Adding Cruise Control

[BusMom]

Well we just got back from taking the coach on it's first trip to Port Aransas Texas and have decided that before our next long trip we need to add cruise control to the coach.  Actually after I got behind the wheel for my first trip as pilot of the coach I told Scott that we were going to have to add cruise control.  After looking at some of the past posts I just wanted to check and see if anyone with a GM 4905 had added a Rostra cruise control to their rig?  If so did it work okay, and do you have any tips for installing it.  Or do you suggest a diffrent brand?

[Jerry Liebler]

I believe you'll have to supply the cruise with 12 volt power.  I have a Rostra installed on my 4107 which is very similar to your 4905 but 12 volt.  I have the stock mechanical accelerator and have the cruise unit pulling the stock pedal with a small pulley mounted on the floor.  I found that I had to use a spring with a little less return force on the pedal.  I have an electric speedometer that I use for road speed input. I'm still experimenting with the DIP switch settings but it does work, all be it a little sloppy in closely holding speed on hills (I do better driving without cruise).
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

[TomC]

Since I have an air throttle with the Allison V730, I had to connect my King Cruise to the gas pedal.  Since the Allison has an air throttle controlled shift modulator, you can't connect the cruise control to the engine, or else the transmission will not get the pedal position.  I can tell you that the King Cruise works great-wished I installed it alot sooner.  Good LUck, TomC

[Runcutter]

We have a 4107, and I drove 4905's back when they were new.  The reason I'm wondering why you want cruise control is to, possibly, suggest an option.  If the answer to "why" is that your throttle requires too much pressure, and is tiring, you might read below.  If that's not it, as Emily Litella used to say, "Never Mind." 

Our 4107 has the original cable/rod throttle, and original stick.  Yes, after a full day, my right leg has felt the weight of the throttle spring, and cruise control is tempting.  We recently had everything lubed by a charter operator (Maint. Supt. used to own a 4107 and 4903, so they know what to do).  The throttle pressure now seems better, but I haven't had it out on a long run yet.

Another option may be an air throttle.  When I was instructing, we went from cable to air throttles.  Unfortunately, the first year of the air throttle made those two buses impossible to shift, so I'd never use them in training, and I wouldn't drive them unless I had to.  Later years were better.  If you have an automatic, then an air throttle may be a more cost-effective solution for you.  My experience leaves me skittish about putting an air throttle on our stick, but I think others have added air throttles to stick shifts.

If none of this is helpful, again, never mind.  On the other hand, lube of the cable throttle, or substituting an air throttle may be cheaper options to consider.  I'd also propose another thought.  Since I travel for a living, I'm often in a rental car.  Using cruise control, in an unfamilar vehicle, and unfamiliar territory, sometimes actually adds a little excitement - trying to quickly change speeds to allow traffic to merge, without hitting the brake and confusing a following driver, can be a challenge.  For our coach, I like having the full, immediate (well, almost) fine speed control that comes from the foot throttle.

Arthur 

[redbus]

I want cruise control also.At the end of the day it is hard for this old man to stand up and walk. By the way we love Port A.

[Jerry32]

I put the rostra on mine and so far have not been able to get it to work. While is bags only four connextions the deception here is that there are many ground conecctionss and about three power conections. The switch that came with it had very small wires ( #22 or #24) and way to short to get where I needed them. My smallest splice connectors were #20 useing amp crimping tools but had to splice these wires to get them longer. Why they would use such small wires in a harness seems ridiculous so I think i shud have got a king. Jerry

[TomC]

I drove 1.3 million miles over the road truck driving without a cruise control.  On my bus, the air throttle has a very light pressure that doesn't get your foot tired at all.  Even with all that, I'm extremely tickled to death to have my King Cruise on now since on long stretches of just cruising can set it and just enjoy aiming the bus down the road, instead of constantly watching the speedo-which is very important when pulling a car in California.  Plus any Diesel prefers constant rpm-in my case 1850rpm is 58mph where I cruise-a very happy speed for the engine (Detroit rated the 71 and 92 series at 1800rpm for continuous output).  I now consider the King Cruise to be a necessity not a luxury and even though more expensive has the nice feature of being able to use it for fast idle to warm up.  Good Luck, TomC

[Sam 4106]

Hi Folks,
We have had a King cruise on our 4106 for many years and I believe it has paid for itself in fuel savings. I can't document that claim for the bus, but I have documented the difference between cruise and no cruise in the car. The cruise not only saved gas but I'm sure has saved us from getting speeding tickets. As Tom points out, keeping the engine at a constant speed is good. In the midwest, where roads are often relatively level, it is easy to maintain constant speed with the bus. The main reason I got the cruise control was to relieve the strain, and the pain, on my right leg. For that alone, the cost was worth it.
Good luck, Sam 4106

[RTS/Daytona]

Send me a private message with your email address - I sell Rostra Global Cruise controls (mostly at The Bussin 200X rallies) - And have a special data sheet / hints and tips that I provide for bus installations - I'll send you a copy

Pete RTS/Data

[David Anderson]

I've got a Rostra on my Eagle 10 and am happy with it.  I did have to splice wires to make the harness longer without much difficulty.  I used the magnet sensor on the drive shaft for speed input.   I lost the magnet on rough icy roads during Christmas, but found three more digging through my hardware bag of leftover parts.  The servo is attached to my gas pedal and easily serviced by removing the Eagle emblem on the front bumper area of the coach.  You can mount it just about anywhere near the foot pedal.

Pete RTS/Daytona will get you fixed up.  He is the man to talk to.

David

[bobofthenorth]

My experience with cruise control has been that I don't get speeding tickets when I have cruise control.  That goes a long way toward paying for a good cruise on every vehicle I own.

YMMV

[BusMom]

Thank you everyone for all of your great input.  I am so glad that we have a forum that we can go to if we have a question regarding our bus (and I have a lot of them).  If any of you are ever traveling through Oklahoma you are welcome to stop by and say Hi we would love to see you.

[gus]

My 4104 cruise control is the original hand throttle. It is cheap and reliable. It also demands quite a bit of attention which, in my opinion, keeps me from ever getting sleepy. I drive all day and never get sleepy but when I drive my minivan on cruise control I always get sleepy after about 3-4 hrs.

I've learned just where to set it for different situations and since the acceleration is so slow I can set it when I first get to fourth gear and just about hit the exact speed I want every time, all it takes is a little practice.

Some may think the hand throttle is unsafe but mine can easily be pushed in instantly. It does have holding notches on one side of the shaft but if the handle is turned over these notches no longer catch.

Because of a rubbing nerve problem I wouldn't be able to drive my 4104 for long trips if I didn't have the hand throttle or a cruise control. The advantage to me over a CC is that the hand throttle doesn't try to add power for a hill and overfuel. Bus CCs may not do this, I've never used one, but auto CCs will go to full throttle trying to pull a hill.