch when taking the transmission out of gear on down shifts. This is basically half of a double-clutching shift with the other half rev-matched. This isn't what they teach in trucking school, but it generally worked best for me. Some of the really good drivers only use the clutch for starting and rev-match (float) everything else. However, when you go for your CDL, they want you to double-clutch every shift.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I've heard of 'brownies' many times but have never been able to figure out where the name came from or actually seen one. Does it look like a second transmission? Anyone know the reason for the name?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Wow, not something your average standard-shift guy is going to be able to hop right in and drive away!

Gotta love intermittent, hands-free driving.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I think when they first came out, the leading brand name was Brown or Browning or something like that. While a place I used to work had an old twin stick Kenworth, I'll admit I never got under it and looked.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Here in MA, I grew up calling that transmission a 'quad-box'; when I was younger I could drive that. I'm certain that the truck in the video is a B model Mack, because it was fitted with a diesel the last number in the designation would have been an odd number. I learned to drive truck on a B-81. B model Macks could also be fitted with what we call a 'tri-plex' transmission; that transmission had THREE sticks! The tri-plex required that you reach between the spokes of the steering wheel to use BOTH hands at the same time to shift.

The best advice I ever got when learning to drive truck was this..."if you miss one gear, try and get the next one; if you miss the next, turn off the CB!" that was because if you miss two gears, you had to stop and restart all over again...making all the other truck drivers yell at you over the CB

I spent many happy days grinding gears. A long time ago, in days I look back on fondly.

__________________
1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K

Ok guys. I hate to interrupt, but we got to speed things up a little.

Here is some shifting going on ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ieRNmgxiA&feature=related

__________________