Allison Transmission Retarder

[Ron & Patty]

Living in the West, I've had occasion to drive down as much as a 14%
grade, and we're descending 5% to 7% grades regularly here. I've not
seen a discussion as how to use the retarder most effectively. Nor
have I any manuals describing the proper operating procedure either.
I would appreciate knowing how you use yours, and think it may
interest some others as well.

How do you use your retarder descending mountains?
Specifically, how do you regulate the retarder lever for a particular
degree of descent?
Do you use it on the flats as well?
Other than inclement weather, when would you not use it and why?
Thanks ..

Ron, 85PT36, No. California

[Jay Darst]

Ron,

The trans retarder on my Bird is tied right into the brake system.
When I apply the brakes, the retarder commences as well.

A little brake pedal activates the retarder. The brakes are doing
almost nothing at this point. Apply more brake pedal, more retarder
action and a little more service brake action.

Problem with retarder is it gets the trans fluid REALLY hot quick.

99% of the time, I use the brake treadle to use the retarder. Maybe
1% of the time will I engage the trans retarder via the lever.

Going down steep hills- slow way down at the top, use a lower gear,
and use the brakes/retarder internittently heavy. When coming down
Mont Eagle(a 6-7% grade) I used 4th gear and as speed reached 45mph,
I would STAND on the brakes momentarily to bring speed back down to
under 40 mph. Then release brake treadle to allow monmentary cooling
of brakes, drums and trans fluid.

Werks good for me...

Jay Darst
85PT40 w/Allison MTB654CR
Springfield, IL
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ron & Patty"
wrote:
>
> Living in the West, I've had occasion to drive down as much as a
14%
> grade, and we're descending 5% to 7% grades regularly here. I've
not
> seen a discussion as how to use the retarder most effectively. Nor
> have I any manuals describing the proper operating procedure
either.
> I would appreciate knowing how you use yours, and think it may
> interest some others as well.
>
> How do you use your retarder descending mountains?
> Specifically, how do you regulate the retarder lever for a
particular
> degree of descent?
> Do you use it on the flats as well?
> Other than inclement weather, when would you not use it and why?
> Thanks ..
>
> Ron, 85PT36, No. California
>

[David Brady]

Okay, I can't resist, with the jake brakes on my series 60 I come
down those 6% grades at 70. Sorry for the indulgence, I know
nobody likes a braggart! LOL

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey,
Va

Jay Darst wrote:
> Going down steep hills- slow way down at the top, use a lower gear,
> and use the brakes/retarder internittently heavy. When coming down
> Mont Eagle(a 6-7% grade) I used 4th gear and as speed reached 45mph,
> I would STAND on the brakes momentarily to bring speed back down to
> under 40 mph. Then release brake treadle to allow monmentary cooling
> of brakes, drums and trans fluid.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Gregory OConnor]

Dave, as a rule I never go down a grade any faster than the average
truck speed that is making the climb up. " The faster you can stop -
- the faster you can go" rule only applies when gravity is not a
expotential factor. I pray for the people in your path.

Randy, Does Nascar have a DownHill Class

Gregory O'Connor
94pt40
Romoland California


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
wrote:
>
> Okay, I can't resist, with the jake brakes on my series 60 I come
> down those 6% grades at 70. Sorry for the indulgence, I know
> nobody likes a braggart! LOL
>
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey,
> Va
>
> Jay Darst wrote:
> > Going down steep hills- slow way down at the top, use a lower
gear,
> > and use the brakes/retarder internittently heavy. When coming
down
> > Mont Eagle(a 6-7% grade) I used 4th gear and as speed reached
45mph,
> > I would STAND on the brakes momentarily to bring speed back down
to
> > under 40 mph. Then release brake treadle to allow monmentary
cooling
> > of brakes, drums and trans fluid.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

[rrob@...]

Twice in the two years that I have owned my DD 8V92 experienced owners have
praised my choice of engine and left me with a common singular comment.......
DO NOT LET IT GET AWAY FROM YOU. OK they captured my interest and I am now
very careful where hills and mountains are considered. Personally I use the
retarder and brakes sparingly but make sure I never exceed 45mph on the hills
I encounter because I believe what the old timers have to say. I have copies
of the East and West Mountain Guides and rely on them frequently. Personaly
there are grades advertised in the Mountain Guides that I won't take but that
is a choice everyone has to make. IMHO leave the top of the hill in 2nd (maybe
3rd) and do not worry about holding anybody up behind you. I am serious here.
This is not a time to be wishy washy. This is the time to SLOW DOWN to your
comfort zone and NOT WORRY ABOUT THE AUTOS BEHIND YOU. Maintain the attitude
that "you are bigger" and they can "go around". I will go as far as to say you
should develop a Down hill "Kiss my Ass" attitude and always travel at the
same speed as the trucks. I would never take my Bird down a grade greater than
10% unless it was under a mile. This is where the Moutain Guide comes into
it's own. As Greg said, you should watch the Truck Drivers.
Quoting Gregory OConnor :

>
>
>
> Dave, as a rule I never go down a grade any faster than the average
>
> truck speed that is making the climb up. " The faster you can stop -
>
> - the faster you can go" rule only applies when gravity is not a
>
> expotential factor. I pray for the people in your path.
>
>
>
> Randy, Does Nascar have a DownHill Class
>
>
>
> Gregory O'Connor
>
> 94pt40
>
> Romoland California
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady
>
> wrote:
>
> >
>
> > Okay, I can't resist, with the jake brakes on my series 60 I come
>
> > down those 6% grades at 70. Sorry for the indulgence, I know
>
> > nobody likes a braggart! LOL
>
> >
>
> > David Brady
>
> > '02 LXi, Smokey,
>
> > Va
>
> >
>
> > Jay Darst wrote:
>
> > > Going down steep hills- slow way down at the top, use a lower
>
> gear,
>
> > > and use the brakes/retarder internittently heavy. When coming
>
> down
>
> > > Mont Eagle(a 6-7% grade) I used 4th gear and as speed reached
>
> 45mph,
>
> > > I would STAND on the brakes momentarily to bring speed back down
>
> to
>
> > > under 40 mph. Then release brake treadle to allow monmentary
>
> cooling
>
> > > of brakes, drums and trans fluid.
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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[erniecarpet@...]

Bob loomas, 85PTT35, has been driving trucks for years. I asked him about
not having any retarder coming down a mountainn. He said the same thing- slow
down at the top- which for me in my 6v is quite natural- can't get over 30
going up with all my loads. and come down in 4th gear. he also stated we didn't
want to over-rev the engine. This will be an interesting trip to Montana this
year, unless I get the Jake to work. Ernie-83pt40 in Louisiana


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[erniecarpet@...]

Ii've come down some of those grades ttoo fastt. Scares the crap outta me ,
especially when the speedometer reads close to 80. Ernie-83pt40 in louisiana


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[George Lowry]

This subject is one that I see abused all the time. There is an old saying
among truckers; "You can go down a hill many time too slow but you can only
go down ONCE too fast". Those who don't pay attention to their speeds on
hills will have the opportunity to see if the superior construction of the
Blue Bird will allow them to survive.

George Lowry
"06 Alpine Apex - Formerly '95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD Now in Stockton, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of rrob@...
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 12:33 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Allison Transmission Retarder


Twice in the two years that I have owned my DD 8V92 experienced owners have
praised my choice of engine and left me with a common singular
comment.......
DO NOT LET IT GET AWAY FROM YOU. OK they captured my interest and I am now
very careful where hills and mountains are considered. Personally I use the
retarder and brakes sparingly but make sure I never exceed 45mph on the
hills
I encounter because I believe what the old timers have to say. I have copies
of the East and West Mountain Guides and rely on them frequently. Personaly
there are grades advertised in the Mountain Guides that I won't take but
that
is a choice everyone has to make. IMHO leave the top of the hill in 2nd
(maybe
3rd) and do not worry about holding anybody up behind you. I am serious
here.
This is not a time to be wishy washy. This is the time to SLOW DOWN to your
comfort zone and NOT WORRY ABOUT THE AUTOS BEHIND YOU. Maintain the attitude
that "you are bigger" and they can "go around". I will go as far as to say
you
should develop a Down hill "Kiss my Ass" attitude and always travel at the
same speed as the trucks. I would never take my Bird down a grade greater
than
10% unless it was under a mile. This is where the Moutain Guide comes into
it's own. As Greg said, you should watch the Truck Drivers.

[Ron & Patty]

Thanks to all for the responses. I don't know if I'm using the
retarder in the best way, but I do start out very slow from the top
of a grade and set my tranny in a lower gear, but I will toggle the
retarder adjustment sometimes half way to maintain a lower RPM for a
particular gear. Watching the heat gauge is imperative. I also use
the Trucker's Mountain Guide after we took H-155 off H-99 from Delano
California to Lake Isabella. Look it up - it's one of the scariest in
the book (Western Edition). Thanks again,

Ron 85PT36 No. California

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "George Lowry"
wrote:
>
> This subject is one that I see abused all the time

> George Lowry
> "06 Alpine Apex - Formerly '95 WBDA 4203
> Spearfish, SD Now in Stockton, CA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of rrob@...
> Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 12:33 AM
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Allison Transmission Retarder
>
I would never take my Bird down a grade greater
> than
> 10% unless it was under a mile. This is where the Moutain Guide
comes into
> it's own. As Greg said, you should watch the Truck Drivers.

[Wilhelmus Schreurs]

If you want a scary hill, check out "The Hill" going into Bella Coola in British
Columbia.

"The "Hill" is still the only land route in and out of the valley. It still has
it's 18% grades and switchbacks that produce a measure of terror in most
newcomers, but it is traveled daily (and nightly) by all kinds of motorized
vehicles, including semi-trailers."

This hill is 11.2km long.

Bill

Ron & Patty wrote: Thanks to all for the responses. I
don't know if I'm using the
retarder in the best way, but I do start out very slow from the top
of a grade and set my tranny in a lower gear, but I will toggle the
retarder adjustment sometimes half way to maintain a lower RPM for a
particular gear. Watching the heat gauge is imperative. I also use
the Trucker's Mountain Guide after we took H-155 off H-99 from Delano
California to Lake Isabella. Look it up - it's one of the scariest in
the book (Western Edition). Thanks again,

Ron 85PT36 No. California

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "George Lowry"
wrote:
>
> This subject is one that I see abused all the time

> George Lowry
> "06 Alpine Apex - Formerly '95 WBDA 4203
> Spearfish, SD Now in Stockton, CA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of rrob@...
> Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 12:33 AM
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Allison Transmission Retarder
>
I would never take my Bird down a grade greater
> than
> 10% unless it was under a mile. This is where the Moutain Guide
comes into
> it's own. As Greg said, you should watch the Truck Drivers.






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