I was looking on pacs website, it said that the 5" EXHAUST brake model can be used on N14 and other OTR engines.

How well would it work holding back 80 000 to 130 000 lbs. Also could it be used at the same time as a "real" jake brake.

 

I've never driven an N-14 so can't comment on that. I have driven a 400 horse Mack engine with a Jake and a potato stuffer and it worked together, automatically and it did it very well. It pulled 100,000+ down noticeably better than the other rigs that were not equipped with the inline exhaust brake.

 

Interesting, is there any other mods needed to run both (valve springs),

Are there many trucks equipped with both?

 

I don't really have any idea about the interaction between the two different systems. Truth is, I didn't know it had both until sometime later when my brother let me know about. I told him I wondered what that funny hissing sound was! The Jakes on the Mack engines had so much variability in their effectiveness I just thought it was one of the better ones although I knew something was different about it. Some of them were not much better than sticking a paper sack out the window.

This one is the only one I have seen with an exhaust brake but I drove one last summer that had a Telma brake installed. That is an electromagnetic drive line brake. It works with the foot valve and was a pretty seamless operation with the service brakes. All the new ones (over 100) have this installed. They have four different braking levels. The service brakes don't come on with the first three levels. You are slowing pretty hard before the fourth level so the wear on the service brakes have been dramatically reduced. I can't say how it works in the slick stuff since my brother does not have one on his rig and I refuse to drive (retired, at least semi retired )if I might have to throw iron. I have not heard any complaints yet but there is not that much time on them in this fleet.

 

Electromagnetic brakes?

Those sound cool. Never heard of those before.


I want one...

 

I believe they would conflict with one another, I'm not quite sure how the jake would react with the amount of backpressure the exhaust brake would be forcing into each cylinder, or on the other hand how the exhaust brake would work with the jake on releasing compression. Interesting problem, I will do some digging on this one.

 

I first heard of them probably 20 years ago but these are the first ones I have seen in the flesh. A bit large to fit in a pickup though. Seemed to work pretty well. They ran the first 10 new trucks a few months to try them and see how the drivers reacted to them. Guess it must have been pretty positive since they are putting them on all the new ones and even thinking of retrofitting some. The new trucks now have a Jake, the Telma brake and then you finally use the service brakes. We had a drivers meeting yesterday and my brother and I talked a bit with one of the owners and he just mentioned in passing about the increased brake life. We didn't get into how much but it was apparently significant since these things are pretty high $$$ to install.

 

An exhaust brakes is a good way to muffle a Jake.

The electromagnetic retarders are really nice because the faster you are going, the better they work. A Jake or exhaust brake works better in the lower gears. Having the two systems together means you don't have to touch the brakes to slow down unless you are just a steering wheel holder.

Another neat setup is the hydraulic retarder available from Allison. It's like a torque converter with one half locked to the trans case. On the old ones, oil supply into the retarder was controlled by a third pedal. It's like the electromagnetic setup in that it works better at high speed.

 

Oh, about the original question: An exhaust brake is not nearly as effective as a Jake, and you really have to wind the engine up for the exhaust brake to be effective. If it was an either/or choice I'd take the Jake. But both is definitely better.

 

Most all big aerial and pumper fire trucks have a Telma installed, and let me tell you, replacing one is a job, that thing is super heavy!

 

They are heavy for sure. I drove an aerial truck for most of 27 years with PDX Fire and never saw a Telma. They did have Jakes on most, if not all of the rigs. Well, not the little rigs but the pumpers and ladder trucks pretty much all had them after the gaspots were all gone.

Hvytrkmech, I was a member of Local 1062 for about 12 years and then the rest of the time with Local # 43.

 

We have a Telma on the Pierce all steer 105' aerial that I am assigned too, they work very well and are wisper quite.

Russ Roth, I hope you enjoy your retirement. I was 35 when I got on the job 8 years ago, so I still got a ways to go. You don't see too many truckies around here?

Stay safe, and happy holidays, Tim

 

Tim,

I am enjoying retirement although my wife thinks I should have another full time job. I was a commercial driver before I got hired in '73 and continued some throughout the years. Now she thinks it should be full time. I don't think so. I pretty much work on my own schedule as long as they have work and equipment. Most of the time they do. I could probably be working today but when water turns to a solid I don't intend to be there. I threw enough iron to not want to do it anymore since I don't have to. They know that and are OK with it. In fact, I called one of the gals in the office the other day about something and she mentioned that I was in a "special" category. She said "I don't even want to talk about it." Not exactly sure what she meant but I told her there were quite a few people that put me in a "special" category. She says maybe so but not the same thing.

The Telmas really work good but I have not used one in the slick stuff. That would be a concern I would think. You apparently must have some experience. Work OK? I was pulling doubles with that tractor and I am not sure how well that would work. I believe this will be the first full winter they will have these in service. The company claims the ABS will prevent any trouble. I have had no issues with ABS in a big rig nor in my Ram. However the story is different on our '01 Durango. The Ram is rear only but the Durango is 4 wheel and it will NOT stop if you have to push it. I nearly ended up in an intersection on a stop that should easily (but very quickly) been done. I did not like that at all. I have a buddy with an '02 Ram w/4 wheel ABS and he says the same thing about it. Won't stop!

When you say all steer is that tillered or is it one of the newer style solo rigs that has rear steer? Mine was tillered. I finally got a new new rig about 4 years before retirement. First one in my career. I don't recall who built it right now but it had a 470 horse Series 60 with an Allison. Nice rig but the Jakes were (are, it's still in service there) incredibly loud. About like the old 275-300 horse Cummins with the back drop manifolds. I should mention those Telma's to Mike the next time I drop by. He's the chief mechanic and we got to be friends over the years. PDX has 9 trucks. There used to be 11 and now they cover about 30-40% more area. "Splain that one to me.

Good luck in your career and have a great holiday season. Who do you work for?


This is the company I drive for. If you go to services the rig with the twin stacks at the top left of the page is the rig my bro drives.

http://www.walshtruckingco.com/about.php

Russ

 

Russ, the ladder I'm on is the new allsteer model, no more tillering this ladder is the one with the Telma brake, it has 2 switch's on the dash. You can flip one switch on and only the Telma will come on without automatically downshifting the transmission, or you can flip both switch's which will make it work with the trans. progressively downshifting as you decelerate. The manual states "do not use in inclimate weather or slippery conditions". This piece is an 04 with a C-12 500hp Cat and it works extremely well, super fast to set up, plus you can crab it either left or right, it is much nicer than the 1978 Maxim 100' tiller I was on, although the tiller was the best seat in the house during summer months .

Happy holidays to you and yours. Tim
check your pm box

 

The aerial I drove before the new one was a 100' Maxim. Seems like it was about a '74. It went to reserve status and they finally sold it a couple years ago. I was over in Portland and drove by a truck yard and there it was in the back. I stopped in and checked it out. I would have been tempted to buy it if I had a place for it and a wife that would allow it. The tiller spot is prime for most guys but not me. I absolutely hated it. No go peddle and most importantly no WHOA peddle. I only had to do it once other than for an occasional drill. I used to tell guys that were inexperienced to just hold the wheel straight and I will get you there. Most of them thought they still had to turn though. The new one was a pretty neat rig. Like you say, much nicer than the Maxim. Both those rigs went places you wouldn't believe.

Thanks for the information on the Telma. My brother snagged one of the operating manuals out of one of the new ones and gave it to me. Never really addressed slick conditions in it but it makes sense you wouldn't want to use it. If I recall correctly these could not be turned off. That was my worry about using it in poor conditions since it is pretty aggressive by the time it gets to the #3 position and has yet to tap the service brakes. Another reason not to drive this time of year.

Got the PM, will answer soon.