Lorry advice

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Mand968

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Hi
I picked up my new horsebox yesterday - a 7.5t Ford Cargo E Reg. Never driven a lorry before and really struggled with the gear changes!
Particularly at junctions I found the gears would just refuse to move between 2nd and 1st and back up to second and then would just stall!
I had quite a long journey so not just a case of getting used to it!
Any advice please?
 
Try double declutching. Old fashioned way that lorry drivers used to use to work the gears.

You approach the roundabout, declutch and take it out of gear into neutral (but keep hand on it), lift foot off clutch so it comes up again, then push clutch down for a second time quite hard and move stick into second. It takes practice but it helps mine in going from 1st to second. Mine is also stickier when I first move off and so I try to avoid clutch changes in the first few miles, by either not changing up if I can (depending on other traffic!) or coasting occasionally to a roundabout.

Also I found my clutch isn't quite as aligned as you would think - the H pattern is a bit of a lie!

If I go from 1st to 2nd in a straight line, it scrunches badly. So I think of it as an offset crossroads, bring the stick down to the middle, then a little bit left and down the rest of the way into 2nd. Does that make sense?
 
You shouldn't really be having difficulties, so call the garage/dealer.
Make sure you depress the clutch right down also learn to double declutch when changing gear.
 
And another thing, the older lorries don't always need to pull away in 1st, I had an old Bedford and my mechanic told me to ignore first gear and only use 2nd unless I was pulling away uphill, the professional drivers don't use it. I now have a newer lorry that has a much lower something or other (torque?) and so I do pull away in first.

The other thing is that maybe the clutch is quite old and on its way out? Sorry that's not what you want to hear, and it will probably last ages as lorries don't do much, but it is something to be aware of.
 
It shouldnt be a problem so I would get it checked out.
I rarely use 1st gear the gear ratio is lower than in a car and it should pull away easily in 2nd except on hills.Also to give the horse an easier ride try to look further ahead whenever possible and keep rolling forward to avoid the stop/start effect .Not always possible I know.
Drive it as much as you can until you feel really comfy in it ,I love driving mine.
 
Try doing it slowly, as in take out of gear, wait a second and ease into gear, sounds daft but when I started driving my first wagon it felt like I was grinding the gears and the more I struggled to get it in gear, especially 1st, the more it just wouldnt go in. Sub consciously I was getting into a bit of a flap and was trying to ram it into gear in my panic even though I felt calm. It was just a case of getting used to it but mine did get better as it warmed up though.

I also got told not to use 1st gear as its the 'crawler gear' by a number of different people inc a mechanic and HGV driver, then got told by another I must used 1st as I will ruin the clutch.
Ive since drove a few more lorries and they all drive different, so it may just be a case of finding what works with yours.

Hopefully it wont be a trip to the mechanics. Good Luck
 
tls said:
I would echo what other people have said ignore 1st gear unless your doing a hill start.
Click to expand...

What they said!

Also, it does take some getting usedto as well - our used to drive our old B reg Ford Cargo and found it relatively easy. Got a P reg Frd Iveco (with 6 speed gear box as opposed to the Cargo's 4) and it has taken a bit more time to get used to the gearbox. You have to get used to what revs you need for gear changing (generally not alot to change in low gears). I don't think I've ever used 1st gear in ours, I always pull away in 2nd unless doing a hill start. Honestly, they do take some getting the hang off - I just say ours is temperamental essentially!!! Lol
 
We have an iveco, 58 reg and 1st to 2nd on that is a bit stiff. Talking to mechanics, it seems to be a common occurence with them.
 
Did you buy it privately? When you went out for a test drive in it, did the owner/dealer have any problems with the gears?

Ditto advice about not using first gear - it really isn't necessary in the old lorries, only for really steep hill starts. I've got an H reg Ford Iveco and always pull away in 2nd gear, and consider it to be first gear if you know what I mean

This will hopefully resolve your problems. Good luck!
 
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