PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION
PART 7: STARTING & OPERATING THE VEHICLE
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Y53-6032
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The total stroke of the clutch pedal is about 10 inches. The
first 1 3/4 to 2 inches is free travel. After that is the release
stroke, the part that fully releases the clutch. The last 1/2
to 1 inch engages the clutch brake. If your vehicle is new,
watch the free travel in your clutch carefully for the first few
hundred miles. As your clutch lining wears and high spots
get worn smooth, you will get less free travel.
Always start out in a low gear with a ceramic-faced clutch.
Starting in higher gears, even with a light load, will cause
a very jumpy start and excessive wear.
And don’t allow your vehicle to roll in the opposite direc-
tion at all during clutch engagement. If you need to start
up on an incline, apply your service brakes before you
release the parking brake. Then release your service
brakes as you engage the clutch and apply throttle.
Release Bearing Wear
When you must idle your engine for any period of time,
shift your transmission to neutral and engage the clutch
(take your foot off the pedal). This helps prevent unneces-
sary wear of your clutch release bearing. And it is less tir-
ing for you, too.
Clutch Adjustment
Inspect manual and self-adjusting clutches regularly to
maintain correct clutch adjustment. Have your dealer’s
service department perform any adjustments necessary.
Do not adjust your clutch by adjusting the external linkage
without first checking (and correcting if necessary) the
internal clutch adjustment. Using only the external linkage
adjustment could damage the clutch.
Clutch Brake
Your clutch brake is used for stopping gear rotation to let
you shift into 1st gear or reverse when your vehicle is at a
standstill.
About the last 1/2 to 1 inch of clutch pedal travel activates
your clutch brake. So if you are stopped and want to shift
directly into 1st or reverse, depress the clutch pedal until
contact with the clutch brake is made to stop transmission
gear rotation.
If you have a butt-tooth condition and can’t shift the trans-
mission, gradually release the clutch. Then the drive gear
can roll enough to allow the teeth to line up properly and
complete the shift.
Y53-6032.book Page 100 Monday, May 24, 2010 3:37 PM
Summary of Contents for Peterbilt 587
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