Tranny Retarder switch/lever problem (Alli B500R)

[mikelutestanski]

Hello   
  I use my retarder in hills because it is what I have.  I try to keep to the posted speed early on and if possible let the retarder slow me down 5 miles under posted then let off to give it a rest.
the temperature lags behind a bit. but usually only takes a few minutes to get back to normal. I do have a retarder foot switch to activate the retarder separately or the retarder will come on with the brake pedal.

   A question i have is when it rains do you turn the retarder off? the literature suggests you turn it off but why?  Will the bus go into a skid if the retarder comes on with a wet road?

  I stand corrected.... on the other stuff..   
   
     Regards   mike

[luvrbus]

Retarders or exhaust brakes where about the only option the L 10 mechanical engine had Cummins didn't want Jakes on the L-10, I have a terrible time rounding up parts from a M-11 to install Jakes on the L-10 and try my best to talk the L-10 owners out of it.FWIW Jake says not to use their Jake's in wet, rain,snow or icy conditions when present on roads   

[LuckyChow]

FWIW, we do not switch off our retarders when it rains.  This is in regular transit service.  The switch to turn them off is not accessible to the driver while in the driver seat.  If they are switched off, there is a small indicator light outside the bus that will activate, telling supervisory personnel (and shop) the retarder is switched off. 

None of our MCI fleet (oldest are 2003's) have Jakes on the 12.7 Series 60.  The B-500's all have retarders.  In our application, everything is mostly flat here.   

[luvrbus]

You cannot even order a DD13,DD15,DD16 or any of the Cummins ISX engines without a Jake now they are integrated into the engine same with the Volvo engine it must be a DOT thing

[Dirtball]

I avoid retarder application in the rain if the bus is not pointed straight or the road is off camber.  Retarder or Jake application changes your brake bias.   I have never rotated (oversteered) my bus. I have seen the European training video with bus drivers practicing oversteer correction on a wet track. I have spun street cars, open and closed wheel race cars, but prefer to busdrive within the limits of adhesion.   My B500R retards to the second position (lets call it 20%) with brake application. I do not turn the retarder switch to OFF in the rain- I am OK with the 20% , I do avoid pulling the lever back to 60-100%.  In dry conditions, I use the retarder constantly . I do watch my tranny temp gauge and pulse the retarder as needed.  I have yet to sound the overtemp alarm, but do pin the needle in the red at times. 
   Does anyone know why , when I run the bus air, as soon as it is turned on, the  coolant temp and tranny temps jump higher?  As soon as the AC is turned off they jump back to cooler numbers .

[Dirtball]

RETARDER  IS REPAIRED :  not the solenoid, not the lever, not the cable........it was the little dust boot at the base of the retarder  joystick. It was just stiff from being old and because it was tight to the base flange it pulled the joystick back.  The fix put a smile on the shop guys face. Sounds like a first for them and they have 20 plus D models of my era with retarders.  Three years of driving with one hand is over, I couldn't coast without pushing the lever forward.    Pass the word to anyone you know with that joystick.