1985 Dual Range operation?

[dualRange_turbo85]

Hello I just bought a 1985 F-350 with Dual Range gear and Banks turbo. I am having a hard time using it correctly, could someone explain which direction is engaged on the pull switch? Pulled out or Pushed in? And the correct way to shift it? Thanks!

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[laserjock]

First of all, welcome to the forum! That is a beautiful truck inside and out. Nice score. I don't think any of these trucks had a 2 speed rear-end from the factory. Is it an overdrive unit? Somebody will recognize the button and be along but if you can check and see what the button is hooked to and a pic of it from under the truck, it would probably be very helpful. Off hand, I know that there are ranger overdrives for that transmission but It looks like your shifter is in the normal spot so it's probably not that (it goes in front of the trans). I guess it could be a gear vendors or a us gear/doug nash unit or some other type of auxillary transmission someone put in (like a brownie). Pictures would be key.

 

[Robt.Webster]

That looks exactly like the shifter button for my US Gear unit. If this is indeed what it is, do not shift the unit while stationary or with the drivetrain unloaded. The proper procedure is to pull (or push) the button, wait 2 seconds, then unload the drivetrain by flashing the clutch on a manual gearbox or letting off of the accelerator on an auto box.

The motor that is activated by this button winds up a spring in the appropriate direction, and the spring does the actual shifting. The motor is not designed to do the actual shifting, and can burn out if used to do this.

 

[The Warden]

That looks exactly like the shifter button for my US Gear unit. If this is indeed what it is, do not shift the unit while stationary or with the drivetrain unloaded. The proper procedure is to pull (or push) the button, wait 2 seconds, then unload the drivetrain by flashing the clutch on a manual gearbox or letting off of the accelerator on an auto box.

The motor that is activated by this button winds up a spring in the appropriate direction, and the spring does the actual shifting. The motor is not designed to do the actual shifting, and can burn out if used to do this.

What he said. "Dual Range" was U.S. Gear's name for their overdrive unit...it's an auxiliary transmission and should be mounted directly behind the main transmission. It's a stout unit, but as Robt.Webster pointed out, the electric shift motor was not designed to carry the entire weight of the shift. Instead, it's supposed to take advantage of a spring-loading mechanism that is operated by the unit turning...so, while you are driving, move the button whichever way you want to shift (up should put you in the upper gear; down should put you in the lower gear), count to 2, then use the clutch to release pressure on the driveline.

Welcome aboard very clean truck, BTW!!

 

[Black dawg]

they shift very similar to a two speed rear end. The easiest thing to do would be find someone that drives a two speed rear regularly, and have them show you. It isnt hard to make it shift up, but doing it smoothly is a little bit of an art. Down shifting the unit is trickier.

I have found that using the throttle and clutch can make for really smooth shifts. Just remember to give it the 2 seconds before letting it shift.

 

[dualRange_turbo85]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I believe it is a U.S. Gear unit. It is bolted on the back of the trans.

Do I need to shift through all gears using the splitter at all times, or can I just leave it in High range (button up) and drive it normally?

 

[The Warden]

Do I need to shift through all gears using the splitter at all times, or can I just leave it in High range (button up) and drive it normally?

You can use the splitter as you so choose...you can split gears if you want to (or split some gears if you don't want to split them all), or just use it as a straight-up overdrive gear. It's really up to you...once nice thing about the U.S. Gear unit is that you can shift it at pretty much any vehicle speed (as long as the truck's moving; don't do it stopped!). It's 100% independent of the main transmission (presumably a T-19 4 speed), so pick whatever combination you want to keep the engine at the RPM you want it to be at

You could leave it in High Range all the time if you want, but that'll put more wear on the clutch when you start the truck rolling, especially when loaded...

 

[icanfixall]

Welcome to the forum. Its as posted how to shift this unit. You choose when you want it. It can be left in any position after you get rolling. If you need a little higher or lower gear to what gear you are in then use it. My Gear Vendors is a much different unit. Mine requires some 20 mph before it can build enough hydraulic pressure to operate. So I shift it in for 1st gear. Then drop the auto trans to manual 1st gear and launch. No matter what I'm still leaving a dead stop in normal 1st gear. I can't make any pressure to split 1st. But once I'm rolling I can get a split. Mine is an over underdrive box. Any gear can be over or under. I just have to do plenty of shifting on the main trans and the Gear vendors to use all 8 forward gear. One member have a 3 speed splitter trans behind his 5 speed trans. So he has 15 forward gears and 3 reverse gears to choose from. He has 2 different shifter handles too so it can get busy but never an issue finding the right gear for the grade or the load. The US Gear is a very robust aux trans.

 

[OLDBULL8]

Here is some more info

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?65234-US-Gear-Dual-Range-Doug-Nash-Info

 

[jaluhn83]

Mine is an over underdrive box. Any gear can be over or under.

You sure about this? You have 3 speeds?

GV is slick on their advertizing - it's a direct/over box, not over/under. You physically cannot get an over & underdrive out of a GV style gearset. You can do over/direct or under/direct but not both. Only way to do that is a brownie box.

For the OP, the Doug Nash DNE2 box is essentially the same thing, so you can look for info on that too. The US gear box is an improved version (countershaft thrust needle bearings vs washers and different shift tooth setup to reduce backlash) of the DNE2, but most info/parts cross. I have a thread on here that lists part numbers and other info for these boxes - I forget exactly what it's titled though.

 

[icanfixall]

You sure about this? You have 3 speeds?

GV is slick on their advertizing - it's a direct/over box, not over/under. You physically cannot get an over & underdrive out of a GV style gearset. You can do over/direct or under/direct but not both. Only way to do that is a brownie box.

For the OP, the Doug Nash DNE2 box is essentially the same thing, so you can look for info on that too. The US gear box is an improved version (countershaft thrust needle bearings vs washers and different shift tooth setup to reduce backlash) of the DNE2, but most info/parts cross. I have a thread on here that lists part numbers and other info for these boxes - I forget exactly what it's titled though.

Yes... Very sure. Each gear can be overdrive or shift down a gear and add in the GV. If I'm in 4th which is overdrive and I add the GV I now have double overdrive. Its a 1.96 gear ratio. Feeling the kick when I leave the line and I'm in overdrive that next gear is about 1/2 of 2nd gear. Then I shift into 2nd and take out the Gear Vendors and run up in 2nd. Then add in the GV once again. Just think of it as dropping 1/2 a gear when you need to split a gear. But when your all in it at double overdrive this is what the tach and speedo tells me.

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[sjwelds]

HEY!!! You broke the speed limit!!!

 

[FordGuy100]

Gary-But when you dont have the GV in overdrive, its in direct drive gear. Direct meaning input into the GV is equal to the output. So you have 1st, 1st over (if it will do that at that low of a speed), 2nd, 2nd over, 3rd, 3rd over, 4th (overdrive), 4th over.

 

[Kistthesky]

HEY!!! You broke the speed limit!!!

He's in California, there is no speed limit!

 

[icanfixall]

Ok.. I see what you guys are refering to about my idea I can over or under drive my rig. Sending my rig from 1st to 2nd sometimes will not do what I need. So I select a split between 1st and 2nd. So you call it 1st over where I call it 2nd under. No matter. I'm able to select the gear I need because of the Gear Vendors. I just can't use a gear less than 1st but thats something I have been working on.