How to Shift a Two Stick Transmission

[@endtimeawakening5557]

This is a great example of how these transmissions work together. It really helps when you put the two graphics on the screen and show what upshifts and downshifts are taking place. This is the BEST twin stick tutorial I've ever seen. Great job, you have a great mechanical aptitude and teach very well! God bless!

[@iBackshift]

In the late 80's, when I was taught 5x4, ol' Kevin & Frank put 4 pieces of tape on the dashboard for me [depending on what truck i was in, another had a 6x4]. When i had my hand on either shifter, they made me point my index(first) finger out and touch the tape on the dash. The tape pieces were Main 2 and 5, Auxiliary 1 and 4. So, when I shifted gears, no matter if I took my hand off the shifter and I couldn't remember what gear I was in, all I had to do was put my hand on the shifter, point my index finger out and, voila....I knew where I was in the shift pattern.

[@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248]

Cabover Kevin?

[@iBackshift]

@@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248 heh, no. A tow truck operator from a little town called Nipigon. I bet Cabover Kevin didnt have his license yet when I was training for mine [1987~88]. An ol' timey truck driver Frank did the same thing for me in his International gas job 5x4...tape on dash so I would know what gear i was in.

[@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248]

@@iBackshift you ever heard of cabover Kevin? He's been truckin a long time

[@Bubbles8V92]

Nipigons quite the place to be learning 2 stick😷 assuming you mean ontario

[@iBackshift]

@@Bubbles8V92 Yup, Nipigon. Used to pull out of Gregnol's pit [now Nichols], [at the east end of Nipigon Bridge, hwy 11 turnoff] pull off the scale, coast across the tracks, make a left onto the highway, cross the bridge and nearly shit my pants every time going up Nipigon River Hill. Then 1.5km west of nipigon, loaded at highway speed, having to gear down at Golf Course road hill. Nerve wracking when driving a tandem Binder with a 392 gas w/a 5x4, haha. Had to time it right so you hit the bottom of the hill "pedal to the metal" at 4200 rpms and pull over the top at 3200. 5x4 was fun.

[@davepenn9181]

The old-timers had a word for getting stuck with neither transmission in gear because you let the connecting driveshaft coast down too far. They called it "double nothing." Experienced it a time or two, which is why I always shifted the transmissions separately. Also, your Spicer set-up has little gaps between the gears in the main 6-speed box and big gaps in the aux box (sometimes called a "Brownie"). Most twin sticks I drove used Eaton/Fuller boxes up front with big gaps (usually a 5- or 6-speed) and an aux box with real small gaps. You had to figure out what combinations overlapped so you knew where to go for the next highest or lowest gear. I usually started in 2-2, then depending on how heavy I was loaded I'd go to 3-2, then 3-3, then 3-4, then 4-2, 4-3, and so on. The tricky thing was that on the 5-speed main box, 4 and 5 were pretty close together so I'd usually go 4-3, 4-4, 5-3, 5-4.

[@davewhite9828]

Sort of watched the video. I just turned up the volume and closed my eyes. There is nothing more pleasant to my ears than the sound of a 2 stroke going through the gears. I more or less visualized it in my head and could follow your up shift and down shifts. I miss seeing these old girls on the road.

[@Nico-rd7ur]

This is by far the best tutorial I have seen on this subject. The way you show what gear each transmission is in while watching you shift is very helpful. Thank You for putting this together.

[@jamesellis5549]

best video I have seen on the twin sticks,haven't drove one of those since early 80s!

[@kevinmurphy3464]

That was a great video showing how this system works! Having the gear patterns imposed while actually shifting was fantastic.

[@marcharris4775]

This is the best tutorial I have ever seen on how to drive twin sticks.I have driven single stick heavy duty transmissions, but never twin sticks.After seeing these tutorials,I feel confident that I could actually drive a twin stick!This guy should be an instructor at a truck driving school!I hope he has tutorials of how to drive a 3 stick transmission in the future!

[@wesleysmith5580]

Just wanted to comment on such a wonderful video. I learned to do that back in the sixties, my great grandfather on my right and grandfather in the driver's seat with me in the middle, using the twin sticks... I could never have had two better teachers ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@scottfowler4685]

Wow, search after search I could never find an explanation that makes sense to me……until this video. Thanks for giving me a very good walkthrough.

[@johnmcdowell9059]

thank you for sharing this video i drove a 1970 kenworth and a 1969 white freightliner both in which had 4x4;s in them great strong transmissions wish i had that trans in my white western star cabover

[@johnwatts871]

Good video. Watch how this guy holds the sticks. He pushes them out and pulls them back in easy, never making a fist like he's mad at the truck. Probably rode shotgun a long time with the old man.

[@deanm4138]

Very cool , shifting a twin stick is definitely an art form

[@ericksoncraig2519]

Great job on explanation a d demonstration. I drove a 73 Pete cabover with a 4x3 and 8v92 detroit w/ J Brake . Loved it. The most difficult 2 stick I have driven was a Mack 5x4 married box with a Cummins.

[@julianndavis9415]

I’ve heard this explained numerous times. First time I’ve understood 👍

[@jsd795]

If anyone finds themselves having to quickly learn how to drive a two trans. truck there is a much easier way. The shifting with one arm through the wheel and the other on the aux. isn't necessary. Say for example you are going from 3rd +3rd to 4th + 2nd all you have to do is pop your aux. in neutral after which the main will go in 4th with no matching of RPM( because since it is separate as far as it is concerned you are sitting still). Then grab your aux. and goose the throttle and when the RPM's match up the aux. will go into 2nd just like any other transmission. Downshifting is basically the same just backwards. Sounds like it would take too much time but once you get the hang of it you can do it very quickly all with one hand and no clutch.

[@eddieweigel9490]

I used to drive a 1964 Mack B81 dump truck many moons ago to plow snow here in NJ I love the Mack quad box for plowing just kept it in Low Split and run the main box

[@carlwilliams1570]

Good job showing the aux box and drive shaft to help people better understand whats going on. That 92 Series DD sounds really good. My favorite sounding Detroit of all the models I have used!

[@mikecorleone6797]

Ddec 92 didn’t come out till the late 80’s though 🤔

[@maxpuppy96]

They are the best sounding almost have a 4 stroke sound to them.

[@climbingtrees87]

This is by far the best example I've come across how to shift a spicer two stick. Well done!

[@bnkwupt]

8v92 turbo with double overdrive. Love it! 😎

[@toddgittins5692]

With a Detroit, hauling a heavy load, you'd be a master at shifting in a day.

[@kirkpalis6064]

Thanks for the excellent video, explanation and the overlays. This really answered several questions I had.

[@gregmatthies8128]

Great vid mate. A real truck driver using a real twin stick and not some dude claiming to be twin sticking with a air splitter replacing the splitter buttons with a stick. I have seen several vids claiming twin stick and clearly they were not. As a mechanic I was able to operate a twin stick but not nearly as cleanly as yourself. Full marks to you. From truck enthusiast in Australia.

[@genetic80]

Great video for completely understanding how it works. Thank you!

[@Bubbles8V92]

Always can count on you to be first comment 😁 appreciate ya

[@thesouthforlife]

I was needing a reference for a photo of this exact angle inside your truck and I searched hundreds of videos and photos of 359s to no avail and here it is randomly after being to late!! thank you for this though! Just I'd have needed the shift gear photo removed so I could see the whole thing

[@jimsmusicify]

It's neat how different the shift pattern is for you vs. mine. I've got a 1241D and a 1253B. The B is a .694 in 5th. 5th and over is .563. I get 3 shifts in 3rd, 4 in 4th, and 2 in 5th. And my spreadsheet says the truck is good for 115mph with 4.56s. I find I spend pretty much all my time in 3rd and 4th. It gets me from about 15 to 70 with only one compound shift.

[@simon71991]

I just like the peterbuilt trucks especially the sound of the 2 strokes

[@curtekstrom9531]

The Make of Truck has nothing to do with how it sounds. I have several trucks Peterbilt 359's ,KW W900, along with 5 Autocar AT64 that all are 3406B Cats with 6x4 Spicer Transmissions. All running with OEM Exhaust Spec Systems. All sound Damn near the same.

[@BjarneRousing]

That truck sound fantastic...... wow.....

[@crusiethmaximuss]

Smooth shiftin' like butter

[@xkuzu2]

Great video and tutorial!! Love the gear ratios you showed!!

[@eddieweigel9490]

Both sticks in neutral “Double Nothing “ 😂

[@michaeldunagan8268]

Thank you so much for this video. Google suggested a different twin stick video but the guy didn't announce what he was doing and he didn't have a graphic in the lower left showing digitally what was going on. It was tremendously helpful for me to not only show the red dots as to what gears you are in but also the ratio that was being sent by the two transmissions. This will allow me to check my 13-speed against your transmission and my 3.58 rear-end to your 5.29 rear-end. By sound and sounded like you were driving just about 200 RPMs after you were going about 25 miles per hour road speed which is consistent with my 13-speed Eaton. Again that lower graphic was really so helpful. But I am glad that I have a truck that I could just flip an are switch as I don't think I'm coordinated enough to drive a twin-stick. I did notice that you didn't use first gear very much in either stick or the 4th gear in the passenger side stick very much. Are not the 2020 fuel prices making your V-8 engine really costly to drive fuel wise?

[@Bubbles8V92]

Ya the fuel prices pretty much make this a toy and the reason I don’t use 4th much is because it is an overdrive gear and not made for heavy pulling, thanks for the comment 👍

[@2008truckman]

Nice and smooth. Pretty slick shifting.

[@waynelarson1576]

As a kid I got the chance to run a 5 x 3 mack half cab and a 6 by 4 GMC brigadier most truck drivers nowadays would have no clue what they're doing with either one it's been a long time since I've been in one but I think I could still bring it back

[@justinheard5954]

4 far as I know if you order me can order a set of sticks right now if you want you can get you a new truck with setting them I don't get Rocco's or when I get in there but yeah you know fattening Detroit set right it'll hurt her feelings in Rolling Hills it really show out Roundup about 2,600 letter Paul

[@justinheard5954]

Yeah I worked out in the oilfield and there's some little girl was trying to holler at they told me not to mess with her cuz she was like a Detroit I said what does that mean they said she'll scream and holler all the way through town to get in the country and she just won't quite put out

[@justinheard5954]

And my stepdad had a a GMC 9500 extended hood you got an 8-71 isn't 69 I thinking 13-speed anyway he said the problem that thing was it gets so damn hot you couldn't keep your feet on the floorboard I threw three layers of mud flaps and then sawdust Anna and ice blocks

[@russvoight1167]

Nice job on both the driving and the presentation

[@weepweep2225]

Awesome video Bubbles! Thanks for sharing and man what a beautiful truck!

[@Bubbles8V92]

Appreciate it! Comments like this keep the inspiration up. Can be tough being gone all week and finding the energy to put videos together on weekends but im putting more effort in these days👍

[@paulasauder1945]

@@Bubbles8V92 I can tell you are doing just that! Keep up the awesome work!

[@doct0rnic]

I love that Corvette dash, Peterbilt should bring it back

[@ronaldguild3627]

Most impressive. Thanks for the knowledge.

[@toushhog]

Everything about this video is impressive!

[@johnnydelio7078]

Fkn awesome video.. driving a two stick like that is on my bucket list for sure.

[@justinheard5954]

Are you going to get you some do some durags or some damn bandana tied around and sticks you hands get sweaty enough you work them hard enough

[@justinheard5954]

Arrow 359 I used to drive that 84 I think her five it had a Air hood ood on I thought that's cool man I'm going to put the hood up for that thing you don't have Springs little tight extended hood about halfway another straps artipoppe lose be creeping up in there everybody Alside stand-ups and I'm still driving on flat top but then now everybody they made fun of me for having a flat top now everybody wants one somebody has a6400 was a like a 3 KW and it had a hit had a model cat mile I think in It lyric with a retarder on it nothing really o sounds good to me is the way that a model sounded coming off the line man that thing would thump the ground the G little bit

[@maxpuppy96]

The best video ever on a twin stick transmission good work son.

[@dirtydiesels3110]

Just was showing my 15 yr old this. He really enjoyed the patterns and would like one in the first car lol😊

[@kentsablowski7035]

Beautiful set up. Old school

[@MichaelTJD60]

Great explanation and nice visuals too! I want to try my hand at one now lol...

[@Bubbles8V92]

Me too i guess ill have to get it back together😄

[@VladGoro25]

damn, that v8 Detroit brings some sound

[@johnvelas70]

for simplicity, define the aux 1=a,2=b,3=c,4=d. I was taught on a 4+4 1a,b 2b,c 3b,c,d 4c,d on road off road/heavy 1a,b 2a,b,c 3b,c,d 4c,d

[@kennethd9344]

I came off diner pass in the 70 in one of those but cheakes pinch the seat ❤️👍👍👍

[@pawedominikowski8317]

Great job with those H patterns and ratios!

[@jw4620]

Good explanation! Thanks!

[@shedlock2000]

Great video! Thanks! Also very interested to hear about the middle drive shaft issue -- I see you shift with the main box first to presumably avoid the middle shaft losing speed more quickly? Couple of questions: How is the 92 pulling 100,000lbs up hills? And do you have any there, and can you do a short video on downshifting on a hill (where the rolling speed decreases more quickly and you need to shift more quickly. Do you skip one of the aux gears to allow for the 92's fast rpm fall? Also, so you have any issues binding up the auxiliary box by rushing the gate and not going properly into the neutral?

[@Bubbles8V92]

Yes you can shift both at the same time but that’s a little unnecessary risk. It pulls like a champ considering the torque rating. And yes you do skip a lot of gears to downshift on a hill but that’s one of the benefits of this transmission, you can shift however you want to. I’ve never got the sticks stuck but I also have the linkages rebuilt like new

[@marksmith801]

Hmm! If the manufacturers/companies would go back to this type of tranny then it would vent out the steering wheel holders from drivers! #Keepontruckin 😳😉👌

[@curtekstrom9531]

Still running Spicer 6x4 Transmissions in all my 359's.

[@kenneyflynn4951]

That video was very helpful. Thank you

[@johnmckeon8839]

That makes perfect sense, great video.

[@imafriend1336]

Awesome see I told you,, it’s official, you’ve got that ol fart 2 stock Ora now!!!! Good to see you, great job!!!

[@pugetlexus]

is this a silver 92? it sounds almost as if naturally aspirated. i cand hear the tirbos. its cleat to me the pete was originally an owner operator truck as it has full gauges. and it must have been one of the last to come with twin stick. that truck looks pretty new for its era.

[@Bubbles8V92]

It’s low mileage, it’s a silver with 500 hp injectors and 5” straights that’s why it has a more natural sound 👌

[@pugetlexus]

what history on this tractor can you share with us? The silver was (and is) a monster when it came out. by that time the twins were relics mostly. a few owner operators might still spec them behind a Cat 3406 (or 3408 if they were rich or foolish or did heavy haul) as that engine would lug. behind a detroit twins were a lot of work, even on flat ground it was not at all common to see that combo. one night i pulled hard to stay with an O/O aerodyne cabover with the silver. i believe he said 450 on the radio. he had an allison and absolutely loved it. i lost him at little america as he was rolling. he claimed he was more productive with the silver and auto- less fatigue. that was the first i heard bout the silver but lord he could stroll. i had a 400, and was some lighter and he walked away from me. powerful engine @ 4mpg.@@Bubbles8V92

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

Some rigs the second stick is your high and low range REAL stuff is more gears in your auxiliary second stick

[@cat-im4vv]

Excellent video thank you very much...

[@williamgray1056]

Real smooth brother.

[@rossomeness3549]

That’s some skill!

[@MaclearieFarms]

Are you clutching or are you floating gears

[@Bubbles8V92]

Floating, Clutching these is a bit of an art especially when they are so close together, 200 rpm splits

[@kentsablowski7035]

Sure like the side note page about what gear you are using..I had a few of them in my life. Old retired now and the computer logs shut me down. Still got 1978 long hood Freightliner coffin sleeper CAT 3406 A no p.s.but she has tons of torque. Deep reduction 15. Landfill transfer truck 🚚

[@Libertad59]

Looks like you have to take a nap between shifts lol

[@rallycatx]

That rumble!! Beautiful sound!!

[@kamalzurich3537]

How to use the 20-speed shift pattern with three shift levers

[@retroremastered3717]

Sweet 🤘

[@kimmorrison9169]

I notice your 8V92 is pretty quiet! Good for that hearing!

[@pugetlexus]

hey so nice to see a utube driver looping the steering wheel. so many do not do this. foolish. a fella never ever wants to give up control of any part of the rig if its avoidable. in the twin stick era many, i would say most did not have power steering. a driver with both hands on the shifters, and none on the wheel might end up lookin for work in the morning, cause his steer tire caught a rut at 48 mph and did some damage. we would often try to configure your shifters so we could " one- hand em". in a slip seat operation this was not possible and two hands were needed. especially if they were cabovers. you gotta hold onto the wheel especially with a detroit cause you always up in the gears and things happen so quickly. and never ever look down at your shifters. they aint gonna tell u nothing, but pulling your eyes from the road will.

[@hydraulicbanana8412]

I wash my dad break his wrist doing this kind of shifting on that kind of transmission man freaked me out

[@jamiearmstrong294]

Well explained 👍🏻

[@danebollenbach4739]

so basically the 6 speed box is your larger gears and then the 4 speed box is your mini gears to split the bigger gears to your liking

[@johndeere1958ful]

Why do you not use 1gear on the aux transmission is it just to pull heavyweight? I have never ran twin sticks before just 9 and 10 speeds

[@Bubbles8V92]

Sometimes 1 is a deep reduction but because of the multiplication even on a regular 4 speed its way to slow, top speed in 6-1 is 39 mph where as 6-4 is 76

[@johnwatts871]

Sometimes low on the brownie will hit the main stick with a 6 speed, especially when you have 2 round knobs. Kenworth mounted the aux selector on the main box so if something twisted both sticks moved together. Peterbilt hung it off the right hand frame rail so if you have big power that main stick can move a little.

[@canuckoutdoors3493]

👍👍

[@ianarchibald1423]

Wouldn't this automatically keep drivers awake on long hauls having to focus on all that shifting, and "armstrong" steering?

[@nyemt601]

Biggest question I always had about these transmissions is why is 4th gear so close to 2nd gear and 6th gear and the spacing for 3rd gear and 5th gear is so wide, why isn’t 5th gear moved closer over? And then when your upshifting when you grab 5th gear why don’t you go back to 2nd on the 4spd transmission like the other gears? Same with 6th gear?

[@Bubbles8V92]

Because the gears shifting from 5 - 3 to 6-2 is actually a downshift, the ratios overlap like crazy in the top end

[@arnomrnym6329]

Great video 👍🏾😎 Thx

[@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248]

Great video driv,ah.

[@Bubbles8V92]

Thanks 👍

[@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248]

@@Bubbles8V92 np bud

[@randyhale4181]

Great video bubbles, I'm just wondering how many reverse gears do you have?

[@Bubbles8V92]

4 😄 it a real head turner and very handy!!

[@daveshack298]

When you going to be in the Wisconsin area?!? I'd REALLY love to match wits against a 2-stick tranny...ESPECIALLY behind an old school Detroit! A LONNGGG time ago: in a US Army 5 ton (Cummins NHC-250); with a 5 speed tranny and a 2 speed transfer case, I discovered I could 'split' 5th gear between the low and high side of the transfer case. The gear progression 'just worked.' I've driven, as a commercial truck driver, everything since then. MY truck had an N14 Cummins, rated at 525HP/1800lb/ft, with a 13-spd Road Ranger. I'd DEARLY love to drive one of those old-fashioned, low torque engines, with multiple gearboxes!

[@johnwatts871]

3408 cats were known for splitting frame rails at the motor mounts. Never heard of the black motor doing that.

[@carltaylor334]

I have never seen a main box set up like that. What brand and model?

[@Bubbles8V92]

Spicer 1463-a

[@fleegerfarmtv1438]

I'm trying to imitate a spicer 6x4 and a 5x4 on American Truck simulator where may I find the gear ratios?

[@Bubbles8V92]

i can email a spreadsheet, send me an email at bubbles8v92 at gmail com

[@chriswilliams868]

My toxic trait is thinking I could i operate this truck 😂

[@TheCobrasniper]

What gear do you start in when you are heavy? Is 1x4 lower than 2x1?

[@Bubbles8V92]

It’s best to avoid 4 as it’s an overdrive gear so I’d rather be in 2x1 1x2

[@richardtracy7363]

I drove truck for 30 years but I could never Master two Stick

[@Salmon_Rush_Die]

I've seen no better explanation.

[@trollcare3311]

YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS!!!???? Fucking lack of syncros! lol No clutch, not syncros, no problem! XD

[@soe_tv]

why would you want this over an 18 speed?

[@johnwatts871]

More options for reverse. Sometimes you have to backup a long way to catch a paver or grinder. It doesn't seem like a big deal until you've had it for a long time and then you don't.

[@soe_tv]

@@johnwatts871 when you look at the shifting pattern 0:38 u can see that the 6 speed transmission has the reverse gear which means it has 4 reverse gears in total which is the same as an 18 speed transmission. :)

[@johnwatts871]

Yes. The 18 speed does have 4 in reverse but the gap between the two lower gears to the two in hi range is a big jump. However, if you have a 18 speed with a spd rear you can use low range in the rear end hi range on the trans. That gives you 2 gears that are close to what you have with a main box in reverse and the brownie in direct. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

[@polarlab113]

Some guys say you don’t have to put your arm thru the wheel.and they don’t so why ?

[@Bubbles8V92]

mainly shifting speed, both work, i think two hands works good because you can be quick but still use fingertip pressure instrad of whacking the stick

[@garygunter4578]

Ours were logging trucks and if you hit a hole or a rock coming out of the bush you could break your arm when the wheel twitched. 😊

[@spacenerd2782]

How could i find the shifter linkage for the 4 speed

[@Bubbles8V92]

possibly tremec i belive they have the rights to the 1241 series transmissions now. i wouldnt be suprised if you cant find them anymore. they are quite simple to make if you were a handy machinist. www.hcvc.com.au/forum/Findit/17936-4-speed-auxiliary-transmission-shifter#gallery-1 is how it looks

[@spacenerd2782]

Thanks been looking into a 6x4 build and was wondering how I was gonna find all the parts

[@mikecorleone6797]

Sounds like a detroit 🤔😬

[@imafriend1336]

Are you in the USA

[@Bubbles8V92]

no ontario

[@imafriend1336]

If we survive our leadership, my truck will have to find a new home, it’s over 10 years out,, but all the same you are on my radar, I was offered 50k, ten years ago and didn’t take and like I said it’s not time yet, but when it is I’ll reach out to you.

[@Bubbles8V92]

😁 thats a pretty sweet truck ya got there, id better get mine together and practice a bit more, til im up to your level.

[@imafriend1336]

@@Bubbles8V92 so kind, thank you,, you will you got the sand!

[@tridelltransportation3603]

🙂

[@yardlimit8695]

hey, somebody call the DOT..........he took both his hands off the wheel to make some shifts............this is very unsafe.........

[@reconmodelsvaughn469]

Keep your hand out of the steering wheel bad habit

[@reconmodelsvaughn469]

Never ever put your hand in the steering wheel. Bad habit .

[@9WEAVER9]

Just grow a third arm instead then, when driving these types of trucks. Or shift one stick at a time... which was only part of this demonstration.

[@audreycarroll9146]

Can i. Ride in your truck it scene Fun. To. Me

[@audreycarroll9146]

Are you a single man ???

[@swamprat69er]

I really miss the 5x4 I drove for 6 years before getting into road ranger transmissions. Had a 13x4 once for about a year. The 4 was an under/overdrive set up. 1st underdrive, 2nd normal, 3rd first over drive and 4th nuts overdrive.

[@Sinister_Reaper]

What if you're taking off on a hill loaded, when going from 1st and 4th and making the shift to 2nd on the main does the truck slow down faster than the rpms can drop to make the shift?

[@Bubbles8V92]

It’s not that bad but if you were on a really hard pull you would avoid 4 because of the overdrive

[@Sinister_Reaper]

@@Bubbles8V92 right on, what's your shift pattern on a hard uphill pull?