I am just entering the world of 4 stroke 60 series. 2000year 60 out of a freightlinner with a Eaton 10spd autoshift. the two are still hooked together and computers still hooked together other than that.????I'm in a learning mode here. Do I need a silverleaf??????. I googled it and got nothing. Need education. I do have matching shifter out of truck for trans and am installing it in a bus a 60series ddec 4 came out of. guide me please. I think I know where I'm going... Maybe..... Only 17 wires on the 31 wire harness show used.
Bob,
You should have attended Jim Shepherd's Silverleaf seminar at the Choo Choo rally. Very informative. If I had an electronic engine, I would definitely have this system, not very expensive and the amount of information available is very impressive.
I'm sure the guys who have it will chime in shortly.
Bob
www.siverleafelectronics.com (http://www.siverleafelectronics.com)
Boomer -
Dead link to Silverleafelectronics. . .
Will ck out link. I am actually so challenged here I couldn't understand any thing except what is it. This is truly my weakest point. but;;; gives me something new to learn. I do have back up if needed but would really rather know it first hand. If some else does it then you just don't get it. Thanks.
OK, try this:
www.simply-smarter.com (http://www.simply-smarter.com)
guess they changed their site.
is this something I plug into port on engine computer and it gives me read out?
Boomer -
That link puts you into an endless loop to the old silverleafelectronics website.
Might have to embarrass myself and ask Jim RV Safety Man to help me. he has same basic set up in his coach. engine trans. and is a silverleaf guy. prob is I don't even know enough to ask a intelligent question. like where do you plug it in? can it be at the engine? Can it replace dash guages?
Bob,
There is usually a gray, round 6 pin diagnostic connector to the left of the drivers seat. The Silverleaf translator box connects there and communicates with the engine ECM over the 2 wires the diagnostic tool uses and you can display most anything the engine computer reads fuel temp, air temp, boost pressure, RPM, speed, intake air temp and so on. I'm sure Jim will chime here and tell us the rest. He is very experienced with this system. I helped install one of the systems in a board members Eagle that had a Series 60 repower, it didn't have a diagnostic port up front. We had to run a shielded twisted pair from the rear to the front, but yours should already be there.
Ken
Ken ;it's there but was damaged in fire. can it be spliced or does it need to be re run? Good at center of rear differential. Bob
Hi Bob. I wish we had taken the time to talk about this at the rally. I have quite a bit of information here:
http://www.rvsafetysystems.com/Silverleaf.htm (http://www.rvsafetysystems.com/Silverleaf.htm)
The VMSpc plugs into the data port that you, hopefully, have wired into the dash area. It is an excellent way of displaying a huge amount of engine data when it is running (see "my dash" on that page). It also will capture fault codes when it is connected to the data port. Eric Brown was able to determine why he was getting a fault code on his new conversion using the VMSpc.
That said, it is not the best tool to check out your wiring before you fire the engine. I bought a ProLink and hooked it up to check out all of the input signals to the engine from the dash area. It would be best if you can cultivate a friend who has either a ProLink or the DD software on a laptop. Either will really help you verify that you have everything.
You can also take the attitude that you are going to just fire the engine and see what happens. Very little of the wiring harness is involved in starting the engine. The engine has great protection, so you really can't damage the engine. If you take this route, then the VMSpc would be your friend, since you would be able to watch all the critical stuff and also capture a fault code if you had one.
When you get ready, give me a call and I will walk you through it: three zero three 478 thirty five zero one.
Also recall that I have the details of my cable on my project page (see signature).
Jim
Don't know, must be a problem with their website; unusual because they are real tech gurus. Bob, there should be a breakout harness originating from the ECM that would terminate in the cab or engine compartment or wherever you want to put it. I put two in, one just inside the steering compartment door so that a mechanic would not have to walk inside the bus with dirty feet; and the other under the dash. It's best to have a plug in the dash area somewhere so a diagnostic reader can be plugged in to retrive data while driving. The Silverleaf interface cable can then just be plugged right in at that point as well as a mechanics data reader if need be. Yes the Silverleaf units can replace all dash guages depending on which model you choose as well as provide diagnostic information and all transmission information (Allison anyway, don't know anything about Eaton). Great units. If the webisite is down for awhile, give them a call they are in Albany, Oregon or Jim will be glad to help you out he knows the product and is a dealer.
Page 7 Jim and 6 have simular clutch foot pedal. air did you get bugs out of it? I got slave cyl out of truck with my combo. Thanks Bob
Bob, the hydraulic part of the clutch system works great. I used a Volvo slave cylinder on the back. The front has been several things, none of which have been great. I tried the Volvo truck pedal and master cylinder, but I had to modify it to make it fit in the very tight driver area. The modification made the clutch pedal very hard to push. I then went to a brake treadle valve to control air into a brake chamber. Low pedal pressure, but no "feel" for the point of engagement.
Then I went to a hand lever to push on the master cylinder. That worked pretty well - until I came to a toll both :D
I now have a combination of the treadle valve pushing on the hand lever. I make that work pretty well, as the hand lever gives me a good feeling for the clutch and the treadle valve makes pushing and holding the clutch very easy.
Over the winter, I hope to convert to a true clutch pedal out of an 05 Eagle. I have most of the part and it should not be a huge job if I can find a way to get into the area of the pivot (under the driver). The Eagle used a great air assist system that should make the clutch pressure manageable for my tired old knees. The clutch pedal will push on my existing hydraulic master cylinder.
I sort of hate to make the change to a "normal" clutch system, since it will not be my typical cobbled up approach to a design ;) ;). In addition, my present system is sure a good anti-theft device ::) ::)
Jim
I am very positive to the Silverleaf if you have an electronic engine. I bought mine from Jim S, who has been very helpful. It saved me $100+ an hour, when I had an intermitent problem.
Could a technician find the problem before I ran out of money ???
I operate it whenever I am driving the coach.
That said, there are still some things I would like to understand better about the Silverleaf's operation. For example, my fuel economy keeps rising the longer I drive - 8, 9, 9.5 MPG. I am skeptical about the 9's.
Ed Roelle
Flint, MI
Ed, your fuel keeps going up, mine keeps going down! It seems the more I use it, the worse it gets! BOTH, the silverleaf and the MPG!!!
Ed,
You are pulling less fuel weight further down the road :-)
Cheers, Paul.