Glad you're getting sorted.
I suppose without auxiliary air you had a lazy clutch (ours used to be drybollock with air-servo-assist) and without assist you couldn't get full pedal travel so you dragged gears. Of course, once you were rolling who needed the clutch anyway?
Sorry about the slur(s). When I looked at the Volvo spec it seemed to be automated shift or nothing (and to us Limeys you're all Yanks - no offence meant).
Just seen that you're rolling again.