Jake brakes 8v71

[digesterman]

Steve I know exactly how you feel, jakes AND a tranny retarder isn't enough sometimes.
Followed my GPS two days ago and ended up on old hwy 49 driving between Placerville and Auburn Ca, in my 45' coach, all the brakes in the world wouldn't have helped me much considering this "hwy", and I use the term loosely, was evidently made originally for sure footed pack burros and hasn't been improved in the last 150 years.

[digesterman]

Sorry for double post, can't delete it on tapatalk I guess.

[luvrbus]

? did a GM ever have have Jake's from the factory I installed a few on GM but the owners have to butcher the tail gate I won't do it but they love their Jake's and will cut the tail gate for the Jake's and if they want 2 stage brake they run the wire for it I don't like wasting wire  

Eagles are a pain also till you get into the late 80's the passengers side is a real PITA you see the older Eagles with Jake's on the drivers side only if they make you feel safer go for it  

The problem with Jake's on a 2 stroke is oil pressure one has to keep the rpm up for Jake's to work,then if you have the 740 it free wheels in 1st gear and the 600 series they free wheel in 1st and 2nd gear,then you start looking for a converter lock up valve for the transmissions another 4 or 5 hundred bucks  uys

Some fool with the adjustment Don Fairchild my good friend says it helps I set the the Jake's with the Jake gauge 

Just for the hell of it I priced out a new set of Jake's from WW.William for a 8V Detroit for you guys 7600 bucks less installation and wiring  LOL I still remember back 10 or 12 years ago with this Jake craze started on these boards everyone wanted Jake's

[chessie4905]

   Definitely useful an an 04 since they have the smaller brakes. Does the 4106 have the larger brakes of the 4905? You can do fine without them if you use the advice about going down in same gear as climbing. Also, you should have a tachometer to make sure you aren't overspeeding the engine. But,..... let's say you are starting to descend a long steep grade or mountain, unaware that one of your rear axle seals started leaking some miles ago and you didn't know it? Add inexperience from a newer driver. I don't know. If we hadn't sold the 4104, I would have installed them on it for sure, as that scenario happened to us up in Maine on a trip at the bottom of a steep exit ramp. Coach stopped, but not well. One rear wheel seal let go and it really effected stopping ability. I learned years ago from my father who drove trucks back during WW2 about the proper braking and gear selection of a heavy vehicle on grades, and have never had problems yet. But, like they say, #@*% happens. What about the younger conversion drivers with have little or no clue about proper use of brakes on a heavy vehicle? I vote for them for me. YRMV

[TomC]

Being an old trucker (21yrs, 1.3 million miles)-the first thing I did to the bus before even bringing it home was to have Jakes installed. Everyone says that a Jake on a 8V-71 is useless. After Don Fairchild adjusts them, I can come down the 6% north bound 5mi grade of the I-5 Grapevine pulling my car at nearly 35,000lbs and still have to switch between one and both heads on the Jake brake to keep from slowing down too much. And living in California, I'm in the mountains all the time. I have a V730. If you pull the trans down to first, you'll get lockup in first-down to 20mph (both decelerating and accelerating to go up a long grade). I have gone over passes (highway 4) in first gear all the way up, then in first down with Jake brake. I can't imagine not having a working Jake brake. Course, my transit also has the largest drum brakes available which helps.

If you have a lightweight bus (under 30,000lbs), you could get away with no Jake. But you'll be much more at ease driving with one. There's a real good reason most all Diesels now have Jakes built into them standard from the factory. Good Luck, TomC

[billy6941]

I just had my first trip to Eagle, Alaska, the end of August, in a 2008 J4500.I would not want to make that trip in this coach without jakes......Bill

[luvrbus]

Com'on guys you are starting to compare the 4 strokes to the 2 strokes with Jake's now this guy has a 8v71 and probably highway gears

Don't try Don's adjustment at home he knows what cam ,valves are in the engine and which control valve,big pad or small pad,mater slave and fork assembly in the housing you can put a valve through a piston fast by not knowing   

[Beesme]

Well that opened can of worms haha, I'm still gonna have to see . I do have many miles under my belt and plenty of thinking head of time . Have never had prob with mountains in northern n.h.maine and Vermont all narrow windy and some 15% and up . I have never been west of Minnesota so hearing bout these mountains out there makes me think of my passengers uno . Maybe not a problem I'm just careful (sometimes) my wife wouldn't agree ! You oughta see me on my 110 ci screaming eagle goad glide ...nother story . But still curious bout jakes .. Maybe I just like the sound haha thanx everyone it's all great advise I like all sides stay safe all I hope to meet up one day!

[Beesme]

Haha that was miles not lies haha

[RJ]

Bruce -

Back when they were in revenue service, Greyhound ran these all over the USA without Jakes.  That's also back in the days when Greyhound's training classes taught the drivers how to "drive" the coach, not simply "stab 'n steer" like today's dog jockeys.

You've mentioned the speed bumps you call mountains back in your neck of the woods - how about I-80 WB from Reno, NV to Sacramento, CA.  That highway's got 70 MILES of continuous 4, 5 and 6% grades, enough to challenge ANY heavy vehicle's brakes.

When I worked charters, a fully loaded (45 passengers + luggage) MC-9 with a 6V92/HT-740 Jake-equipped powertrain would hold a steady 60-62 mph all the way down the hill without ever having to touch the brakes, as did the 8V71 models.  That also meant that the brakes stayed cool, thus providing some additional safety margin compared to the folks with much warmer shoes & drums.

That same drive with either the manual, non-Jake 4106s or 4905s in the fleet meant dropping off Donner Summit on that highway in 3rd, hovering between 40-45 mph and having to use the brakes to keep it in that range.  No heavy braking, just light control only.  By the time you got just below Auburn where I-80 levels out, you could definitely feel the difference in the warmer brakes.

Thus for me, as a SAFETY feature, I vote for a Jake brake - especially for those who did not spend any time in the HD vehicle industry.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[RobSedona]

I would go for the Jakes if you can. Thats on my fix it list they are installed but not working LOL

[luvrbus]

Jakes can be another high maintenance item on a 2 stroke if you drive a lot of miles you have o-ring,solenoids,jumper tubes,buffer switches and clips that break they are not just plug and play.

RJ mention 4905 I didn't think GM ever offered Jakes.The MCI 8 was the first for MCI,Eagle the 10 in the 80's was their first.

Buy the Jakes from some one you know and trust the Ebay sellers will sale you junk and it can get expensive rebuilding and make sure you get all the parts.

Just a suggestion never by the Jakes with 71 stamped on the housing buy the 71/92 stamped housing the 71 housing need to be set so loose for clearance they don't do much. Keep track of the cost it will surprise you at the final cost for Jakes buying the fuel lines valve cover gaskets and the 4 bolts with the new rubbers seals at DD will make you have the BIG one ;  

[Dave5Cs]

Lee,
I am still thinking about you driving a 45 footer on 49. That's my neck of the woods. I have a friend who lives in Cool, CA. I always tell him yep we will come up but not bringing the Bus. Auburn to Cool don't know how you did that one. Even the turn onto the Bridge is tight for a 45 ftr. then the twisty climb next to the American River. I have come up through Rescue and that's much better.

Dave5Cs

[wg4t50]

luvrbus sure nailed that one, I was lucky to get the 71/92 setup and the 71 bridges, bought the overhaul kits for the 8V, new jumpers and the tools, was able to have a great working setup, always very particular on settings & clearances.  When put them on the 92, bought the new bridges, all worked great too.  Hell still have (1) 6-71 cast aluminum valve cover, Non Jake from the 12V sperience. Anyone want it, (FREE, come & get it) have the mounting hardware for it, will need a new seal gasket.
Dave M

[RJ]

RJ mention 4905 I didn't think GM ever offered Jakes.

Clifford -

None of the GMs in the fleet had Jakes except one, the last 4905 they bought.  That Jake was retrofitted by the shop, it didn't come OEM.

FWIW & HTH. . .