looking for advice on driving an 8LL tranny

[BR83]

I have a job offer driving an '87 Mack tri-axle that has an Eaton-Fuller 8LL transmission. Ihave never driven on this type of transmission and was wondering if anyone coould give me some tips on it. The selesctor switch on the shifter has a (L) low position a (D) drive position (N) neutral and (R) reverse. I would appreciate the help, thanks.

[Steve Frazier]

Eaton/Fuller trannies are some of the easiest to drive. I'm not sure I've driven that particular version, but if it's an 8 speed, you'll have a 4 speed H pattern. There should be a shifting diagram either over the visor or over the driver's door. Look and see where 3 and 4 are, these are sometimes reversed from what you'd expect.

What you'll do is put the selector in Low, the run through the gears, 1-4. After reaching 4, put the selector in High and shift back to 1, which now becomes 5. Run through 1-4 again, these now become 5-8. To downshift, reverse the sequence.

With this tranny it sounds like you'll have 4 reverse gears too. To back up, select (R) on the shifter, then select the appropriate gear. Avoid selecting (N) with the clutch released, you'll have a tough time getting back in gear without shutting the truck down.

[chipsearthworks]

pretty much what steve said. I drove my friends Western star triaxel and it had the 8LL tranny in it really easy to drive and easy to learn. good luck with it.

[farmerted44]

yeah i like those trannys . sure are easy to use.
believe it or not we use that w/ mack tractor (dont remember engine) pulling 30 yard belly dumps at rock quarry.hauling wet pit run. wow we had a good time all of us young guys racing around a 2 1/2 mile oval like it was talladega!!!!!!!!!!! :bouncegri :bouncegri

[Ford LT-9000]

Thats not a 8LL its a Mack Transmission is there a shift pattern on the visor or somewhere in the cab. It really sounds like the truck has a Mack 12spd I drove a MR Mack with the same transmission you described. It has Low Direct Neutral and Reverse there is no reverse gear its air shifted with the selector.

When I first started driving the truck I shifted it like a road ranger it shifted pretty hard. The truck was taken off the road shortly after so I didn't drive the truck. Then I started using the truck off road and I read somewhere you shifted a Mack transmission like a super 10 Fuller.

You start out in first gear low then flip to direct then flip the selector back to low shift to second low then flip to direct. Its like shifting a truck with a two speed rear end you only move the stick 4 times but the direct button is the next gear.

I tried shifting the transmission like this and wow it works but then again its low speed I really don't know if that would work on highway thou.

As for a 8LL it should have a black handle like a Road Ranger usually has with a flat toggle switch in front and a blue thumb button for the Low Low gear.

A mack transmission usually has a black round handle on top and under it a toggle switch that you move forward and back with your thumb.

Good Luck :laugh

[BR83]

Thanks to everyone for trying to help with my question. The tranny in this truck is actually a Mack. The only reason that I thought it was an 8LL at first was because the guy who bought the truck told me he was looking at differnet trucks and that the transmission would probably be an 8LL. So before I had even seen the truck I thought it would be an 8LL. When I actually started driving the truck I was totally confused because the *LL and the Mack tranny have totally different shift pattens. But now I can drive it well. It is like a truck with a 2 speed rear end, you have 5 gear positions if you use low gear, but alot of the shifting is done by air with the switch on the shifter. This transmission works pretty good for a dump truck but is slow on the highway. Alot of low end power though. The truck is a 1987 tri-axle Mack with a 500 HP Mack engine. The truck could be a runner with a different transmission, like say a 10 speed, but then again it is a dump truck (not meant to go fast, meant to haul a heavy load). It is a pretty good truck and it has the expected problems that you get with an older truck, but I have had a transmission problem with it. The tranny was binding up when put in reverse mode (which is all air controlled). When I put the selector in reverse mode and in a gear I would begin to let the clutch out and it would just want to stall. The problem ended up being that the transmission was trying to go into 2 gears at once. Once this would happen it would be hard to get into any gear, forward or reverse. It would take some doing but if you got into a forward gear it would be OK as long as you didn't use reverse. Kind of odd and this is a unique tranny but when it is in working order it works pretty well.

[kamerad47]

It's a mack 12 spd!!!!

[Ford LT-9000]

Is the truck V-8 power if so it shouldn't be that doggy they were supposed to have fairly decent power. The old 350 Macks are a little slow but they are only a 12L 6 cylinder.

Does the truck have break your back camel back rear suspension that old truck must ride a little rough :bouncegri

Macks were never known for big power,smooth ride,good turning radius and creature comforts.

[BR83]

This truck has a 500HP V-8, definitely alot of power, but you run out of gears with the tranny that's in it. If it had a couple more gears or an overdrive it would run alot faster down the highway, but like I said in a dump truck the more important thing is the low-end power, especially since I don't see alot of interstate driving in this truck it's mostly local hauls. No camelback suspension either. The truck actually has a decent ride for a dump and a Mack dump at that. Not that you don't get some kidney wreckers, especially if you hit a good road crater empty (that is why the roof is padded I guess).

[BIGDAN315]

Eaton/Fuller trannies are some of the easiest to drive. I'm not sure I've driven that particular version, but if it's an 8 speed, you'll have a 4 speed H pattern. There should be a shifting diagram either over the visor or over the driver's door. Look and see where 3 and 4 are, these are sometimes reversed from what you'd expect.

What you'll do is put the selector in Low, the run through the gears, 1-4. After reaching 4, put the selector in High and shift back to 1, which now becomes 5. Run through 1-4 again, these now become 5-8. To downshift, reverse the sequence.

With this tranny it sounds like you'll have 4 reverse gears too. To back up, select (R) on the shifter, then select the appropriate gear. Avoid selecting (N) with the clutch released, you'll have a tough time getting back in gear without shutting the truck down.

Thanks Steve, I to was wondering about this trans for I am looking at an L9000 with a I believe is a 8 LL Sounds just like the fuller 10 spd I drive now which isn't the easiest tranny I think to shift. After about 4 years with the truck I still grinde them at times....:confused:

[Freightrain]

Got a friend that restored a '78 Superliner with 500hp V8/12 spd. Still wait'n to get my hands on it for a test spin. It's got Neway air ride so it should be pretty easy on the back(and head) LOL!

[mikef87]

I love those Mack 12 speeds. Good transmission. Nothing beats a 20 speed quad box though.

[rino]

Thanks Steve, I to was wondering about this trans for I am looking at an L9000 with a I believe is a 8 LL Sounds just like the fuller 10 spd I drive now which isn't the easiest tranny I think to shift. After about 4 years with the truck I still grinde them at times....:confused:
Try not to wind out the engine. Some trucks shift better at 1700 to 1800 RPM. Also once wear set in sometimes you can't split without a grind! When you get to that point, get ready for a replacement! Buy a rebuild, and ten have your rebuilt as a spare!

[rino]

Thanks to everyone for trying to help with my question. The tranny in this truck is actually a Mack. The only reason that I thought it was an 8LL at first was because the guy who bought the truck told me he was looking at differnet trucks and that the transmission would probably be an 8LL. So before I had even seen the truck I thought it would be an 8LL. When I actually started driving the truck I was totally confused because the *LL and the Mack tranny have totally different shift pattens. But now I can drive it well. It is like a truck with a 2 speed rear end, you have 5 gear positions if you use low gear, but alot of the shifting is done by air with the switch on the shifter. This transmission works pretty good for a dump truck but is slow on the highway. Alot of low end power though. The truck is a 1987 tri-axle Mack with a 500 HP Mack engine. The truck could be a runner with a different transmission, like say a 10 speed, but then again it is a dump truck (not meant to go fast, meant to haul a heavy load). It is a pretty good truck and it has the expected problems that you get with an older truck, but I have had a transmission problem with it. The tranny was binding up when put in reverse mode (which is all air controlled). When I put the selector in reverse mode and in a gear I would begin to let the clutch out and it would just want to stall. The problem ended up being that the transmission was trying to go into 2 gears at once. Once this would happen it would be hard to get into any gear, forward or reverse. It would take some doing but if you got into a forward gear it would be OK as long as you didn't use reverse. Kind of odd and this is a unique tranny but when it is in working order it works pretty well.
I'd think it's more your diff ratio. Don't forget Mack has a 2750 RPM red line and Macks shift best wound out! If you like splitting each gear, then you'd like the 20 sp RR. Its the 5 X 4 air split slightly modified. The bottom 10 are labeled offroad, and the top 10 are labled highway!

[95zIV]

We had some mixers that had that mack tranny in them, they took a bit of getting used to but once you did they where a great tranny for low speed work.
We also had a switch on the dash that you used only in first and it gave you a super deep low. The other nice thing about them was that you also had a 5 speed in reverse, which meant that you could really get moving if you had to get through a mud hole or just a soft spot.

[RonG]

I'd think it's more your diff ratio. Don't forget Mack has a 2750 RPM red line and Macks shift best wound out! If you like splitting each gear, then you'd like the 20 sp RR. Its the 5 X 4 air split slightly modified. The bottom 10 are labeled offroad, and the top 10 are labled highway!

What Macks or Mack engines are you running at 2750 RPM?
The only heavy duty diesel engines that I know of that turn up that much are the 53 series Detroits.
The older Mack engines are governed to 2100 RPM as far as I know and the Econodyne is governed at about 1800 RPM IIRC.
You mentioned this in another post along with reference to an engine that I never heard of either.Is this something new now that I never heard of?
I have been out of touch for a year or two but Mack pioneered the low RPM low torque rise engines and now they have abandoned the concept for these screamers that contradict their low friction,low RPM predecessors?Ron G

[sbrem]

What Macks or Mack engines are you running at 2750 RPM?
The only heavy duty diesel engines that I know of that turn up that much are the 53 series Detroits.
The older Mack engines are governed to 2100 RPM as far as I know and the Econodyne is governed at about 1800 RPM IIRC. G


I was wondering the same thing. Every Mack I have driven has been 2100.:beatsme

[stumper120]

never trust a guy who stares at a bulldogs ass all day. lol just kidding:usa

[rino]

We have a 07 Granit with the 450 HP and the tach has blue all the way up to 2800. I did a double take on that and called the Mack dealer! Their sales amn told me that the Mack engine was desinged for higher RPM operation, and was capable of 2800 RPM as the NORMAL red line! I asked if running the engine u that far voided the warenty, and he said NO! Have had all the drivers wind her out, and haven't had problems with the truck or the dealer. They can check the computer and see how high the RPM went! While shifting at 2000, the engine would loose power until it got down to 1500, then it would about snap your head off accelerating!

As in the KW with a Cat that has split power! If the Cruise isn't armed (cruise switch on) you never get to higher power, because KW used the cruse to engage the High power side of the computer! Also a trial and error thing I found!

[RonG]

That is interesting.I would hope that someone else could contribute here,not that I do not believe what you are saying but this blows me away.LOL
Maybe Jeff D will see this,he has a Mack CL I think but he is around the Mack dealer way too often in my opinion and I bet he would have heard about this.I think his truck is a 460 but it is a POS as it appears a lot of the newer Macks are.I hope that someone will take them over and start building real Macks again.Don't think that all Macks turn 2750 because that is not true.Ron G

[rino]

MACK R MODEL (1978) COLD START: PLACE ACCELERATOR ON FLOOR AND TURN ENGINE OVER UNTIL ENGINE STARTS. HOLD THROTTLE ON FLOOR UNTIL ENGINE SMOOTHES OUT.

I NEVER could start a Mack that way. It just went against everything I know as a mechanic, and a driver! BUT, these are the instructions from MACK! For an engine to cold start at full throttle, and be held there until it smothes out? Has to be one really well designed and balenced engine! Of corse this is my opinion, and opinions are like rectums; every one has them and they all stink but mine! LOL

[Steve Frazier]

I thought the same thing Rino, don't feel bad. I couldn't bring myself to start any engine like that. I might hold my foot to the floor while it was cranking to dump fuel, but once it starts popping I let it idle up on its own.

[sbrem]

I might hold my foot to the floor while it was cranking to dump fuel, but once it starts popping I let it idle up on its own.

Thats how I do it. Hold it to the floor until it starts and then get off the pedal.

[rino]

I key my Cat Equipped Ford LTL 9000 from the ground. Get her running then climb into the cab! I love my 3406E 475 HP, but the boss don't like the 4.5 to 5.5 MPG!

[surfer-joe]

Know that there are a lot of folks on line here that like Macks. I do too. Best boat anchors I ever saw.

[Steve Frazier]

I drove a '78 DM-600 for 2 years in '80 and '81. It had the 237 and Mack 5 speed maxitorque transmission. It was a 10 wheel dump, I carried 21 tons of asphalt regularly. It wasn't the fastest truck around, but it wasn't the slowest either. I'd often get gear bound on hill climbs. The truck was uncomfortable as hell. But the truck was by far the most reliable truck I ever drove.

[THEDIESEL]

I drove a Volvo with this transmission in it a few days ago. It was very easy, probably one of the easiest to drive. Great transmission to learn on.

[Countryboy]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums THEDIESEL! :drinkup

[roddyo]

An 8LL is like a nine speed but it has a double low. Put it in low and flick that little button on the side and it will go into double low. take off and move the button back to normal and it will shift into low. then drive it like a nine speed from there. Double low will also work in reverse. Very handy on a hill or very soft conditions. :usa