On 2/7/2012 9:47 AM, Ignoramus465 wrote:
On 2012-02-07, Jim wrote:
I never had trouble taxiing - left brake = turn left, right brake =
turn right.

I had a horrible time getting my brain wired to that.

Which brings up a related question. For 17.5 years, I drove cars with
automatic transmission. This is what I learned to drive in the first
place.

Now that I have this semi tractor with non-synchronized manual
transmission, I have great troubles adjusting my brains to operate the
transmission.

I am used to just driving, thinking about stuff, and using the gas
pedal only.

I am wondering if operating a manual trans is a skill that can
actually be learned, given my age of 40 and my past conditioning of
driving auto trans.

Is there any hope or not?

i
I am sure there is hope. There is always hope.

Listen to the engine sounds. They will tell you when to shift up or
down. Someday you will even learn to shift without using the clutch.
Good skill when you are all alone in the boonies with an inoperable clutch.

Paul