Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-24-2016, 09:01 AM   #1
Bus Nut
 
Dapplecreek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: near Christiansburg VA
Posts: 692
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 44 or 66? 11 rows
Exhaust brake yes, no? Which? Cost?

I am interested in adding an exhaust brake to the bus I intend to purchase (full size conventional 2002ish DT466e + Allison 2500 with air brakes), as I have mountain driving in the future. Should I? Who could I get to install it? Brand? What might it cost?

On another thread, freakin' posted this (and I am hoping for more comments like it, with specifics if possible):
Quote:
Originally Posted by freakn View Post
Last Saturday I drove a 2003 72 pass. bluebird with a DT466E Manual trans for a friend. I had to go over a 4000ft pass with 6-7 percent grade. I switched on the exhaust brake at the top and never touched the brakes until I was down on the flat again at an intersection.
I'm a believer now

Dapplecreek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2016, 11:30 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 1,635
Year: 2000
Chassis: Blue Bird
Engine: ISC 8.3
I can't comment about engine nor exhaust brakes, but my bus does have a retarder built into the transmission. I've used it for several descents and even in town sometimes. It's great. I rarely turn it up all the way.

That said, unless you anticipate frequent descents, it may or may not really be worth the money to you. It's nice if you happen to pick a bus that happens to be equipped as happened in my case. But plenty of trucks get down steep grades without any trouble. Slowing before the hill begins, shift the transmission down, stab braking, and awareness to fully stop and cool the brakes immediately if any hint of brake fade is noted are about all it takes. If it were me and I had to do a good long descent just a couple times a year I don't think I'd bother with engine/transmission braking.
family wagon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2016, 04:34 PM   #3
Skoolie
 
freakn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southeast British Columbia
Posts: 106
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 72
PacBrake PRXB Exhaust Brake Navistar/IHC DT466E W/ 90 Pipe

http://pacbrake.com/wp-content/uploads/L2022.pdf


If you have a bus wrecking yard near by, you maybe able to get one.
They are really simple to hook up
__________________
Living the dream in the Kootenays
freakn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2016, 08:21 PM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
CaptSquid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
My experience with Jakes? I drove for a living and the company purchased a new series, equipped with Cat C12 and Jakes. The first few times I tried the Jakes, the engine "flamed out," and I had to wait at the side of the road for about 5 - 10 minutes before the engine could be restarted. After that, I didn't touch the Jakes at all. Of course, the one time I came out of the Eisenhower Summit on I-70, my brakes faded and I had to park against a cliff until the brakes themselves cooled down. Mind you, this was with a company that did VERY LITTLE maintenance on their trucks and expected you to run multiple log books.
CaptSquid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2016, 09:18 PM   #5
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The Valley - Arizona
Posts: 644
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freight-shaker (Freightliner)
Engine: Cat 3126b 250 HP
Rated Cap: Only 1 seat
I intend to put an exhaust brake on my Cat. The retarders are much more expensive in my case. I can hook up all the mechanical things, I most likely will have cat or freightliner deal with the electronics. I will be in the mountains around phoenix about 6 or more times a year just getting home from other places.
Docsgsxr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2016, 09:39 PM   #6
Skoolie
 
freakn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southeast British Columbia
Posts: 106
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 72
Jakes, exhaust brakes and retarders are all different systems
__________________
Living the dream in the Kootenays
freakn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2016, 09:47 PM   #7
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The Valley - Arizona
Posts: 644
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freight-shaker (Freightliner)
Engine: Cat 3126b 250 HP
Rated Cap: Only 1 seat
Quote:
Originally Posted by freakn View Post
Jakes, exhaust brakes and retarders are all different systems


Yep. And in order if cost I'd say Jakes are the most expensive and the exhaust brake the least.
Docsgsxr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2016, 11:31 PM   #8
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptSquid View Post
... ... The first few times I tried the Jakes, the engine "flamed out," and I had to wait at the side of the road for about 5 - 10 minutes before the engine could be restarted.... ...
I drove 18-wheelers for 27 years, mostly with Jacobs (Jake) and similar compression brakes, and I never even heard of the engine "flaming out". Clearly, something needed to be repaired on that truck.

If you install an exhaust brake, you may need to also install stiffer valve springs. As always, research thoroughly.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2016, 09:20 AM   #9
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Many folks only compare retarders to the other systems based on entry price, but long term they require virtually no service and do not impact the engine in any way. Jakes & exhaust brakes are about as expensive as a retarder when properly installed and long term maintenance is figured in. At least that is what I have been told by some career long haulers.

That said, a couple of them did admit they just like the sound from compression release systems.
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2016, 09:48 AM   #10
Moderator
 
crazycal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
I think your only reasonably priced option is an exhaust brake.
__________________
I'm hungry!

You Gotta Let Me Fly
crazycal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2016, 10:31 AM   #11
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Except the link I gave the OP for a used 643 with retarder for $750.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2016, 10:38 AM   #12
Bus Crazy
 
turf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,356
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
the exhaust brake does look pretty reasonably priced.

any idea on a cummins 5.9 motor?

i clicked the pacbreak link over to the cummins 5.9 page, and it takes lots of mods....including a non AT545 transmission. apparently without the lock up transmission the brake doesnt work.

maybe thats why they use a retarder instead?
__________________
.
Turfmobile Build Thread
turf is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.