I just learned that the EATON PROCISION transmission has been discontinued late last year. I don't know how many of these were actually sold in buses but I recall that they seemed determined that this was a truly tough challenger to the ALLISON.
I'm losing count how many transmissions have come and gone over the years and yet ALLISON seems to stand forever. MCI and VAN HOOL no longer offer the ZF ASTRONIC. Competition is a good thing and it's obvious in this case who the better transmission is.
That ZF Astronic should never have been put in a bus hauling passengers, the shifts were so hard it would break your neck. Yeah they were a little easier on maintenance compared to a World but the passenger comfort was terrible. BTDT
Yeah I've been on a few charter trips with that tranny. Even the tour director and non bus nut passengers commented on how rough it was on one trip. Most of the drivers told me too that the ZF didn't belong in a bus. I bet many of them swapped for a B500. A couple weeks ago, I was on a day trip to Chicago and had a brand new(still new smell) J4500. That B500 really allowed that engine to run slower than earlier versions.
The ZF beat the hell out of the Allison for fuel economy, until allison smartened up and made improvements.
The ZF was a challenge to drive smoothly for the passengers, few drivers bother...
The way our newer J model are programmed with an Allison, my old MC8 will accelerate faster... that's the big reason for them closing the gap on economy, no more rocket ship blast offs, that burns a ton of fuel.
Amazing to see 1200 rpm at highway speed with the new Allison.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
I wonder what the VS2-8 did at highway speed.
I have the Allison MH 4000 behind my ISX Cummins they only way I know when it shifts is to watch the SilverLeaf change numbers ,lol that one is going be hard to top but it is true