parking in 1st gear

[bighammer]

A couple months ago I was shocked to hear "Dad, your truck is moving" from my son. I went outside and saw it was about 12 feet from it's original position but sitting still. A few moments later, it rolled back just a few inches and stopped again almost as if somebody tapped the clutch for an instant.


I can't remember what gear it was in-- Either 1st or 2nd. I was surprised to see that it was able to turn the engine very slowly and bleed the compression until the next cylinder would stop it again. I think it had been there a couple hours so maybe as the engine cools slightly the friction becomes less?

I always use my brake on a hill now. (often on level ground as well)

 

[CUMMINS4U]

Slipping Clutch?

this is what a mechanic friend said over the phone... he will take a closer look at it this weekend.



if it's time for a new clutch... . Dyna Max DD?

 

[CUMMINS4U]

A couple months ago I was shocked to hear "Dad, your truck is moving" from my son. I went outside and saw it was about 12 feet from it's original position but sitting still. A few moments later, it rolled back just a few inches and stopped again almost as if somebody tapped the clutch for an instant.





I can't remember what gear it was in-- Either 1st or 2nd. I was surprised to see that it was able to turn the engine very slowly and bleed the compression until the next cylinder would stop it again. I think it had been there a couple hours so maybe as the engine cools slightly the friction becomes less?



I always use my brake on a hill now. (often on level ground as well)

I am not alone... you describe my experience better than I described it myself... the only difference is that it was my wife that noticed the truck moved.

 

[MLee]

Sean;

As has been stated use the "E" brake, If that don't help throw block hehind the wheel. You might save a kids life. Thats scary.

Marv.

 

[CUMMINS4U]

Sean;

As has been stated use the "E" brake, If that don't help throw block hehind the wheel. You might save a kids life. Thats scary.

Marv.

I have not missed the e-brake once... since that has happened... whether it be parking on flat or incline.



Just trying to find out if it was normal or if it is an early sign of problems to come.



Thanks.

 

[radar doctor]

Tdr Fans:::: I Have A Automatic 03... ... ... ... ... A Sugestion:::: Yesterday I Went To The Lake. . Pulling A 17 Ft Ranger. ,,,about A Ton Of Drag On The Truck... don't Know How Steep The Ramp Was,,, But ... down The Ramp I Went... put The Truck In Park, E- Brake On,,, I Have A 4x4 Block Of Wood 2 Ft Long With A 8 Ft Rope Attached To The Block. . that Went Under The Right Rear Tire... ... its Nice To Have That Extra Assurance... ... the Rope Is To Keep Me From Bending Over To Pick Up The Block. . the Ole Back Appreciates That... ... had The Wife In The Truck She Cant Swim Or Drive But Loves To Read Books So She Read And I Fished... i Felt Ok With The Block There... ... ... . doc

 

[RankRam]

Tdr Fans:::: I Have A Automatic 03... ... ... ... ... A Sugestion:::: Yesterday I Went To The Lake. . Pulling A 17 Ft Ranger. ,,,about A Ton Of Drag On The Truck... don't Know How Steep The Ramp Was,,, But ... down The Ramp I Went... put The Truck In Park, E- Brake On,,, I Have A 4x4 Block Of Wood 2 Ft Long With A 8 Ft Rope Attached To The Block. . that Went Under The Right Rear Tire... ... its Nice To Have That Extra Assurance... ... the Rope Is To Keep Me From Bending Over To Pick Up The Block. . the Ole Back Appreciates That... ... had The Wife In The Truck She Cant Swim Or Drive But Loves To Read Books So She Read And I Fished... i Felt Ok With The Block There... ... ... . doc

Well don't keep us hanging, did ya catch any fish?

 

[EEdmondson]

It's a habit, you don't have to think about it... always put it in 1st and set the parking brake. The truck does NOT move. If you have trouble with the parking brake freezing, use 4Lo and 1st or rev and chock it.

 

[ZHutton]

I love search on this site.



I thought the parking brake was just barely ok, obviously it was not ok if the truck was moving and I went looking for a thread like this.



Now the parking brake is adjusted up and all is well.



I was just wondering if there were any more stories about slowly moving trucks.



I was in my uncle's driveway and when his daughter said they just drove around my truck to park where they normally park I wondered what the heck they were talking about. Went outside and found my truck would move a tiny bit and then hold for a bit and then move a tiny bit more. I wa sin first gear, never thought about reverse.



I played around with different gears in his driveway and educated myself a good bit.



Anyway, figured I would see if there are any more stories or not so bump for an old post.

 

[BimmerAgent]

Decompression

When growing up on the farm, my granddad always told me to lock the brake on diesel tractors when dismounting because the cylinders would decompress and allow the tractor to roll. I forgot to do that one time, and when I came back to the tractor, it was slowly jerking its way down a slope. Not even walking speed, but if I hadn't returned, it would have gone over the hill. I learned my lesson, and always set the brake on my vehicles. I don't know if it is truly decompression, but I do know a diesel will move if left long enough on a grade without the brake on. Bruce

 

[abdiver]

Sean;

As has been stated use the "E" brake, If that don't help throw block hehind the wheel. You might save a kids life. Thats scary.

Marv.

I doubt someone is going to use CHOCKS, when they don't even use the E brake.



USE the E BRAKE it may just save someones life and yours would be a mess after such. Please use your E Brake that's what its for. All this saftey equipt on our modern trucks and someone doesn't use something as basic as a Parking brake. What would your defence be.



OK I'm done ranting

 

[Cattletrkr]

I've never seen either my'01 or '04. 5 move once shut off. I almost always apply the brake, but it doesn't do much anymore. I don't trust the e-brake, now reading this I can't trust the engine to hold. Nuts.



I used to work for an excavator that told me to be careful with the one truck that had a 3208 Cat. He said if you killed it going up an incline there was a chance it would restart itself... and run backwards. Not only move backwards, but the engine would spin the wrong way. I guess the 3208's were good at this. Not sure how that appiles here.

 

[cojhl2]

When growing up on the farm, my granddad always told me to lock the brake on diesel tractors when dismounting because the cylinders would decompress and allow the tractor to roll. I forgot to do that one time, and when I came back to the tractor, it was slowly jerking its way down a slope. Not even walking speed, but if I hadn't returned, it would have gone over the hill. I learned my lesson, and always set the brake on my vehicles. I don't know if it is truly decompression, but I do know a diesel will move if left long enough on a grade without the brake on. Bruce

And I bet your grandad would have had you going over the hill talking to yourself too!! We farmed on steep ground and learned very quickly the same lesson you learned here,, but in addition to never park a vehicle including tractors where they will roll.



What you experienced is true on SI engines also. We have to remember it is not the compression that provides engine holdback, it is friction.

 

[Mstephens]

I have 07 2500 6-speed, and miine doesnt roll at all. I have a very steep driveway, put it in 3rd gear and finally started rolling. hopefully the transmission just popped out of gear. Mine holds really well in 1st, 2nd and reverse. I do set the e-brake all the time though(afraid the wife will pop the clutch and go through the garage). Hope this helps out.

 

[MCummings]

Older engines, 3. 55's instead of 4. 10's, more weight, more incline, bigger tires all will lead to a truck rolling easier in gear.



My truck will roll down a steep incline in 2nd gear. I'll get a video for you guys soon enough...



Merrick

 

[cojhl2]

Older engines, 3. 55's instead of 4. 10's, more weight, more incline, bigger tires all will lead to a truck rolling easier in gear.



My truck will roll down a steep incline in 2nd gear. I'll get a video for you guys soon enough...



Merrick

That is the key. The less advantage the engine has the sooner it will roll. .



Also as MCummings says it depends on the load.



These driveways that are on a slope (every place I've lived except the farm and where I currently live) had a doggone slopeing driveway.



Here is something else to keep in mind if you drive big trucks. There are times you have to leave a big truck on a slope with no chance to set it so it won't roll. When you leave the truck, like we do at night in grain haul, be sure and drain all the air from the system so the brakes can't be released.

 

[NUKEMAN]

I always set the e-brake when parked. More of a habit than anything, but it definitely helps when starting, keeps the truck from rolling when the clutch is depressed.

 

[JHardwick]

It's a habit, you don't have to think about it... always put it in 1st and set the parking brake. The truck does NOT move. If you have trouble with the parking brake freezing, use 4Lo and 1st or rev and chock it.

I've been in the habit of using the e-brake for years, auto/manual, flat/incline, no matter. I've found that this keeps the cables from rusting and siezing to the point of having no e-brake when you really do need it.

 

[george]

okay... now I'm starting to worry. I am absolutely positive it was in first gear. The incline is small(my drive way)... but enough so that if it was not in gear, it would roll right away. It rolled about 15 ft backwards in about a 2-3 hours time.



:{

I wouldn't worry about it, it happened it me the first time I brought my truck home, I left it in 1st gear parked in the driveway and ran in the house for 10 minutes. When I came back the truck had rolled to the middle of the street. Needless to say that was the first and last time I parked without using the parking brake.

 

[PC12Driver]

There is no reason for a truck NOT to roll if it is left in gear w/o the parking brake set.



If the transmission was out of the truck, you could put it in first and spin it via the output shaft. It's just a couple of shafts and straight gears - there's nothing to lock it in place.



We know we can hand turn these engines over fairly easily with a barring tool, or even with the nut on the alternator. So there's nothing locking the engine in place either when it's off. Maybe an occasional bump of compression, but that leaks by fairly quickly (gas or diesel, every engine WILL leak down).



So there's nothing magical that will lock and hold your truck in place if you park it in first. You're just working against friction and a bit of compression that will leak down. Granted, first gear gives that friction and compression a huge mechanical advantage, but with 7k lbs+ of truck it's just a matter of time before it rolls.