Hi Everybody, After months of looking,research, and driving everywhere all over Queensland looking at buses I have finally purchased a Mazda T3500 in excellent mechanical condition with only 200,000ks. My question is... I don't understand the principal of the split gearbox. The guy I bought it off said he only used it on fifth gear as a sort of overdrive and in hills when he was on the highway, but I am sure there is more to it than that. He had only had it for 10 months to do a trip to NT and really didn't know much about the operation of anything. In his defence I may have possibly driven him nuts with dumb questions.Can anyone explain the split gearbox to me please. ie when and how to use it, does it increase fuel economy or speed. Thanks Lynne
mr glassies said
07:32 PM Oct 4, 2014
its a splitter on each gear so ya end up with 10 gears 2 reverses . i had on in a truck . only use it like a high range in a 4x4 but can split or drop down to low in 5th if you need say half a gear helps a lot on hills works in 4th and 3rd and so on . look after it and get some good oil ito it as they are exy to have repaired but in saying that they give you what you put into it . happy motoring
dibs
ps don't be a gary gears and split every gear thats when it will let ya down
Baz421 said
07:35 PM Oct 4, 2014
Are you referring to a split transmission or 2 speed diff. sounds like a 2 speed diff for 3500,ut I may be ignorant of that model!
mr glassies said
07:45 PM Oct 4, 2014
na baz they had another gearstick on the left of the steering column
we'll if its the one i had
dibs
Olley46 said
08:15 PM Oct 4, 2014
Linzeelou wrote:
Hi Everybody, After months of looking,research, and driving everywhere all over Queensland looking at buses I have finally purchased a Mazda T3500 in excellent mechanical condition with only 200,000ks. My question is... I don't understand the principal of the split gearbox. The guy I bought it off said he only used it on fifth gear as a sort of overdrive and in hills when he was on the highway, but I am sure there is more to it than that. He had only had it for 10 months to do a trip to NT and really didn't know much about the operation of anything. In his defence I may have possibly driven him nuts with dumb questions.Can anyone explain the split gearbox to me please. ie when and how to use it, does it increase fuel economy or speed. Thanks Lynne
Hi Lynne
If it is a gearbox that you can split gears ,split every gear that is what they are made for ,but you don't have to if you dont want to,vertuley it is giving you a half a gear every time you split,that is going down or going up,hope this helps.
Lance C
Jaahn said
09:38 PM Oct 4, 2014
Linzeelou wrote:
Hi Everybody, After months of looking,research, and driving everywhere all over Queensland looking at buses I have finally purchased a Mazda T3500 in excellent mechanical condition with only 200,000ks. My question is... I don't understand the principal of the split gearbox. The guy I bought it off said he only used it on fifth gear as a sort of overdrive and in hills when he was on the highway, but I am sure there is more to it than that. He had only had it for 10 months to do a trip to NT and really didn't know much about the operation of anything. In his defence I may have possibly driven him nuts with dumb questions.Can anyone explain the split gearbox to me please. ie when and how to use it, does it increase fuel economy or speed. Thanks Lynne
Hi Lienzeelou,
Some Jap busses and trucks had the spltter box as an option on some models and some did not. Both Mazda and Nissan, not seen them on a Toyota. the high range is direct drive and the low range is about 0.7 geared down.
The usual method of using them IMHO is to put them in the high range when on flat country and put them in the low range when in hilly country or the city. In other words you are just changing the overall gearing to suit the terrain. Using it as a splitter on the normal gears is just a waste of effort. The torque spread of the motors is good and the load not excessive in a bus so why bother.
I have had one in a Nissan motorhome and that is how I found it useful. I have also used them in Mazda and Nissan trucks and also used them like I have described.
But just ignore it if you like and nothing much wasted.
Cheers Jaahn
george57 said
07:28 AM Oct 5, 2014
Hi Lynne
If you can drive a manual....then you have got no problems...just put it into gear and go girl!!!! You'll work it out as you go.
Giddy up...
George & fat dog
beiffe said
09:40 AM Oct 6, 2014
I had a T3500 and I used it 90% in the high range.
The spit is usable in every gear and comes in handy when pulling up a hill. If you think the gear you are in is just a little high then drop the split down and you could be OK.
Also very handy on steep down grades if you are really worried about braking. Just drop to low bottom and you will walk down any hill.
Get used to the exhaust brake and leave it on most of the time. Some turn it off in towns but it is fairly quiet at all times and really makes a difference to your breaking and holding speed when descending hills. Drop into the gear you think you would use to climb and take your foot off everything and she will just coast down and hold her speed. If it starts to build up speed you are too high, brake to drop your speed and then try the 1/2 down and it should slow you a bit more.
Practice makes for perfection so try it all out and find what suits you best. leaving it in low will use extra fuel for no advantage in my books.
Regards
Brian
Linzeelou said
10:34 PM Oct 8, 2014
Hi Brian, thanks. So the thing I am not clear on, is which position is high and low on the splitter. Is low when the lever is closer to the dash or to the floor. When you engage it do you need to have your foot on the clutch or can it just be done as you drive. It's a bit of a minefield. I'm thinking of finding a truck driver to perhaps give me some tips, I am the kind or person that needs to see things done physically rather than theoretically to make sense of it all. Cheers Lynne
PeterD said
11:04 PM Oct 8, 2014
Lynne, general rule - high gear lower engine revs, low gear higher engine revs.
beiffe said
08:48 AM Oct 9, 2014
Yes you do need to use the clutch like any other gr=ear change. Just think of it as ten speeds forward and use appropriately.
Don''t worry too much it will come to you.
It is four years since I got rid of mine but I will find out for you . Just a drive and change between the shift gears will tell you. The slower revs at the same speed is the high one and will give best economy as long as you don't LUG it (drive with very slow engine revs)'.
Regards
Brian
Hoboe said
11:01 PM Nov 3, 2014
I have a Ford Trader which is basically a rebadged Mazda. I noticed my gearbox doesn't like swapping between the two ranges on the fly so to speak so i just choose which range according to the terrain - i move the lever towards the dash in hilly country before i set off and just use those 5 gears until I'm back on flat terrain - then i just stop and move the lever back to nearer my knee and use those five gears - in my truck there is a P for Power and an E for economy on the lever. I press in the clutch when i move the lever just to be safe but it will move without it when stationary.
Hi Everybody, After months of looking,research, and driving everywhere all over Queensland looking at buses I have finally purchased a Mazda T3500 in excellent mechanical condition with only 200,000ks. My question is... I don't understand the principal of the split gearbox. The guy I bought it off said he only used it on fifth gear as a sort of overdrive and in hills when he was on the highway, but I am sure there is more to it than that. He had only had it for 10 months to do a trip to NT and really didn't know much about the operation of anything. In his defence I may have possibly driven him nuts with dumb questions.Can anyone explain the split gearbox to me please. ie when and how to use it, does it increase fuel economy or speed.
Thanks Lynne
dibs
ps don't be a gary gears and split every gear thats when it will let ya down
Are you referring to a split transmission or 2 speed diff. sounds like a 2 speed diff for 3500,ut I may be ignorant of that model!
we'll if its the one i had
dibs
Hi Lynne
If it is a gearbox that you can split gears ,split every gear that is what they are made for ,but you don't have to if you dont want to,vertuley it is giving you a half a gear every time you split,that is going down or going up,hope this helps.
Lance C
Hi Lienzeelou,
Some Jap busses and trucks had the spltter box as an option on some models and some did not. Both Mazda and Nissan, not seen them on a Toyota.
the high range is direct drive and the low range is about 0.7 geared down.
The usual method of using them IMHO is to put them in the high range when on flat country and put them in the low range when in hilly country or the city. In other words you are just changing the overall gearing to suit the terrain. Using it as a splitter on the normal gears is just a waste of effort. The torque spread of the motors is good and the load not excessive in a bus so why bother.
I have had one in a Nissan motorhome and that is how I found it useful. I have also used them in Mazda and Nissan trucks and also used them like I have described.
But just ignore it if you like and nothing much wasted.
Cheers Jaahn
The spit is usable in every gear and comes in handy when pulling up a hill. If you think the gear you are in is just a little high then drop the split down and you could be OK.
Also very handy on steep down grades if you are really worried about braking. Just drop to low bottom and you will walk down any hill.
Get used to the exhaust brake and leave it on most of the time. Some turn it off in towns but it is fairly quiet at all times and really makes a difference to your breaking and holding speed when descending hills. Drop into the gear you think you would use to climb and take your foot off everything and she will just coast down and hold her speed. If it starts to build up speed you are too high, brake to drop your speed and then try the 1/2 down and it should slow you a bit more.
Practice makes for perfection so try it all out and find what suits you best. leaving it in low will use extra fuel for no advantage in my books.
Regards
Brian
Hi Brian, thanks. So the thing I am not clear on, is which position is high and low on the splitter. Is low when the lever is closer to the dash or to the floor. When you engage it do you need to have your foot on the clutch or can it just be done as you drive. It's a bit of a minefield. I'm thinking of finding a truck driver to perhaps give me some tips, I am the kind or person that needs to see things done physically rather than theoretically to make sense of it all. Cheers Lynne
Don''t worry too much it will come to you.
It is four years since I got rid of mine but I will find out for you . Just a drive and change between the shift gears will tell you. The slower revs at the same speed is the high one and will give best economy as long as you don't LUG it (drive with very slow engine revs)'.
Regards
Brian