Jake brakes

[Cary and Don]

Hi all,  A dumb question.  If you are putting jakes on a 6V92, do you put them all on one side, the side you can get to on a 4107?  Or do you have to put them on both sides?  No fun at all.  Cary

[NJT 5573]

Cary, If you put them on one side you would have jakes on 3 cylinders. If you put them on both sides you would have them on all 6 cylinders. A Jake on a Detroit is alot like dragging your foot, but if you are unsure of your self or your bus it can't hurt. The majority of bus companys run coast to coast and border to border without Jakes 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I have to hold a lot of speed (compared to a truck), going down a long hill like the Grapevine in my Eagle to properly use the service brakes. If anything it has too much brake on it to begin with.

[TomC]

I'm and X truck driver and well versed in the operation of Jake brakes. THEE very first thing I did to the bus before I brought it home was to have a the jake brake installed.  I have a 8V-71 with V drive.  When the Jakes were adjusted by someone who really doesn't know too much, when I would come down the north bound I-5 Grapevine (6% for 5 miles) pulling my car (34,750lbs total) I would have to tap the brakes about 5 times to keep the speed in check.  Now after Don Fairchild adjusted them (precision adjustment by a very long time Detroit mechanic), when I come down the Grapevine again with my car, I have to switch the Jake back and forth between 2 heads and 1 head since it actually slows down too much.  Don't ever let anyone tell you that a Jake on a 2 stroker doesn't work well-you just don't have anyone to adjust them correctly.  Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

TomC, how do you deal with all the areas that prohibit engine brakes?  Do you just ignore the signs?  One of the steepest grades I personally go down is I80 into Salt Lake city and they prohibit engine brakes there.

I probably should get my Jakes adjusted just to be sure they are working at peak capacity on my Series 60.

[Utahclaimjumper]

Belfert, I think its all a mater of your muffler, when I apply my jakes you cant tell because of a very good muffler on my 06.>>>Dan

[TomC]

Belfert- There are mufflers made to tame the Jake brake racket.  Unfortunately, the main reason Jakes are prohibited in some areas is from the Einsteins that run straight pipes and think it's fun to raddle windows.

On the SLC grade on I-80, I got into the habit of NOT going that way.  As example, if you are coming east on I-80 from Nevada, when I get near SLC I would take I-215 north to I-15 north towards Ogden.  Then watch the signs as you have to take Riverdale Rd (I think) to connect up with I-84 east that takes you back to I-80 east into Wyoming (course do it backwards for westbound).  It is about 25 miles further, you completely miss going through SLC, AND it is almost completely flat-avoiding that long steep grade on the east side of SLC on I-80.  The 25 miles extra are a nice drive and believe me you'll quickly agree with me that it is much easier on both you, the bus and your fuel/brake bill.  Good Luck, TomC

[prevost82]

I know a few people that have been ticketed for using their Jakes in areas that prohibit engine brakes. They had good muffers so the noise was not excessive they fought the ticket on the grounds that the Jakes are part of the breaking system or to put it another way, a safety system on the vehicle and a city bylaw can't mandate a safety system on a vehicle ... they won.

I think my Harley is louder than the Jakes on the bus ..... I know the wife's Harley is ... LOL

[NJT 5573]

I think the 20 Eagle did it best.(Probably the same on MCI). The retarder is progressive and applied thru the treddle valve.  An experienced professional driver with a Jake will turn it off in freezing and rainy weather and keep his brakes warm, dry and ready ALL the time. If a less experienced driver drives thru a rain storm and uses his Jake to control his speed has to make a quick stop, he's screwed. Wet cold brakes won't stop at all for several hundred feet.(You gotta dry them out first). The treddle valve/retarder method improves a drivers chances of having warm dry brakes at all times and will put about 10 times the stopping power to the drive tires at any time vrs a Jake. A good 4 stroke Jake will do a fair job with a 105,000 lb load. A 2 stroke Jake is like dragging your foot with 105,000 lbs. My 350 Detroit truck doesn't run Ca. or I'd take Mr. Fairchild up on his superior adjustment knowledge. A Jake and a retarder are both very nice to have on your equiptment, but if your foundation brakes are properly maintained and you don't have a driver error, foundation brakes will take you anywhere and back. I know, I been there done that!