Negoitiating hills with BB

[Wayne Kotila]

Use a combination of the transmission retarder, downshifting a gear and the brakes.Remember to keep your speed down and to watch your tranny temp. guage, and turn of the retarder switch when the temp gets over maybe 250 deg. I was told by an Allison dealer it could handle short spurts over 300 deg and I went by that and it ended up burning up my tranny. I would call a reputable dealer service department like "Holland motor homes" and ask them the recomended max temp. to let the tranny hit. I have been down many steep mountain grades with a PT40 and it is no problem, you just have to use your service brakes to help keep your speed under control.

Wayne

1985PT40

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From: jburgessx2
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:32:35 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Negoitiating hills with BB

I'm getting ready to take my Bird on a trip from SoCal to Oregon. I haven't really driven hills too much and was looking for some advice on how the coach handles on hills and how to control the speed (if necessary). I have an 85 PT40 with the 6V92 and transmission retarder. Does down shifting help control the speed going down hill without increasing the rpm's too much? Should the retarder be used rather than down shifting?

I really don't want to over rev the engine or stress the retarder too much so I need some tips on how best to control a BB on the hills.

Thanks.

Jerry
85 PT40