
Actuation of trailer park (emergency) or tractor bobtail position
To actuate the trailer brakes only, pull out the trailer air supply knob (1).
The trailer brakes are now applied whether emergency or spring brakes
are used on the trailer.
This mode is also used when the tractor or truck with trailer is used
during bobtail operation.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
A noise from the hydraulic pump motor and pulsation in the pedal may
be observed during ABS braking events. Pedal pulsation coupled with
noise while braking under panic conditions or on loose gravel, bumps,
wet or snowy roads is normal and indicates proper functioning of the
vehicle’s ABS. If the vehicle has continuous vibration or shudder in the
steering wheel while braking, the vehicle should be inspected by a
qualified service technician.
The ABS operates by detecting the
onset of wheel lockup during brake
applications and compensating for
this tendency. The wheels are
prevented from locking even when
the brakes are firmly applied. The
accompanying illustration depicts
the advantage of an ABS equipped
vehicle (on bottom) to a non-ABS
equipped vehicle (on top) during hard braking with loss of front braking
traction.
ABS warning lamp
The
ABSwarning lamp in the instrument cluster momentarily illuminates
when the ignition is turned on and the engine is off. If the light does not
1
2
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illuminate momentarily at start up, remains on after the vehicle reaches
5–10 mph (10–15 km/h), or continues to flash, the ABS needs to be
serviced.
With the ABS light on, the anti-lock brake system is disabled and normal
braking is still effective unless the brake warning light also remains
illuminated. (If your parking brake warning lamp illuminates, have your
vehicle serviced immediately).
Using ABS
•In an emergency or when maximum efficiency from the ABS is
required, apply continuous full force on the brake. The ABS will be
activated immediately, thus allowing you to retain full steering control
of your vehicle and, providing there is sufficient space, will enable you
to avoid obstacles and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.
•The ABS does not decrease the time necessary to apply the brakes or
always reduce stopping distance. Always leave enough room between
your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to stop.
•We recommend that you familiarize yourself with this braking
technique. However, avoid taking any unnecessary risks.
TRACTION CONTROL(IF EQUIPPED)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Traction Controlsystem. This
system helps you maintain the stability and steerability of your vehicle,
especially on slippery road surfaces such as snow- or ice-covered roads
and gravel roads, by reducing engine power and/or selectively applying
the rear brakes. The system will allow your vehicle to make better use of
available traction in these conditions.
Note:The traction control system will not apply the brakes when the
vehicle speed is above 25 mph (40 km/h).
During Traction Controloperation,
the traction control light in the
instrument cluster will flash and the
engine will not “rev-up” when you
push further on the accelerator. This
is normal system behavior and should be no reason for concern. If the
traction control light does not flash or stays illuminated, the system is
not functioning.
When the Traction Controlswitch, located on the instrument panel, is
in the off position, the traction control light will be illuminated.
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Tractor-trailer connections
To reduce the risk of personal injury, use extreme caution when
making brake and light connections. Inclement weather and
accumulated road contamination deposits on handhold and stepping
surfaces require extra care to avoid slip and falls. Provide adequate
lighting of working areas.
Do not climb on the back of the tractor unless it has been
provided with a deck plate and handholds. Use a three-point
stance when climbing up and down from a deck plate. Do not jump
from the vehicle. Whenever possible, make all connections while
standing on the ground.
Connecting and disconnecting a trailer with air suspension
When connecting to a trailer:
•Press the lower portion of the switch and air will exhaust from the air
suspension system.
•After making the connection to the trailer, press the upper portion of
the switch, then raise the landing gear.
When disconnecting the trailer:
•Lower the landing gear, then press the lower portion of the switch.
•Disconnect the brake hoses, trailer-side and rear light connectors,
then pull the release lever on the fifth wheel.
The upper portion of the switch must be pressed before operating with a
trailer or operating in the bobtail mode.
Suspension conversions
It is not recommended, or approved, that suspension conversions be
performed. However, it is understood that, on occasion, aftermarket
add-on suspensions are installed by others on the truck chassis which
allow operator control for weight transfer from other axles (i.e., air lift
axles).
When operating a loaded vehicle, the driver must keep all
adjustable axles on the ground at all times, supporting their
share of the vehicle’s load. Failure to do so can overload other axles,
tires, wheels, springs, steering components, brakes and frames,
resulting in early component failure, loss of vehicle control, possible
property damage and personal injury.
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•Never coast with the clutch disengaged.The high RPM
(sometimes over 10,000), can actually burst the facing material of the
clutch.
•Never engage the clutch while coasting.Re-engaging the clutch
after coasting may not only cause a great shock to the clutch, but the
whole drivetrain. Internal engine damage and/or clutch and flywheel
failure can result from this.
If your vehicle’s transmission is equipped with a ceramic clutch, you
must start the vehicle moving in first gear and engage the clutch before
pressing the accelerator at idle. Also, don’t try to slip the clutch by
raising engine RPM and riding or feathering the clutch pedal since the
vehicle will experience erratic engagement. Erratic engagement can
cause the engine stalling and potential serious damage to the vehicle’s
driveline components.
Clutch brake (vehicles equipped with a non-synchronized
transmission) - Vehicle stationary
A clutch brake is used to stop the transmission input shaft rotation so
that the initial 1 (First) or R (Reverse) gear selection can be
accomplished when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running at
idle speed. Clutch brake application occurs in the last inch (25 mm) of
clutch pedal travel.
When using the clutch brake, fully depress the clutch pedal and shift the
transmission into 1 (First) or R (Reverse). If the transmission won’t go
into one of these gears, slowly release the clutch pedal while applying
light pressure on the transmission shift lever until it shifts into gear.
Note:After engagement of 1 (First) gear,do notuse the clutch brake
for upshifting or downshifting. If you do, clutch brake life will shorten
and gear selection shift efforts may increase.
Double-clutch procedures - vehicles equipped with a
non-synchronized transmission
In order to properly upshift or downshift, perform the following steps:
1. Depress the clutch pedal to disengage the clutch.
2. Shift the transmission into neutral.
3. Release the clutch pedal.
If upshifting, wait until the engine speed matches the transmission
speed of the gear you are selecting.
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If downshifting,accelerate the engine until the engine speed matches
the input speed of the gear you are selecting. Depress the clutch pedal
immediately and shift into the desired gear, then release the clutch
pedal.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
Note:Continued use of a damaged or worn clutch, prolonged clutch
slippage or downshifting at excessive speeds can result in a failure of the
engine, transmission or clutch components.
Note:To avoid premature clutch wear and failure, do not drive with
your foot resting on the clutch pedal or use it to hold the vehicle at a
standstill on an upgrade as when waiting for a traffic light.
Manual transmission shift patterns
are displayed on either the shift
lever knob or the sun visor.
Study this information carefully before you drive the vehicle even though
you may be familiar with similar units. Do not attempt to drive the
vehicle without knowing the exact shift pattern of the transmission.
Consult your authorized dealer if any questions exist as to the shifting
instructions posted in your vehicle.
Do not coast the vehicle with the clutch pedal depressed or with
the transmission in neutral. This practice could result in loss of
vehicle control.
Driving hints
The following driving hints are provided as a brief, general guide in
operating the different manual transmissions used in your vehicle.
•When shifting into 1 (First) or R (Reverse) with vehicle standing still,
quickly release and depress the clutch pedal (if necessary to complete
gear engagement).
•Always use the lowest gear to start the vehicle.
•Always use a gear ratio low enough to allow the engine to operate
above the minimum engine operation speed range.
R 1 3 5
4
6 2
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•Do not lug the engine.
•Do not slam or jerk the gearshift lever into gear.
•When more power is required, shift to a lower gear and accelerate the
engine near the governed speed.
Shifting with a synchronized transmission
With the clutch pedal depressed, use 2 (Second) gear synchronizer to
stop the clutch disc rotation; this allows smooth engagement of 1 (First)
or R (Reverse) To complete the gear engagement, it may be necessary to
apply light pressure to the gearshift lever during initial engagement of
the clutch. It takes a second or two to match gear speeds; steady
pressure on the gearshift lever will help the synchronizer perform its job
more quickly. If the gearshift lever is forced into position, this action
defeats the purpose of the synchronizer by causing gear clash.
Shifting with a non-synchronized transmission
Refer toClutch brakeandDouble clutch proceduresin theClutch
section of this chapter.
Operating the Eaton FS-4205A and FS-5205A 5–speed
transmissions
The 5-speed transmission is
equipped with five forward gears
and one reverse. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th
and 5th gears are synchronized. The
shift pattern is embossed on the
gear shift knob.
Do not shift the transmission into R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving as this could damage the transmission.
To go forward
With the engine idling, depress the clutch pedal and shift into 1 (First).
Engage the clutch while pressing the accelerator to start forward.
Operate the clutch and upshift as required by driving conditions.
To go backward
Reverse is obtained by putting the gearshift lever in R (Reverse) and
engaging the clutch while pressing lightly on the accelerator.
R 2 4
3 5 1
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Operating the Eaton FS–5406A, FS–5406N, FS–6406A and
FS–6406N 6-speed transmissions
These 6-speed transmissions are
equipped with six forward gears and
one reverse. All the forward gears
are synchronized. The shift pattern
is embossed on the gear shift knob.
Do not shift the transmission into 1 (First) or R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving as this could damage the transmission.
To go forward
With the engine idling, depress the clutch pedal and shift into 1 (First).
Engage the clutch while pressing the accelerator to start forward.
Operate the clutch and upshift as required by driving conditions.
To go backward
Reverse is obtained by putting the gearshift lever in R (Reverse) and
engaging the clutch while pressing lightly on the accelerator.
Operating the Spicer ES56-7B and ES066-7B 7-speed
transmissions
These 7-speed transmissions are
equipped with seven forward gears
and one reverse. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th,
5th, 6th and 7th gears are
synchronized. The shift pattern is
embossed on the gear shift knob.
Do not shift the transmission into 1 (First) or R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving as this could damage the transmission.
To go forward
With the engine idling, depress the clutch pedal and shift into 1 (First).
Engage the clutch while pressing the accelerator to start forward.
Operate the clutch and upshift as required by driving conditions.
R 1 3 5
4
6 2
2 4 6
3 5 71 R
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To go backward
Reverse is obtained by putting the gearshift lever in R (Reverse) and
engaging the clutch while pressing lightly on the accelerator.
Operating the Eaton 8908LL 10-speed transmission
These transmissions have five
forward speeds in the LO range, and
four forward speeds in the HI range.
These transmissions employ a Deep
Reduction Valve and control to allow
for a LO-LO gear operation for
adverse conditions. Study the
instruction plate on the sun visor
thoroughly and learn the shift
pattern of your transmission.
To go forward
With the engine idling, depress the clutch pedal and move the gearshift
lever to the neutral position.
Place the range selector in the LO
range and the Deep Reduction
Button in the OUT/REARWARD
position or,
place the Deep Reduction in the
IN/FORWARD position if you want
to start in LO-LO under adverse
conditions.
27
3
6
2 LO
LO-LO
8
4
R R
R R
5 1
1
Neutral
5
17
3
6
2 LO
LO-LO
8
4
R R
R
Neutral
5
17
3
6
2 LO
LO-LO
8
4
R R
R
Neutral
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