Why does my 1996 Navistar t444e Bus only go 65mph????????

[odyssess]

I'm assuming there's a govenor on the engine, but is it there to protect the engine from over-revving or is it a schoolbus safety thing? What can I do to get my bus to go a little faster? The speedometer goes to 85, why won't the bus? Thanks for any insight brothers and sisters. Bri Wei

[wmah]

Most of it is the rear end gears. Mine wouldn't do much over 55 at 3000 rpms so I had them changed to 4.33 from 5.57. So did I gain much? Yes I can now do about 70 on the flats with no wind if the wind is pushing me I can do better than 70, wind against me not much better than 55 and now going up hills is a little bit slower but thats ok since I'm sure I gained a few mpg with the change. Overall now mine cruises nice at 55 to 60. If mine went 65 mph when I got it I wouldn't have the rear gears changed.

[odyssess]

I guess I'm lucky, but it is a shortbus and has an awsome turn radius. It sticks on 65 exactly even when going down a big decline. It definately has some sort of restricter because no matter how steep the hill i'm going down, it won't go past 65mph. Any Ideas on why it does that?

[the_experience03]

To prevent over revving and because when that thing was manufactured I bet there was rarely a need to go above 55, let alone 65 mph. Even today there aren't a WHOLE lot of places you can go over 65 mph legally.

[Steve]

My bus will now do around 75 mph and can maintain 70 going up hills (unless they are really longs ones). Instead of changing the rear end ratio I got bigger tires.

[wmah]

Originally Posted by odyssess

It definately has some sort of restricter because no matter how steep the hill i'm going down, it won't go past 65mph. Any Ideas on why it does that?

Since you have a 1996 I will assume you have the electronic set up on your motor. If this is the case you may be able to go to a international dealer and have the limiter uped a bit but I am not sure you would want to.

If you have the t444e under the hood one thing you can do to give it a little more gut on take off and it will also help you hold your speed better up hill is to get a power chip for it. I know a ezedge for a 2001 ford will work in 2000 year model buses with a t444e motor. Remember this will not increase your top end speed.

[paul iossi]

engine speed / rpm is controlled in the electronics to control power and protect the engine from self destruction, horsepower is a mathematical computation, torque x rpm/5252, since torque is a function of the mechanical design of the engine at any given rpm the speed/rpm is governed to control the horsepower.

[odyssess]

Hey Descartes, can you get my bus to 75mph?