Which will skip shift?

Which other trans will skip shift.

AutoShift Gen 1 NO
AutoShift Gen 2 NO
AutoShift Gen 3 ???
I-Shift ?
UltraShift ?

I thought an Ultra would if programmed to do it, but is that correct?

I've never driven an I Shift, but they are pretty "magical."  Wonder what they do.

On edit, looking further at the pictures two of the trucks, a 670 and 630 look like they have Ultra Shifts in them, not FreedomLines.  Although the write up shows FreedomLine.

Not going to try and post the pic this time, but here is a 2008 - 670

My bad!!

Jack, then there are a few 2007's listed on truck paper with FreedomLines.
Gee,  I just keep learning

Ultrashift console looks just like the Gen II AutoShift console.

I just got an e-mail from Arrow that they have a "program" on 2007 780's
$4000 off (actually it is listed as a $4000 down payment match) but I guess it is the same thing as $4000 off.

Jack Mayer, on 09 June 2011 - 09:11 AM, said:
Mac

Does the I-Shift have the National Network gradient info in it by default?

Don't know..........

Controller grade road slope data isn't complete enough for a production system yet.  Supposedly by the end of the year it will be.  I don't know how they do it but the I-shifters have to be figuring the road out somehow else.  Not to discount it because it is a good system, but calculating truck load and stuff is kind of ho-hum anymore.  All engines do it now and pretty much nobody will buy a highway truck nowadays without it.  Four years ago it was a big deal and quite marketable though.

You can see all the various FreedomLine ending years in the latest of the lawsuits here

I've got the large <ugly> paddle/stalk off the steering wheel - it can be shifted <even in full auto>, my experience is limited <until Friday when I lay out 1000 miles, and even then ill be dangerous in what I know> but I'm impressed w/how "smart" the transmission is, at least in gear down, sensing the speed and dropping gears meant there was almost no need for brakes (and that was w/out the exhaust brake on)>

The Meritor seems to get good reviews, and i haven't read about too many problems (I've heard that there are some connector/moisture issues - but I don't know if that applies to mine or not).  I'm wondering which generation I've got and when/what the differences are and what precautions I may need to take to prevent any issues

Donnie tried for an I-shift when he ordered his 2008, got the FreedomLine instead -- 'Because that was what they could get at the time of his order (IIRC).  This is the one with the rocker control mechanism (rather than the touch-pad arrangement used by Eaton-Fuller for the UltraShift & AutoShift.  So, again, he has TWO Volvo's, each with
FreedomLine.

As the story goes, E-F ran Meritor outta the business with their lawsuits (which, ultimately, got thrown out), so Volvo (in 2008, or late 2007?) brought their independently-developed I-Shift to US production (from Europe) and is having great success -- though it's highly tuned to "talk" (aka, negotiate) with the engine to optimize performance & economy.

Anyways, that's the story I'm repeating --- and I'm stickin' to it.
Don

BushPilot, on 26 June 2011 - 06:35 PM, said:
mine says "auto shift" and its a 12 speed - its a beautiful thing!

Based on the gear indicator in the picture on your gauge post (along with the fact that you know that it's a twelve-speed), you definitely have a ZF Meritor FreedomLine transmission in your Freightliner, not an Autoshift (an Eaton-Fuller trademark, although often used incorrectly to describe almost every automated HDT transmission).
 

BushPilot, on 26 June 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:
Hey does anyone know where the fluid dip stick is for these auto-shifts is ??  I can NOT find the damn dip stick, if there is one.

There is no dipstick.  Since it's not a fully automatic transmission it has a fill and a drain plug, just as any manual transmission would.  Based on the drawing in the FreedomLine Parts Manual, it appears that the fill plug is high on the passenger side, while the drain plug is low on the driver's side.

As I was under it last night I was wondering, 'specially when i saw the CLUTCH (inspection holes), so what fluids does this thing take (isn't it always easier to ask then go read ?

Any known issues w/ the ZF Meritor that i can head off (connector/ moisture issues etc. ??)

1. The FreedomLine people helped me change out the clutch fork to the 2008 model that has rollers on the end of the fork for smoother shifting.

2. Practice!!! I found that for hauling horse I needed to keep it in manual for the smoothest most predicable shifts.

The FreedomLine can skip shift 2 gears in manual and up to 3 gears in automatic.  I shift it in manual most of the time even if I am not hauling horses.  The shifter is so well placed and easy to use I just prefer it.