Adding King Cruise to Air Throttle

[TomC]

Even though my air throttle on my bus is very easy to push, I still wanted a cruise control.  I chose the King Cruise since it is used by many truckers in the past.  King suggests mounting the control box right near the engine and having it control the governor directly.  Problem is with an air throttle, just pulling the governor bypasses the air operated Allison automatic throttle modulator.  My solution is I mounted the King Cruise control box on the passenger side under the windshield with the control cable going down through the floor, then looping back up through the floor just under the gas pedal.  I made a metal extension on the pedal at the top with a larger hole then the cable so the cable could slide when I'm gassing with my foot.  Then with the cruise control, it pulls down on the gas pedal directly to control the speed.  Works well, and I can also use the cruise control for fast idle. Good Luck, TomC

[Gary '79 5C]

TomC,

Great Job to adapt the unit to your needs !! Many items on my bus I have worked on, and others I have gone thru understanding the operation, while it works, for that on the side of the road, when it does not....

Now if only I can get the cruise operational on my '83 MB.....

[luvrbus]

FWIW the King comes with instructions now to mount to pedal also they finally gave up and said it was ok lol

[TomC]

Gary-I understand your frustrations with the MB cruise control.  I have an '84 300 turbodiesel (with only 388,000mi-no overhaul yet) and the cruise can be expensive.  The speedo cable has to be lubed properly.  I can't use mine when it is under 65 degrees since it surges when cold.  But-since I live in L.A.-how often can you use the cruise anyway?  Good Luck, TomC

[Melbo]

That is what I had to do with my L10 --- much simpler really because you don't need to run the wires all the way to the back of the bus for the control unit.

Melbo

[Hard Headed Ken]

TomC

That's the way I did mine on my 4104 many years ago, last time I spoke with the current owner it was still working fine.

Ken

[gus]

Tom,

Tell me more about the air modulator on the Allison.

I don't think my V730 has one, this may be the reason it has some strange operation characteristics?

[gus]

Tom,

It is beginning to appear that I don't have a V730, it sounds more and more like a VS2-8?

[TomC]

Gus-here's a picture of a V730.  The VS2-8 will have a smaller housing with many bolts holding it together.  The VS2-8 will shift 1st converter, 2nd lockup, 3rd lockup with no control of gears.  The V730 will shift 1st conveter, 2nd converter, 2nd lockup, 3rd lockup with a shifter that is R-N-3-2-1.  Good Luck, TomC

[hargreaves]

Hi Tom , how long did it take for you to install the King Cruise?  Just traveled across the country and my Knee definitely needs a break.

[uncle ned]

Tom  Is the charge air cooler in front of your radiator.

If so how did you get your fan so close to the engine.

I am trying to place one on my 04. Right now I was looking to place it on the passenger side.
But i have my trans. cooler there.

Not much room in a 04.

uncle ned

[TomC]

Hargreaves-I had to add a speedometer generator.  King cruise makes a through drive model-so you take off the original speedometer generator from the transmission, mount the King cruise generator, then the original speedometer generator mounts on top of the King Cruise generator.  You have to run two wires from the engine compartment up to the driver's compartment.  I also had to put a 100ohm resistor in line of the brake light switch since I have LED lights that don't pull enough amps for the King Cruise to sense.  Other then that it was pretty straight forward.  Pretty much took two days to install with the bus up on blocks in the front to run the cable.

Uncle Ned- My AMGeneral transit was made in both 96" and 102" wide versions.  With the 102" version, they basically kept the engine in the same place but moved over to the right.  So I have about 6" in front of the radiator for the air to air.  AMGeneral also with the B model mounted the A/C condenser in front of the radiator (which didn't work well-overheated the engine), so the bolts holes for the condenser were there that I used to mount the air to air.  Was relatively easy-just had to have the intercooler custom made (which was about $750.00).  Good Luck, TomC

[hargreaves]

i have a front wheel sensor for my speedo, will it work if I tap into that line?

[luvrbus]

Yep they have unit just for that

good luck

[hargreaves]

Thanks guys, I ordered it and will install in Kalamazoo and test it out on the way Home.