I got my deuce and a half tag on my military license when I was in the Marines in the early 90's. I was the only guy in our platoon with experience driving a larger truck, thanks to driving an old International potato truck on my uncle's farm when I was in high school. I still remember the advice the motor pool chief gave me when we went on our check ride. "Don't baby the shift PFC. Drive 'er like an old 50's or 60's Mack. Slam your hand in the door and drive 'er angry." Used to love tooling around on base in that truck.
I drove the deuce and the 5 ton in the Corps from 1964 to 1968. When I was stationed on Okinawa we used to take the deuces to the beach and run them up and down the sand dunes. Hearing the sound of the truck in this video brought back lots of memories.
The way I've always done it. I STILL love that shift pattern. Third is down, so is fourth. Fifth is up from fourth. Oh, those BIG wingnuts on the windshield, will hold a M-16. Upside down, using the carrying handle. steve
We had one of these for us to get around while on deployment. I loved driving it. You definitely had to have 6X etiquette when you had guys in the back. No slammi g on the breaks and no popping the clutch. You can get 15 guys angry real quick back there bouncing and sliding around. Oh and splinters. After about 6 mos driving that thing my g/f picked me up when I got back in her Mazda RX7 and it was a standard. I had a hell of a time driving it, lol I about pushed the clutch throu the firewall. And the gear shift only traveled about 5 inches. She was yelling at me like be careful, I laughed and said give me a break, ive been driving a monster for 6 mos. Not some little hoiti toiti sports car.
Wow, that sure takes me back! I was taught a trick by one of the guys in my company who'd spent a lot of time driving these trucks in tactical scenarios in Korea. I always wondered how he was able to get his truck up to speed so quickly inside the motor-pool yard in such short distance. He taught me to start out in low range but in 2nd gear; then shift from 2nd low to 2nd high, then the rest of the gears how you see fit. Starting out in 2nd low gets you rolling a little bit faster than starting in 1st high and then the shift to 2nd high can be done quite quickly. Thanks for the ride!
I'm a 33yr retired lomg haul ( Florida to Yukon , Alaska to NYTs ---Yellow Knife) n I gotta say it was sweet hearing ur shifts in that lumbering old beauty. Wish it was mine.
If you are running with no load, or a light load and not pulling anything, just forget about 1st gear take off in 2nd and give her some throttle, you can drive that big girl like an overgrown pick up. I got thousands of miles in them to back that up. One important safety feature i want to really have people take notice of. Never, ever, put your arm, or your hand inside of the steering wheel of these old girls. The front wheels can catch, and that big old steel steering wheel will break your damn arm. Seen it happen to alot of GI's.
Yes you can easily start in 2nd but its much harder on the clutch. As you said "take off in 2nd and give her some throttle" well you need to give it more throttle because the clutch has to slip until your engine speed matches the intended rpm for that gear. Driving something like that is fine for something you don't own but bad advice for someone who wants their stuff to last.
Sweet Deuce man! I love the sound of going through the gears and hearing the engine pur! And you made my father and I laugh so hard when you said "fast and the furious in a deuce". Also I have to say you've got the best quality and informational videos.
I drove these trucks for several years in the Army (in Germany) and, absent a significant load or significant upwards incline, I’m in the start with 2nd crowd. Small inclines or loads never posed a problem. If you drive it enough, you’ll quickly get the hang of what it can and can’t handle.
Regarding the U to 4, the original Reo gas engine revved to about 3k: to accommodate the slower Multifuel, an overdrive was needed. (Even so the gas deuce is still a faster truck.) So: 4th was re-geared from an underdrive to an overdrive, while 5 stayed direct. The rest of the ratios were changed as well, again to accommodate the narrower speed range of the Multifuel, making them marginally closer together, and to fill the gap left by the re-purposed 4th. (This is where the gas truck's granny 1st was lost as well; all 5 speeds are needed all the time.) Unlike Mack or others who made the same overdrive transmission conversion, Spicer did not add an internal lever to reverse the 4-5 shift: the direct shift is still back, moving the shift fork forward to tie the output shaft directly to the input shaft. Thus when you shift the next gear after 3 is the direct former 5th (back), followed by the overdrive former 4th gear (forward). Spicer did relabel the shift pattern: 4th became 5th and vice versa. And we've been shifting in a U ever since.
I can't wait to have a deuce of my own someday. I've always wanted one. Basic engineering and very easy to work on. Hearing you drive it reminds me of the old 85 Mack I used to haul water in. It was an eight speed thought, but it had straight pipes and lord how that thing bellowed. Man I miss it.
I haven't touched a deuce since the Army, 22 years ago, but I have seen a lot of recent surplus and old converted units from fire companies and municipalities. I've been around trucks and equipment my whole life so I know when I see worn out and abused trucks and yours appears to be a good runner. Growing up I drove a deuce dump truck off road laying stone for logging roads, I was 12, and years later when I was in basic training in the Army we were out in the field and one of the drill instructors couldn't start the truck one morning, so a wise ass me, I asked if I may assist and look into the reason. The drill Sargent said " what the hell do you know about deuce's " I replied maybe something or maybe nothing. The Sargent let me look into the problem it turned out to be the battery connections I fiddled with them and started the truck. So simple, however it made me look like a genius!
A quick tip on getting into first or reverse a little faster, either push the selector into a syncronized gear first, or apply _really light_ pressure on the selector in first or reverse to "feel" the gear, once they match it'll just slip right into gear.
@@brentreeve7554 Yes, called floating gears. Going from 2nd down into 1st, Slow down to 5mph, blip the throttle, steady but light pressure down into first. When trans speed is synchronized briefly, it will drop right into gear. Goes fir all gears except reverse. A semi truck has zero synchronized gears. Only time clutch is used is starting from a dead stop
Thanks for the ride, I really miss driving those trucks. When I was in Panama I drove a mobile shelter version (It was a portable photo lab). The 1st and Reverse came in handy when I took a wrong turn and had to make a 400pt "K" turn at gun point..... Yea, good times.... B-)
140 horse is what my old Chevy 3/4 ton pickup made and it had no problem taking off in 2nd. It was a grandma gear first gear just like your Duce. The owners manual said to use low only when pulling heavy loads.
I actually used to drive one of these in the Norwegian army about 26-27 years ago. Here it was called the m-621 and it had single wheels in stead of duals on the rear axel, and it had air operated lockers for the front and rear axels. You didn´t want to use the front locker if you were going any where but straight ahead though. I also remember using the high-low shifter together with the 5 speed. A bit "unsafe" some times as you actually had to reach down quite a bit to put it down into low our pull it from low to high and you would loose your view of the traffic ahead of you for a brief moment every time.
I own M342a2 Dump and bought for move dirt around on the farm. I am military vehicle collector and also own ‘43 GPW and ‘64 M151a1 but wasn’t really familiar with large vehicle like Deuce so this is very helpful!
Slotting the gear lever into a synchronized gear prior to reaching for first will make first gear selection a grind free operation much more quickly than waiting for the shafts to spin down on their own. Essentially you're using the synchro, from second gear most likely, as a brake for the spinning shafts. Works great.
Yea Sam you can start in second low then go to second high the just run out 3rd 4th 5th high. Won't hurt the truck and it shows people you realy know how to drive a truck.
A trick for ANY vehicle (big or small) with unsynchronized transmissions for first gear. When you have been sitting in neutral with the clutch out, push the clutch in and go for second gear. The syncros in second with stop all of the gears in the trans. Then go strait to first or reverse and let the clutch out as normal. With some practice you can do this fast and smooth.
it sucks that you haven't got a ton of views on these vids, as they're pretty cool in my opinion. and most definitely useful to anyone who's going to or just bought a deuce and a half!
I always split the 5-ton with the transfer case hi-lo and it was a very strange pattern. And I always pulled it till the governors got it. But I was hauling a D-7 but the old rig just hummed. You can look at the speed data plate on the dash and see where I went as far as shift points go. I always wanted a 10-speed Roadranger or an 8 Double-L but you drive what you've got. The old rig sounds sweet. I never drove a 2 1/2 with a blower. But this was in 70 to 73.
I noticed you left out a tip that all experienced Deuce drivers would know but many first time drivers may learn the painful way. In the Deuce and the 5 ton I drove in The Army you had better have your hand in the correct position on the shift knob or you could crack your knuckles on the metal dash going into second gear.
Love that little treat at the end where we go cruisin'! I live smack in the middle of Silicon Valley in a subdivision -no way I could park one of these on my street :(
I never did drive one in the Marines but did extensively as a Converted Fire Dept. Brush/Tanker with a 2,000 gal. steel water tank in back. Plenty of power and could go anywhere, easy to drive just didn't turn corners very tight.
Starting off in second is quite alright. I hardly ever use 1st gear, and that is with 80,000 pound trucks. 1st is a “pulling gear” for offroad and heavy load, and for starting off uphill. Most road driving you can use second. Before the self appointed experts jump on me, I have driven deuces, as well as most every other type truck that has been on the roads since 1970’s. 25 years trucking does actually mean something. At least when it comes to knowing how to shift and drive trucks.
The 4th and 5th gear holes are reversed because they are based on the design of a 5 speed direct drive transmission. The back right hole doesn't engage a gear, but links the input and output shafts together. The overdrive 5 speeds in deuces basically just turned the upper right hole into an overdrive and changed the 1-3 ratios for more even gaps between gears
I have always started out in second gear. I have never use first gear. I have started out in mud pulling a 105 howitzer with section equipment and crew in second gear. I have haul a 105 howitzer and section equipment while pulling a 105 howitzer and I started off in second gear. I had no problems doing it. I had plenty of power. I was in high range all the time doing this. You got to remember that transmission is gear down really low. That's the reason you can start out in second because the transmission is gear down low. The only time I used low range is when I am backing up. I have use low range in mud before. You don't have to start off in low range and then split gears to high range. They doing that just for fun. Well that's my two cents , for whats it worth. Go drive the truck the way you want to and have fun. That is part of the reason of driving the truck is to have fun. Enjoy.
Thanks for the vids I'm thinking about getting a deuce when I get my drivers license in like 2 yrs and these videos help me learn more so I will know more about them when I have one
Hey BC, I've been watching all the videos thus far, and man oh man are these great! Everyone debating owning a large MV should watch these. This video was awesome for talking about the transmission and her "quirky" ways :D
Check out the 3 speed brownie from Spicer or Brown-Lipe. It would placed between the transmission and transfer case and connected with short drive lines.
Good advice and smooth shifting. The only thing I would add is dont push the clutch to the floor while shifting gears, it engages the clutch brake and you will wear it out much quicker and at some point you wont be able to get it into gear when you are stopped. Only push it to the floor when you are not moving at all.
the day of the third pedal is fast coming to an end..what a shame..i grew up with 3 on a tree and loved the feeling when i mastered the smooth shifts...but was nervous on a steep hill with a stop sign..lol..great video..
It's a Spicer H-pattern with reverse and low on the left side. If you think about it, it sounds just like a semi, except where you'd split the gears, the transmission stops.
I've driven a lot of trucks and pickups. A good rule of thumb is with a granny gear 1st. If the truck go in 2nd when you let out the clutch with no throttle. You are good & not going to hurt anything. If you need throttle use 1st gear. International uses that same trans in a lot of their light trucks. Starting in 2nd gear is not a problem. I also have a question. Why don't you use the engine as a brake rolling up to a stop sign. You are wearing out your throw out bearing and your brakes unnecessarily. Like the videos. Am looking for a deuce to build a go anywhere camper
When I was as in. Air Force training was not to use first unless towing. Low range was for off road use only. Not trying to say your wrong by any means. It's just how I was trained.
Great videos DC! I am looking into buying a duce and you have helped me in so many ways. I know a few things to look at and I have a better understanding on how to operate one of these monsters. I am interested also in how to maintain and also just how and where to check the fluid levels at. Thanks for the great videos and hope to see more soon!
If it is taking along time for your clutch slow to get into 1st gear, your clutch break either needs adjusted or replaced. FYI to prevent your clutch break from wearing out quickly, never press the clutch all the way to floor unless you are trying to get going from 1st gear.
The M35a2 transmission doesn't have a clutch brake. These trucks are 40 years old using 70 year old technology and designed to be as simple as possible.
I have found in OTHER trucks & tractors .. if you want 1st or R , hit 2nt gear first THEN try for 1st or R , seems to get the gears in a better spot for the shift >> ALL WITH THE CLUTCH IN , full stop . Less grind . Yes I have no problem with 1st gear start , If empty & down hill I would use 2nt .
All deuces with the 5th gear toward the dash are overdrive units. In a direct tranny (no overdrive) 5th gear is coupled to the input shaft, witch is the smallest gear on the top shafts ("normal" shift pattern). An overdrive tranny, the second gear back on the top shafts is the smallest, (this gear would be 4th on a direct), being smaller it turns faster than the input shaft, and you have overdrive. The stick being toward the dash is by no means for creature comfort, it is simply because Spicer used the same shift top on the direct and overdrive transmissions (this switches the last two shifts on most older truck 5 speeds, Spicer, Fuller, New Process, etc.). You have to remember the only ratios available for the Rockwell axles were 6.72, without overdrive you could only go as fast as you can now in 4th gear (direct). Great video, you did a fine job, keep 'em comin'.
Thanks for the info. Having 5th out of the way does help with cab comfort but when was the last time the military specifically designed anything with creature comforts in mind. :)
The idea of owning a deuce+0.5 excites me, but, manual shifting and clutching sicken me. This from a guy who learned to drive a manual from the get-go and even knows how to drive an 18-wheeler. I like automatic transmissions and I'm over manuals. I'm not sure if it's possible, but if I had a deuce+0.5 I'd convert it to AT. I'm wondering if there are AT versions or if someone's already done one. Great entertaining video, I've subscribed too!
It’s in all the technical manuals with most ww2 and post war vehicles select starting gear depending up conditions, rough and at an incline, 1st. Flat or downhill 2nd. Same for high and low. Or low direct, and overdrive.
you're talking horsepower when you should be thinking about the engine's torque. 1st is a granny gear for heavy loads and to have the truck creep along at a walking pace when necessary. If you don't have a load, start out in 2nd, won't hurt the truck a bit and you will accelerate quicker. (SFC 1993-2015 Army Master Driver)
First gear in a deep reduction use to in very soft ground intill you have reached solid ground or to ford. The Deuce is fine to start in second gear low. That's the problem you read the TM's that were printed for dummys that never drove a truck. I did not say to run at the Govener but you need to shift at maybe 2500rpm every gear till you reach the speed you are looking for. Then cruse at 1850 to 1900 for best fuel milage.
the Duce I drove had a split rear end. We shifted the rear end as we shifted the gears up. Did they change? The one I was driving was made in the 1950's I think.
I wish I had one of those, simple, reliable & can do MOST anything that anyone would need but my wife says that we have no need for a truck like that since I have a 2005 GMC K2500HD EC/LB with Duramax & Allison so for the time being I'm working on converting it to a civilian version of a LSSV. Later when I can convince her I will be getting one of the A2's.
maybe the reason why you have to wait for the transmission to work done down is because you wore out your brakes clutch? not sure if it has one. I've driven semi since 93, and our trucks have clutch brakes to stop the transmission so u can put it in gear. to activate the clutch brake, you push the clutch all the way to the floor when the vehicle is stopped. if it's rolling, you're trying to stop the truck with that little piece of metal. also, synchronised only means you don't have to double clutch to slow the transmission to synchronize the Gears, so they'll mesh....not make metal hamburger. I have to double clutch, or float the gears. you can check with some old army mechanics about that....they would be up in years. so you might want to hit up some old friends or your father's friends. ones who had to deal with that beast during their time in the military. I love the sound of that thing you got....reminds me of when I was in the Army back in the mid 80's. they were still puttering around Germany back then and I hopped plenty of rides in them, back in the day. nothing sounds like an old deuce. and yes, you better be wearing the Mickey Mouse ears or early plugs, because "huh?" will be your common phrase if you don't. do it enough times, like 3 or 4, and you might not recover from the hearind damage.....especially when that turbo kicks in and gets to whining and they can hear you coming..in the next County. that horn was a hoot, alright. it had to be heard over that turbo. I domestic wondered why they even put a horn on there.....it's not like it's mounted on a ghost car, or anything! I love your vids...keep them coming. even if it is only once a month.
Now im no truck driver but as a farmer ive got my share of experience with stick shifting, ive never heard of a trans brake, ive always just double clutched on trucks that grind gears, im more worried about him riding the clutch like that, that will wear them out more that anything.
yolo swag alot of tractor trailers have clutch breaks that engage when u push the clutch all the way to the floor to make it go into first gear easier found that out the hard way first time i had to drive a mack loader truck working for the railroad
FWIW I learned *much* of how to drive (in the 60s TYVM) in a '64 IHC Scout-80. That puppy's 3-on-the-floor Spicer had synchro only in 2 and 3. It was easier to stop the gears for another shot (at 1st or reverse) by hitting 3rd than by hitting 2nd. Anyone with an ear for pitch can learn to goose it for the right note to hit an unsynchronized Low-gear from 2nd at {some-road-speed} with no *crunch* w/ just a little practice. Best regards, all.
You're right about the difference between 4-5 gears. Is the difference more pronounced in Hi-range? As far as the "Start in first gear or not" debate, my 2cents. It's really up to how the clutch operates in these things; as a group in general and your toy in particular. If it 'snaps' in and it is hard to 'feather' then you need first. Unless your simply sliding your foot off the clutch peddle and 'dumping the clutch, the tranny should not be strained. I mean these things are engineered My dad's old 63 IH pickup had the same...feature (shall we say?) of synchronized 1-R. It was a 307(something strange like that) V-8. Even with the big Del-Rey slip-in camper on the back (8600lb +) We rarely used 1st gear. It is a matter of how you engage the clutch. So you might wear a clutch out faster but you can pull away from a light top gear if you're willing to sacrifice clutch disk and don't burn it out. Just saying. I'll bet you ask an old vet they didn't use 1st very often. Thanks for the vids. I'm fascinated by these old beasts. My best friend's neighbor has 3-4 of them in different configurations and different degrees of finish. One is "showroom", love to see it.
All driving in this vid was in Hi-range and my clutch is pretty difficult to feather compared to anything modern. As far as the 1st gear always 1st rule I'm not going to recommend anything on camera that contradicts the technical manual/manufacturer because I have no way of knowing what the level the expertise is of those watching my channel.
Thats like my old 80s f150s first gear. On that truck youre actually supposed to take off in 2nd for normal operation and 1st gear is a "granny gear" used for taking off either up a hill or if you have a heavy load
Buick Bubba: or do like I do with my Hydromatic deuce and feather the throttle when accelerating and decelerating, otherwise if you let off the gas right away you might end up in the windshield!
OR not use your clutch like I do it kills your leg with all that clutching its just a little harder on the wrist without using a clutch I learned that from mistakes and then learned from other people that I should do it this way
Hey BC! Have to tell you thanks for the great review of your deuce! Can't remember how long I've wanted one the time has come to go shopping Knowing what you know I need an opinion, I prefer the older multifuel like you have but interested in the central tire inflation on the A3's! Do the A3's have better highway gears? I'm in Colorado where a trip to the mountains would take a heck of a long time at 45 or 50. I've seen overdrive units installed but at serious cost. Really enjoyed your series!
I heard some say you can turn up the injectors on the multi fuel and make more power and top end to make highway driving a bit easier and no lag on the hills...
"the story is 5th is up here for room these cabs are tight" actually it has that shift pattern because its a Spicer 3053A which was used in civilian medium duty trucks probably before the m35a2 was made
in the late 1970 & the early 1980 the military put out a MWO modified work order, on the multi fuel in the M35 series vehicles removing the compensator from the fuel pump ( injector pump ) not making the M35 series a multi fuel engine. the reason for the MWO is the military went to a single fuel source for all military wheeled vehicles & powered generator systems DISEL.
Watching basically every video that has “deuce and a half” or “m35a2” since I just bought my first 1966 m35a2 today and didn’t get time to play with it much
Definitely subscribing! I picked up a 1967 m35a2 I’ve always wanted one got it for $1800 everything perfect and works great 30k miles needs a bed and a canvas top if you know of any
memphisequipment.com is a good place to start. There are several small businesses that make new canvas tops/covers but be sure to read their reviews before ordering.
I actually am. I got my masters in education many years ago, taught for a few years in public schools, then made my way to the private sector where I help train and do quality control for a large company. As a result many of my education type videos are structured around the basic lesson plan approach. That was very perceptive of you and I appreciate the complement.
Well..one thing is for certain...my M135 Deuce is sadly a "Hydromatic" built by GM, the good thing is she will pull a house or two behind her in low range.
a buddy had a small car with a standard....was trying to sell it buddy went on a test drive with this guy.....he shifted from 5th into like 1st or 2nd.... it actually broke the trans mounts.....and the trans spun and ended up up-side down.....
also... reminds me of my 1974 kawi g5 100cc 2 stroker 1st is super low..... like, climb straight up a wall 2nd is still kinda low 3rd and 4th are "wind it up" gears and 5th is used like an overdrive......ya get up to speed in 4th, and then shift into 5th, not go go any faster...but just to reduce the RPMs a bit and at the slightest hill, that little 11hp smoker needs to be shifted back into 4th, if not 3rd
I know that some will hate me for saying this, but I recently bought a Deuce and a half and realized that they are great trucks, but they do lack in the speed category. So I took the engine and trans out of my 2008 Dodge Ram, lots more power and better fuel economy, I finally saw double digits...LMAO!!! hey 10 is a double digit. But I wonder why some have hated me for doing this. Would you do it given the choice?
did you use a cummins diesel or a gas engine I love the sound of the engine in this guys truck real similar to a first gen cummins I don't own a deuce yet ,,but I do own a couple of other trucks namely an old airforce water truck ,used for watering cattle on the surrounding farms and a 1973 jeep J30 truck which I rebuilt from ground up ,, my J30 now has a 8V-92 Detroit diesel with dual turbos and a 13 speed transmission engine/trans came from a dumptruck
