Jakes for an 8V71N

[TomC]

Last summer we took (in California) from highway 395 near the Nevada border, 89 (Monitor Pass) over one set of mountains, then Highway 4 (which had a big sign that said the highway was not recommended for vehicles over 25ft and with some 28% grades) down to Angels Camp in the San Juaquin Valley.  Two things I'm very thankful of having-one is the turbocharger-I know I would have gotton stuck on a couple of the switch backs with the natural engine, and two having the Jake Brakes-which coming down 8% grades, and holding the V730 in 1st (the torque converter will lock up in 1st if you pull the shifter down into 1st) which allowed safe decent without much use of the brakes. 
If you're going anywhere west of Interstate 25, you need Jake Brakes on your buses.  Remember, when these buses were in service, they were mainly on interstates with a maximum of 6% grades.  And coming down a grade at 65mph, the wind resistance will pretty much take care of the speed.  But not if you're winding around on some goat trail in the high mountains.  Good Luck, TomC

[JackConrad]

with some 28% grades 
Good Luck, TomC

28% grades?  Now that is one steep road  Jack

[bobofthenorth]

Looks like a fun drive.

[luvrbus]

To make it simple 28% is a 28 foot rise every 100 ft I doubt if I could climb it on foot LOL  



good luck

[ojgetaway32]

How do I get a hold of Don Fairchild?

Josh

[Lin]

Okay, so if I am reading the chart right, the first climb is about 3300 feet over about 9 miles making it around a 7% grade.

[bobofthenorth]

Lin there's probably stretches in there that are considerably more exciting than the average but I agree, 28% sounds a little extreme.  I don't know if I could climb 28% but I know for sure I wouldn't dare try pulling a shift on that steep a grade.

[Dreamscape]

John, I sent you a PM with Don's phone numbers.

Paul

[Lin]

Also, at those altitudes a naturally aspirated engine will be gasping for oxygen anyway.

[TomC]

The 28% grades happened for a few yards at switch backs (if I remember, about 4 of them).  Otherwise it was maybe around 8-10% grades.  Needless to say, I won't do it in the bus again, but it would be a spectacular drive in a convertible or a motorcycle. 

Bob-that's a great graph-where did you get it from?  Good Luck, TomC

[Hobe]

I can help you cheap Fred North Florida Bus Conversion. Call 850 929 40 21

[akroyaleagle]

One thing I don't see addressed here is:

If you have an allison the transmission will go out of lockup about 15 mph and the Jakes will no longer work until you get above lockup speed again.

This is pretty scary when you're low on air, out of lockup and in the switch backs.

Personal experience and I assure you that you will be able to snip buggy washers from your special place.

[luvrbus]

Thats when you need the lockup switch on a Allison, I had one when I lived in Idaho also it cost me a flex plate one time when I forgot to turn it off. 


good luck

[bobofthenorth]

Bob-that's a great graph-where did you get it from? 

Its called GPS Visualizer.  All I did was set up your route on google maps and plug in the url to the google map but there's other options for the serious GPS fanatic.

[pvcces]

Thanks for that bit, Bob. I think we just might get some use out of it.

Tom Caffrey