@fiatfiorino964 , Yes mate, they do have a sound all their own, and nothing else has that same sound.

Thank you Paul for your comment. Been doing this for over 40 years now, and it ain't like it used to be. These Volvo 14 speed syncromesh gearboxes are just like driving a large car, but you can't shift without using the clutch. Not many manuals around any more, and I just hate automatic transmissions in trucks. I used to love the old 13 and 15 speed Roadrangers , but I must say my favourite was the Spicer SST 14. Four moves of the stick for 14 gears, and no need for the clutch, lovely box.

David Chitham not a problem love watching a professional at work I’ve got an auto daf might ask for a 16 speed manual next time stay safe 👍🏼

Tristan, yes a nice one alright. I'd say they are the next best thing to the Spicer SST14.

Thanks Ian. It was a nice truck to drive. The company sold it a couple of years ago and I still miss it.

Volvo has a full syncromesh gearbox so there is no need to "double the clutch". It works just like a car.

Sounds like a 500hp model, here the turbo whistle

No longer do this run, and no longer drive this truck. Changed jobs and now drive an Aerodyne Kenworth.

StobbyEnduroMX 9

@@davidchitham9101 I bet you're glad to get into a real truck lol. American trucks with road ranger boxes are way better to drive

@@cal-king I've actually taken a step backwards and I'm now stuck with an automatic Volvo. But it is better than the Mercedes and Scania. On the upside, I did get to drive a 1983 White Road Boss with a C16 Cat and 18 speed a few months ago 🥰😍🤗

No. I was with DanTrans then. That was loading out of Adbri masonary at Yatala.

you dont lol

No Troy. Finished up a week ago. Just started a new job today. Less hours more $. Gotta be better than before. 👍

Hello Shocker. I'm not in New Zealand, I'm in Australia 🇦🇺 We have a lot of different trucks here with a lot of different engines and gearboxes. This Volvo gearbox is a synchro, not like the old Roadranger boxes where you either doubled the clutch or didn't use the clutch at all.

This is a 2006 model. The only truck left in the fleet with a manual transmission.

Hello mate. The downshifting isn't that bad really, once you get used to it. I found it rather easy to pick up the revs just enough to match the gear ratios and road speed. Everything has to happen a little slowly and gently so that it all comes together smoothly. No problems. But I think not everyone would be able to make it happen this way. You have to get a feel for it and treat it gently, but at the same time get the power to the ground with no delay.

@@davidchitham9101 But anyway, you sad "pick up revs". You meant, you press and hold gas enough to road speed and after that gently engage clutch. Have I correctly understood your "pick up"?

@@user-cg8jj4ho8i yes, correct 👍. Not tap to rev up quickly as this might rev up to much or not enough. But gently press and hold so revs come up to match gear and speed. While holding accelerator on, let clutch out gently just in case it's not quite perfect, then take foot off accelerator pedal to slow down. After doing this many times you develop feel for it and it becomes easier and smoother. 😁👍

Same applies for downshifting to climb hills but you put power on instead of slowing. Much smoother.

@@davidchitham9101 I understood. Yes, I acted almost the same. I really feel bad because there is no one video on all youtube where camera shows pedals and shifter on synchro semi truck. Also oficial manuals of mercedes, volvo, scania and etc do not give iinstruction about downshifting. Everything they tell is "slowly release clutch". I would like to ask someone from volvo engineers, what they advice - press and hold, tap, or firstly release clutch fully... I fully agree with your method if rpm are not too high. But if my road speed is adequate to 1500 rpm, I think I should tap and press gas again, simultaniously releasing clutch.

@@richardsvr9586 I know, here in Europe all trucks have syncromeshed gearbox. I've never driven a north american truck with the eaton fuller so I don't know the feelings or pros and cons but I can say that here the driving is really comfortable and there's no stress for the knees because clutch pedals are soft and easy to press. You can't grind a gear.

@@richardsvr9586 yeah, I know what floating gears is, in the USA they shift gears always this way.

@@richardsvr9586 Nope, syncromesh is better. a duel clutch automatic is better than both actually, but if we are just talking about manuals, synchro is the way to go.

@@richardsvr9586 What does my name have to do with manual transmissions? are you a brain dead moron?

@@richardsvr9586 So they are better only because fewer people know how to shift them? Does that make logical sense to you? Explain to me how granny shifting up and down 18 gears up a hill and grinding or missing the gears in the process... is superior to a dual clutch automatic truck transmission that: - shifts faster than even the best human shifter in the world, - that never misses or grinds a single gear at any time, -and causes way less strain on the drive-train compared to "floating gears" on a non synchro mesh. Even synchro is better than non synchro. Perhaps you are clinging to non synchro because for some reason you think only an elite few can learn to shift such an inefficient transmission?

George Jackson no double clutCh if your going manual but you can’t get any manual from Volvo anymore

@@joshcook8586 Yeah, which is a good thing. Manuals are ancient junk. I'm glad they are getting rid of them in cars too.

Social Justice Warrior I’m happy Volvo has automatics as I want one and they’re amazing. I have thought about learning how to drive a manual truck.

Sorry mate, I haven't driven an NH12 for over 20 years now, but I do remember it well. It had the same gearbox as this one, only a longer gearstick. Very nice truck to drive 🤩👌

Yes Troy, it is Yatala, heading southbound onto the M1. I no longer have this truck. My boss gave me a new FH540 auto. Yeah it rides nice, yeah it steers well, but that STUPID auto is the biggest pain ever. I grew up on the old Roadrangers and Spicers, and I will never ever like these dumb autos. Unfortunately the good old days are gone, and computerized automated crap is the way of the future, and I hate it. How can a computer drive a truck better than old school knowledge and experience?

@@davidchitham9101 hey, autos is bad in economic mode but in manual mode is awesome ... is not the same like totally manuals but is very good !! especially volvo i-shift or scanias

Thanks S J. I did enjoy driving that one. I totally agree with you on the roundabouts issue. Stupid thing didn't have a clew what to do. The scary thing is that the man from Volvo told me they've gone to autos so that clowns who don't know how to drive can now drive a truck. And yes, it most certainly is the end of an era. So many truck drivers of today have no idea about Roadrangers, Spicers, ZF........ let alone 2 sticks.

@@davidchitham9101 I only had a chance to drive manuals without a splitter (Mercedes 8 Speed - terrible gear box), but I like shifting manually so much over this auto-crap that I see the guy buying the trucks in my company as often as possible to tell him, that I want - no: need - a new truck with a manual transmission. May I ask you if it is possible to split the Volvo gears without using the clutch by just lifting the accelerator?

FH520 kevin. Last of the manual transmissions.

@@davidchitham9101 how much could this thing pull max in terms of Tons?

@@elstondias9172 ,the maximum it would be allowed to pull under our laws here is about 160 tonnes. It is capable of pulling more but you would be breaking the law.

😆 Yes, the hidden meaning. If it was out on the road it would be done correctly, but for rolling onto a weigh bridge I think it's more gentle for the platform (and the truck) to roll on slowly than to lift off upon entering.

It's easy Paul. It's a basic 3 speed patern with a range change button on the front of the stick and a splitter switch on the side of the stick. Split the 3 low range gears gives you 6, split the 3 high range gears gives you another 6, plus 2 crawler gears gives you a total of 14. Then you also have 4 reverse gears by using the low/high range and splitter. The shift pattern looks like a 5 speed with no reverse.

Yes, it's just like driving a car.

Thanks Satrio. I no longer have this truck. The boss gave me a brand new FH540 with a full auto transmission. Nice truck, but I hate the auto! Give me manual gearbox any day. I reckon the perfect gearbox for the new truck would be the old Spicer SST 14 speed. Love those gearboxes, so smooth.