I am thinking of purchasing a king cruise control and installing it myself. The bus is a MCI-7 8v-92T alison automatic with air throttle. I was quoted 12000 for parts and 1500 for labor to install. Any opinions on the king cruise control or the difficulty of instulation. Thanks Bob
I am going to also install a King cruise and also have an air throttle with air powered transmission modulator. If your transmission throttle position modulator is just a cable coming off the governor of the engine that the air throttle is pushing on, you can mount the King cruise at the engine. If on the other hand you have an air powered throttle position modulator on the transmission like I do, then you'll have to mount it to the gas pedal in front. That entails making an extension plate on the gas pedal to have a short cable going to the cruise unit. If you don't do it this way and mount the King cruise on the engine when you have an air powered transmission modulator, the transmission will think you're in idle position since it won't be getting any pressure from you depressing the gas pedal and the transmission will not shift properly-in another words it will be shifting at the lowest allowed rpm, which just won't work. Good Luck, TomC
I put a King Cruise Control on my Eagle 10. I bought it used and it took a couple of days to figure it all out. I had to make a bracket for the engine for the set up. Call King if you need any help, they were great to work with. It would not be worth $1500 to have it done. It is great running down the road, I keep it on most of the time. I think King told me that they sell reconditioned ones much cheaper. Good luck.
Bob, Ihave no personal experience but take a look at Rostra Cruise control. All electric and I think quite a bit less than King.
Len
QuoteBob, Ihave no personal experience but take a look at Rostra Cruise control. All electric and I think quite a bit less than King.Len
Larry thinks that when he contacted Rostra, they said it wouldn't work for a bus. . does anyone have updated info on this product??? Christy
I bought one of the recon King Cruise units. Never regretted that. It works flawlessly, pulls the governor almost as hard as my foot will. I had to imagineer a bracket for it to pull from but that was no big deal. I wouldn't go with anything else - I've never regretted buying quality but I have often regretted skimping.
I have a Rostra on my Eagle 10, 6v92 mechanical engine. The servo cable is mounted to my gas pedal and the servo unit is mounted behind the eagle emblem inside the nose of the bus. I think I paid a bit over $200. If you have an interest, I'll dig up the invoice of where I bought it. I purchased it from a link someone posted here on the board, but that was 5 years ago.
It works fine, but sometimes drops out when climbing a hill when the servo cable bottoms out really hard and fast. I'm pleased with it and given the price compared to a King, would purchase another one.
David
I don't really need one on the 4104. Brick works great :)
Len
RTS Pete sells the Rostra, if you want to check it out. We have one and it has plenty of throttle pull. The cable needs to be clean and lubricated, but that's all.
If you want to avoid having one drop out, it needs clean turn signal and brake light switch contacts. When installing it, it's important to make sure that the servo bottoms out before the throttle does. If it is overloaded, it will just shut off.
If you don't have fast idle, the King Cruise will let you dial in a fast idle, according to some posts that I have seen.
For what it's worth.
Tom Caffrey
Hi All
Here's some info on the ROSTRA GLOBAL CRUISE CONTROL
Everything can be mounted up front for THROTTLE PULL installation (most popular bus type install)
(uses SERVO / No vacuum required)
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* Specs - Rostra Global Cruise Control 250-1223 *
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<>cable travel / pull -> 1 5/8" @ 25 to 30 lbs pull
<>Switches - Set Speed - Coast/Decelerate - Resume/ Accelerate (Tap-Up, Tap-Down, 1 MPH per tap)
<>Closer, More Accurate Control of Set Speed
<>Enhanced Adaptability
<>Selectable Speed Signal Source--> ECM, Altermator, Magnets, or Pulser (Square or Sine Wave (2000 - 38,600 pules/mile)
<>Quiet Operation Allows more Mounting Locations
<>Selectable Acceleration Rate - Selectable Gain Control - Selectable Manual or Automatic Trans.
<>Selectable Normally/Open Circuit or normally/Closed Brake circuits
<>Removable Wiring Harness with Locking Device
<>Redesigned Water Sealing
<>Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) Compatible
<>Cruise Engaged Output (Ground Signal When Engaged) -
<>Self Diagnostic
<>Easier Installation
<>No Vacuum Required - Lost Motion built into the cable
<>Smaller Module - Single Unit Mounting
<>New Connectors with Positive Contact and Lock
<>No Clutch Switch Needed (except Diesel)
<>In-Line Fuses are Closer to Module
<>VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) Wire Already in Harness
<>Additional Throttle Hardware Included in Kit
<>Compatible with Neutral Safety
<>Compatible with Distributorless Ignition Systems / Direct Fire Ignition Systems
And YES - I have a source for discounted units - give me an email - see profile for Email addy
Pete RTS/Daytona
Just ordered my King Cruise today. Main reason, I know the King cruise is available at many truck dealers and has fast idle available. According to King, it is relatively easy to hook up. Good Luck, TomC
what did the cost end up being? i don't want to cheap out, but i also have to keep peace in the family and eat.
we've got 8v92ta with the allison 740. all my cars have cruise and it is so much easier on fairly flat roads without having to watch the speedometer and cops..
i came close 3 times on my latest trip. fortunately and contrary to popular belief, ohio bears don't write up non-commercial buses doing over 55 and less than 70, thank goodness.
i need something somewhat easy to install with my mechanical abilities or else i'll have to take it down to BK's place.
My King Cruise is in and I really like it. What had to be done- I had to use an additional speed generator-King Cruise makes a through shaft that mounts in between the transmission and the existing speedo generator. Then had to run the two wires from the engine compartment to the front, but wasn't a problem since I had already run 5-3 wire extension cords just for this reason. The control box is mounted on the passenger side under the dash with the pull cable running down through the floor and back up through the floor at the top of the gas pedal. I made a plate that I bolted to the top of the pedal that the cable can run through and I can push on the pedal as needed, and the cruise can also pull down on the pedal. Besides the speed sensor on the transmission, had to run a power and ground, hook into the stop light, and then run the five wire for the on/off and increase/decrease speed switch. The only problem I had was since I have all LED rear lights, the brake lights did not create enough of a signal, so initially the cruise didn't work. Called King and they said to put a 150 ohm resister (if I remember right) grounding the brake light to create enough of a electrical draw, and it worked fine. Had to do a couple of programmings-specifically switch the on/off several times when up to 60mph to get the read on the speed. The cruise can be used as a fast idle. And it works very well at keeping the speed at which you set it. Just love it. It cost around $475.00, but since it is made for trucks, is truly a heavy duty unit. Good Luck, TomC
almost everything you said was ok, except the
"additional speed generator-King Cruise makes a through shaft that mounts in between the transmission and the existing speedo generator"
does that mean taking the transmission down and re-doing the connection to the engine? i know that sounds like a really dumb question, but laugh later, explain now please.
you said most truck parts and repair shops sell it. like i could buy it from someone on the board also?
thanks for the info, TomC. your posts are almost always helpful after i research more and translate it to my level. ;)
On the speed generator-there are several ways that are used for speedometer sensing-like a revolution counter on the front wheels, a revolution counter on the drive shaft, or a speed generator like I have. Since I have a V drive, everything is right there to work on. At the rear end of the Allison transmission is where the speedo generator is. It is about 2 inches long and about 1.5" in diameter-looks like a small electric motor. King Cruise said that these small generators usually do not put out enough power for the cruise control to pick up the signal. So I put an additional one in just for the cruise control. First I removed the original speedo generator, then mount the cruise speed generator and then the speedo generator mounts on top of that. Relatively simple installation-took about 30 minutes to do the whole job of changing the speed generators around. Everything stays in place. In your case would have to crawl into the engine to access the back (what faces the furthest forward on the bus) of the transmission. I bought mine directly from King Cruise. Good Luck, TomC
i totally dislike getting that far under the bus since an eagle bottom is like right in my face. i know its safer cause we'd have to blow at least 3 tires, but it sure seems close.
i'll let you know what i find and thanks for the explanation.
Hi
The Rostra Global Cruise Controls are normally connected by "TAPPING" into the input sender wire of the Speedometer.
Another alternative is "TAPPING" into the VSS sensor pulse on the transmission tail-shaft sender.
When there is no Front wheel sensor or speedo cable driven pulser available - Rostra has available a $25 unit that can be mounted on the drive shaft to count magnet pulse passing a pickup coil.
I've never had a problem "TAPPING" into any of the Vehicle speed sensor outputs.
The Rostra has a selectable switch which can be set for either
"ELECTRONIC TYPE PULSES - (pulses that tend to have sharp transitions and swing from ground-like ECM/Computer/Hall Effects)
or
MAGNETIC TYPE PULSES- Pulses that tend to have a sinewave shape and swing above and below round level - like magnetic pickups)
Typically the Rostra is mounted all "up front" - and controls the speed by a simple cable attached to the Throttle Pedal.
Pete RTS/Daytona
One very important thing about installing the King Cruise Control.
There is a flexible wire control between the cruise control box and the connection point on the throttle. I do not know the name of this type of control but it is like a miniature spring about 1/4 inch in diameter. Going thru the center of this is the actuator cable that actually moves the throttle. This spring is lined with a plastic of some kind so that the cable inside slides smoothly.
I found that if this control cable is placed near or run past a hot surface, like a manifold, the plastic will get hot and melt. Believe me it took a long time to discover why my cruise would suddenly quit working after I had been driving for a period of time. And each time I had a problem I had to replace the control cable as it would stick in one position after it got hot and then cooled down.
I guess, needless to say, some insulating material around the control cable solved the problem.
Richard