Throttle cable on MCI MC-5C

[bevans6]

I am here  to tell you that removing the throttle cable from a 31 year old MC-5C is a total and complete PITA.  I suspect replacing it with a new one will be about the same bundle o'fun, only with new stuff to bleed on. 

Just sharing...   

Brian

[Just Dallas]

Brian,

Consider swapping out the cable throttle for a Williams Air throttle.

Spendy, yes, but you'll have a lot fewer problems over the years.

I have the contraption for the governor if you only want to buy the actuator.

I payed $25+ shipping... you can have it for the same, but you might want to pick it up in the US and save customs charges.

[bevans6]

Hi Dallas, thank you.  I asked about that a couple of times here, and the consensus opinion was yes for an automatic, no for a Spicer 8844.  the reason given was that the slight delay in an air throttle made the shifting of the beast more problematic than it already is...

I got it out, so first half is done.  The little clevis pin at the front end had rusted in solid and there is no room in there for implements of persuasion...   I have a local aircraft place that can make one up in a day or two.  So far so good...

Brian

[Just Dallas]

I agree.. if you are of the double clutch persuasion. I grew up floating gears from the age of 11. I've had to double clutch on a couple of engine/transmission combos, but once I learned the foibles, I could shift just fine.

(BTW, BW, I have never, ever, ever torn out a clutch and my last two trucks had the same clutch as when I bought them, I sold one with over 840,000 miles and it had the original clutch from when it was new. Floating gears doesn't take out clutches... Cowboy drivers take out clutches).

Hi Dallas, thank you.  I asked about that a couple of times here, and the consensus opinion was yes for an automatic, no for a Spicer 8844.  the reason given was that the slight delay in an air throttle made the shifting of the beast more problematic than it already is...

I got it out, so first half is done.  The little clevis pin at the front end had rusted in solid and there is no room in there for implements of persuasion...   I have a local aircraft place that can make one up in a day or two.  So far so good...

Brian

[bevans6]

That Spicer is the only gearbox I have ever driven that I couldn't float the gears.  Only one, ever.  Now it had a fried pilot bearing in the flywheel so that may have affected that, but I've decided to dedicate myself to double clutching it after I got a close look at the engagement mechanism inside the gearbox.  I have no doubt that people CAN float the gears, many say they do with that gearbox, but for me the engagement teeth are too small.  I would be SO PO'd if I had to rebuild that gearbox...

Brian

[RJ]

Brian -

Altho I wrote that article on shifting over on BNO, I left out a lot, too.  The intent was to keep folk from having to rebuild their gearboxes, thus the admonition to use the clutch and double-clutch your shifts.

However. . .

I did a lot of float gear changes, mostly upshifts, on all of the popular coach brands in the late 60s thru the 90s.  Sometimes I'd float it out of gear, with a single clutch to drop into the next higher, sometimes a full float, sometimes double clutch regardless.  It all depended on the coach, it's gearbox, it's shift linkage condition, driving conditions, and, of course, OSOM (Operator's State Of Mind).

So it can be done on your 8844 Spicer - but it does take a good "feel" for what's happening. 

I think you'll find, after you get quite a few miles under your belt with this new powertrain, that floating it out of gear at the governor, with a single clutch to drop into the next higher slot, will become the most comfortable way to upshift.

Stick to the double-clutch downshift, especially when pulling grades - much easier on the whole powertrain.

Make sense?

FWIW & HTH. . .

[luvrbus]

I learn to drive on 5 speeds with a 4 speed auxiliary transmission my dad's trucks were all that setup except his little B-61 Macks they were triplex gear boxes and were fun to drive I used the clutch when stopped and starting only, a 4 speed only would be a walk in the park.
I bet it would a tough job today to find a young driver that could drive a 5 and 4 with all the auto stuff out now lol

good luck