Eaton Fuller Shift Patterns: 9, 10, 13, 15 and 18 Speed Diagrams
An Eaton Fuller shift pattern shows where each gear sits on the shift lever and when to use the range selector, splitter or deep reduction selector on the knob. Most Eaton Fuller manuals reuse four or five lever positions twice, once in low range and once in high range. Below is every common pattern, read off the genuine Eaton labels we sell, with the shifting sequence printed on each one.
How to read an Eaton Fuller shift pattern
Each box on the label is one lever position. When a box shows two numbers, the top number is the high range gear and the bottom number is the low range gear in that same position: on a 10 speed, the position that gives you 2nd in low range gives you 7th in high range. Three controls on the knob change what a position does:
- Range selector (the lever on the front of the knob, HI or LO): switches between the low and high range.
- Splitter selector (the button on the side, H or L), on 13 and 18 speeds and the Super 10: splits a gear into two half steps.
- Deep reduction selector (marked LO-LO, IN or OUT), on 8LL, 9LL and 15 speeds: engages the extra-low gears for starting heavy loads.
Every Eaton label carries the same three rules: pre-select the range shift (move the range selector before you move the shift lever), do not change range while moving in reverse, and put the transmission in neutral before starting the engine. If the range or splitter will not change, the air lines to the knob are the usual suspect; see our Eaton Fuller shift knob air line diagram.
Which pattern does your truck have?
The pattern belongs to the transmission, not the truck: a Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner or International with an Eaton Fuller 10 speed uses the same Eaton 10 speed pattern. Read the model number on the data tag on the transmission case. The last two digits are the forward speeds (RTLO-16913A is a 13 speed, RTLO-18918B is an 18 speed), and LL at the end means a model with LO-LO deep reduction, such as an 8LL or 9LL. Our guide on how to identify an Eaton transmission shows where the tag is.
| Speeds | How it gets its gears | Eaton label |
|---|---|---|
| 9 speed | LO plus 4 low range and 4 high range gears | 20398, overdrive 20399 |
| 10 speed | 5 low range and 5 high range gears | 20400 |
| Super 10 | 5 lever positions, each split in two; automatic range change | 23205 |
| 13 speed | LO plus 4 low range gears, 4 high range gears each split | 4300764 |
| 15 speed | 10 speed plus deep reduction | 20468, overdrive 20467 |
| 18 speed | LO plus 8 gears, every gear split | 21628 |
| 8LL and 9LL | 8 or 9 speed plus LO and LO-LO deep reduction | 20466, overdrive 20465; 4302441 |
Eaton Fuller 10 speed shift pattern
| R HI / LO | 7 2 | 9 4 |
| 6 1 | 8 3 | 10 5 |
The standard over-the-road pattern. Start with the range selector down and shift 1-2-3-4-5, raise the range selector, then shift 6-7-8-9-10 through the same five positions. Downshift 10-9-8-7-6, move the range selector down, then 5-4-3-2-1. Reverse is up and to the left, high or low with the range selector. Label 20400 covers RT and RTX 1X610 and 1X710 series and FR, FRO, FRM and FRW 1X210 series. Eaton also lists 10 speed shift pattern label 5586106. Find a unit under Eaton Fuller 10 speed transmissions or the free 10 speed parts manuals.
Eaton Fuller Super 10 shift pattern
| R LO / HI | 3-4 | 7-8 |
| 1-2 | 5-6 | 9-10 |
The Super 10 has no range lever. Each of the five lever positions is split by the gear selector on the knob, so 1st and 2nd share a position, then 3rd and 4th, and so on. Pre-select every split with the gear selector; Eaton's label says the range change takes place automatically between 6th and 7th gear. Label 23205 covers RTLO and RTLOF 11610B through 17610B and RTL and RTLF 11710B through 14710B.
Eaton Fuller 13 speed shift pattern
| R HI / LO | 5 H/L 1 | 7 H/L 3 |
| LO | 6 H/L 2 | 8 H/L 4 |
Start with the range selector down and shift LO-1-2-3-4, raise the range selector, then shift 5-6-7-8. In high range the splitter button on the side of the knob splits each gear into a low and high step, which is where the 13 speeds come from: LO, four low range gears and eight split high range steps. Eaton's label says the splitter may be shifted in 5-6-7-8 only, and not to range shift with the splitter in H. Downshift 8-7-6-5, move the range selector down, then 4-3-2-1-LO. Label 4300764 covers RTO, RTLO and RTOX 13 speeds such as the RTLO-16913A and RTLO-18913A; a 13 speed shift knob diagram is also available. The older RT-6613 and RTO-6613 use a different pattern with deep reduction: label 21756. Units are under Eaton Fuller 13 speed transmissions and exploded views in the 13 speed parts manuals.
Eaton Fuller 18 speed shift pattern
| R HI / LO | 5 H/L 1 H/L | 7 H/L 3 H/L |
| LO H/L | 6 H/L 2 H/L | 8 H/L 4 H/L |
The lever positions match the 13 speed, but the splitter works in every position, low range included, so LO and all eight gears each have a high and low split. Pre-select both range and splitter shifts before you move the lever. Upshift LO-1-2-3-4, raise the range selector, then 5-6-7-8, splitting each gear as the load needs; downshift 8-7-6-5, range selector down, 4-3-2-1-LO. Label 21628 covers RTLO 14918B, 16918B, 18918B and related 18 speeds; there is also an 18 speed shift knob diagram. See Eaton Fuller 18 speed transmissions and the 18 speed parts manuals.
Looking for the 18 speed shift knob, medallion, dash label or air line kit? The shift knob parts table lists every one by transmission.
Range or splitter not shifting after a knob swap? Check the plumbing against the Eaton Fuller shift knob air line diagram. Still not sure which part fits? Call 877-776-4600 with the model number from your transmission tag.
18 speed shift pattern questions
Do you have to split every gear in an 18 speed?
No. The 21628 label allows a split in every lever position, but you split only as often as the load and grade call for. A light truck can skip splits and gears; a loaded truck on a grade uses the closer steps. Whatever you skip, pre-select the range and splitter before you move the lever.
Can you drive an 18 speed like a 13 speed?
Yes. The lever positions and range selector are the same, so leaving the splitter in L through LO and 1 to 4, then splitting 5 through 8, follows the same sequence as a 13 speed. The 18 speed adds the low range splits for heavy starts and grades.
Is driving an 18 speed hard?
The lever work is no harder than a 13 speed: six lever positions, a range selector and a splitter. What takes practice is timing the splits, since an 18 speed lets you split in low range as well as high. Keep the label in view until the sequence is routine.
Eaton Fuller 15 speed shift pattern
| R HI / LO | 7 2 | 9 4 |
| 6 1 | 8 3 | 10 5 |
A 15 speed is a 10 speed with a deep reduction. The lever positions and the up and down shift sequences on the label are the same as the 10 speed: 1-2-3-4-5, raise the range selector, 6-7-8-9-10. The extra gears come from the deep reduction selector (LO-LO) on the knob, used for starting a heavy load. On the overdrive (RTO) label 20467 the two right-hand positions trade places: 10/5 is on top and 9/4 on the bottom. For the shift knob, medallion 5586107 shows the overdrive 10 and 15 speed pattern. Direct drive label 20468 covers RT and RTX 1X715 and RT and RTO 1X915 series. See Eaton Fuller 15 speed transmissions and the 15 speed parts manuals.
Eaton Fuller 9 speed shift pattern
| R HI / LO | 5 1 | 7 3 |
| LO | 6 2 | 8 4 |
Eight road gears plus a LO. Start with the range selector down and shift LO-1-2-3-4, raise the range selector, then 5-6-7-8. Downshift 8-7-6-5, range selector down, 4-3-2-1-LO. Label 20398 covers RT and RTX 8608L, X609, 1X609 and 1X709 series; the overdrive version is label 20399. See Eaton Fuller 9 speed transmissions and the 9 speed parts manuals.
Eaton Fuller 8LL and 9LL shift patterns
| R RR | 5 1 | 7 3 |
| LO LO-LO | 6 2 | 8 4 |
The 8LL is an 8 speed plus LO and LO-LO, common in dump trucks, mixers and other vocational work. The road gears shift like a 9 speed: LO-1-2-3-4, raise the range selector, 5-6-7-8. The bottom-left position is marked LO and LO-LO and reverse is marked R and RR; the deep reduction selector (LO-LO) on the knob engages the deeper ratios. Label 20466 covers RT 7608LL and 8908LL, RTO 1X908LL and RTX 1X708LL series; the overdrive 8LL is label 20465. The 9LL adds a second deep reduction gear: its label 4302441 marks LL1 and LL2 and covers RTO 1X709MLL, 1X909MLL and 1X909ALL series. See Eaton Fuller 8 speed transmissions and the 8 speed parts manuals.
5, 6 and 7 speed patterns
Medium duty Eaton Fuller transmissions have their own labels: the 5 speed FS 4005 label 21789, the 6 speed FS 5106 through FSO 8206 label 22387, the FS-6106A label 21042, the 7 speed label 19958 and the 7 speed LL overdrive label 20464.
Eaton Fuller shift knob medallions: match yours by the pattern
The medallion is the shift pattern insert in the top of the knob. Find the drawing that matches the one on your knob (or your transmission model) and order that part number. Older knobs take a D-shaped insert instead of the shield shape; 6 patterns also come in that old D style, listed under the part number. Need the pattern for the dash instead? Use the labels above.
55861028 speedNo longer available
5586111
5586112
5586116RTO-1XX08LL prior to "9" seriesNo longer available
Not sure which medallion your knob takes? Call 877-776-4600 with the model number from your transmission tag, or see the shift knob parts table by transmission.