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I just purchased a 1960 PD4104 GM bus (Formerly an old Greyhound) She is in great mechanical shape, and when I double clutch on the upside, she works beautifully. The problem is in the downshifting. I can't figure out how to line up the gears to downshift. (4th to 3rd only grinds, and if I can slow down to 20mph, then I can get it into 2nd) Does anyone know the secret?
Ahhh, I remember learning those gears on my 4104 a few years back. here's the secret, and if followed, it will work every time. begin your downshift at the maximum speed for the lower gear. put more simply, if you hit the governor in 3rd gear at 50 mph, then when you are in 4th gear, and getting close to 50 mph (say 52-55), then do this...clutch-neutral-clutch out-floor it to rev to the governor-clutch-slide it right into 3rd with no grinding at all.
My air valve is leaking that goes to my breakes. Wondered if you had any suggestions and would you give my your phone# so I could give you a call? Thank you, Steve Bergin
Hi Joe, this is kind of funny, because I just bought the same coach 1 month ago from my fathers estate and drove it from arz. to ore. I was having the same problem. I would have to pull over-stop and start again. I was sweating bullets every time I saw a hill and had to down shift! As luck would have it a was talking to a truck driver at a fuel stop and he told me the secret. When down shifting you have to match the engine speed with the trans.speed. In other words double cluch-once into neutral and rev the motor-once more just before you stab it into third. The tranny did not come with syncro-mesh gears and it does take some practice. I hope this info helps and you get the hang of it. I'm still working on it!
I HAVE DRIVEN 4104S FOR YEARS AND THE DOWN SHIFT AS WITH ANY DOUBLE CLUTCH TAKES A FEEL FOR THE ENGINE SPEED. YOU CAN TIME IT OUT AND MAKE THE SHIFT EVERY TIME. I USEALLY CATCH THE GEAR ON THE DESCENT OF THE ENGINE RPM. I HAVE ALWAYS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL THEN REVED THE ENGINE AND MADE THE SLIDE. THE MISTAKE PEOPLE MAKE IS TRYING TO SHIFT TOO SOON AFTER REVING THE ENGINE. BE PATIENT AND IT WILL SHIFT. GOOD LUCK!
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