Jake brakes 8v71

Beesme · September 10, 2014, 04:40:47 PM

I have been doing some research on jakes . I am trying to find out worth the money or not ? The mtns around here are no problem. We do have some high grades 15% but there not miles long . I am planning on out west travels and have some concerns . Should I have them and is it worth the investment on an 8v71.Or just be careful and not be so concerned ? Thanx for all the advice so far!

luvrbus · September 10, 2014, 04:48:43 PM

this will get you 101 answers

harleyman_1000 · September 10, 2014, 04:57:18 PM

I bought my 4104 in Phoenix and came back to St. Louis via the Rocky mountains. I have a 6v92, with a 5 speed automatic transmission. I was going up and down 10,000 foot passes without my jakes working. I just downshifted to slow down 95% of the time, with no problems other than the line of angry cars behind me.

Lin · September 10, 2014, 05:26:29 PM

just brought the bus home from Idyllwild CA today with a total of about a 7000 ft descent. I kept thinking over and over again how wonderful Jakes are. If the question is can you do without them, yes you can. You can do without lots of great things like air conditioning, heat, internet, auto transmissions, teeth, and several fingers and toes, so also you can do without auxiliary braking. However, if the question is whether they will vastly increase safety and make your drive far less stressful, then you should get them. Do truckers do without auxiliary braking? I wonder why that is!

luvrbus · September 10, 2014, 05:51:27 PM

Truckers are at 80,000 lbs and have a 4 stroke engine and most are built into the engine from the factory and work with the transmission they are not driving a 30,000 bus with a 2 stroke and paying some one 2500 bucks to install Jakes on a old engine that ran across the US before Jakes were even around I have plenty if he needs a set

Most buses use a retarder transmission not Jakes

Lin · September 10, 2014, 07:12:27 PM

That's why I mentioned auxiliary braking instead of exclusively Jakes. Anyway, as I understand it, before Jakes you would just pull on the reins and yell, "Whooo"!

Boomer · September 10, 2014, 07:44:27 PM

Try going off Sylvan Pass in Yellowstone or White Bird in Idaho with a 60 year old bus with worn and mal adjusted brakes and inexperienced driver. You may change your mind about wanting jakes.

luvrbus · September 10, 2014, 07:55:04 PM

Jakes are alright but not necessary on the light weight 35 ft buses all he needs to remember is come down in the same gear he used to get there and spend the money on fuel

My Eagle was heavy and 40 ft with 2 stage Jakes very seldom I ever used the Jakes unless I wanted to hear the sound in a tunnel or walled pass and we were all over the country it's his choice not mine if he would feel more secure I say go for it

None of the early L 10 Cummins in buses or trucks had Jakes they were not made for the early L10. Cummins did not want Jake's they would bend the rods

LOL just read your post Mark with those problems one has no business being on Sylvan Pass it is a little steep but I done it in my MCI 5 with no Jake brakes and a 644 Allison of all things with no lock up in 1st and 2nd it was a lot easier in the Trek with the 6.5 and no Jakes this summer

eagle19952 · September 10, 2014, 09:10:56 PM

Pick a pass pick a grade, Alaska, the Yukon Territory, Northwest Territory, British Columbia, Idaho, The Tetons, Yosemite to Lee Vining,Utah and many more...with an Allison.and a 5000lb trailer with no brakes hooked up.
And own a set of jakes... they're in a box, wrapped in oily rags.
I keep my brakes in very good condition.
I would not hesitate to do it again.
Wanna buy some jakes

Seriously with a standard gear box they are not needed IMO.
Do like Harly..slow down and see the sights massage the brakes and stay sensible.
97 answers to go...
PS I use Delo 100 and Rotella oil

sdc53 · September 10, 2014, 09:37:56 PM

I find them useful, but I have an automatic trans with no retarder. Rolling on down the hill, grab 2nd in the 730 and flip on the jakes sure helps reduce the pucker factor.

pabusnut · September 11, 2014, 12:45:34 AM

OK, I probably don't NEED JAKE BRAKES!!! and I WANT THEM.

But---I have a fear of heights that makes driving in the mountains challenging even in my car. Yes--it is illogical--and sometimes not controllable. Took the wife and kids to the Grand Canyon, and Hoover Dam--but I couldn't get near the edge! Yes, I also DID NOT go over the "new" Pat Tillman memorial bridge. Instead I backtracked and took 95 down to Laughlin/Bullhead City, and across OLD RT 66 through Oatman to get to I40 East.

Somehow though, I ride comfortably in Huey's, Chinooks with the doors open over mountainous terrain without fear, and C-130s, C-17's, and all sorts of commercial jets also devoid of fear.

I think it has something to do with how secure I feel with the equipment I am in, and probably one of the main factors I don't trust is ME! I do feel significantly more secure with good equipment in good condition. More safety equipment decreases my fear, hopefully to a managable level so I can at least do the Interstate routes that have mountains. I don't have too much trouble here in the east, but I want to travel west.

So for me --I will have JAKES!!

wg4t50 · September 11, 2014, 01:02:59 AM

If you can not think of any other reason, just the life extension of the brake parts, shoes, drums and feeling of security would be enough for me.
Had the Jakes on the 8V 12V-71 NS RGW 8v-92, worked great.
Today new store bought has the Meritor Discs and Allison Retarder on the 4000R, prefer the retarder, but the Jake is good too.
with the Disks & retarder, at 112,000 miles and with paying attention to the calipers being free, pads & rotors all look like new, mainly doe to my normally using the retarder for everything but stopping.
Dave M

bevans6 · September 11, 2014, 03:57:18 AM

I'll be completely honest - where I use my jake brakes most is in first and second gear stop and go traffic. Makes it real easy to control speed. I almost never use them on hills, only if I think of it and switch them on. I prefer to roll down the hill as far as possible and save on fuel. I like them, but I'm not positive I would pay for them. This is "Interstate" driving with 6% grades that are medium long, usually towing something.

Brian

Bill Gerrie · September 11, 2014, 05:59:00 AM

I have used Jakes for 30 years on my bus and wouldn't be without them. I leave them turned on all the time and if I want to coast I just hold an 1/8" of the pedal on and they don't engage. Very seldom have to adjust the brakes using the Jakes so the cost saving on linings pays for them.

digesterman · September 11, 2014, 06:11:06 AM

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.