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Looking to Buy a Retarder Switch/Lever
Anyone have one sitting around?
I am interested in seeing if one can be adapted/modified to control a 2-stage Jake Brake. I’d really like to have a more easily operated control for the Jake. First step will be to see what the switching is on the retarder lever. If there is something there that works, then I will look ionto machining or 3D printing a stop that will limit it to 3 positions (OFF-LOW-HIGH)
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11 Replies
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John,
Back in the trucking days we operated the jake with a toggle switch on the dash. Most had it in line with the transmission shifter so if your hand is on the shifter knob you could easily flick it with your index finger.
To be able to do this you have to buy a toggle switch extender of a couple inches that slides right over the switch.
Granted I think in your era coach the jake is positioned in a piss poor spot. I didn’t like my 07 either.
So before you try an reinvent the wheel go to the I80 Walcott Truckstop website IOWA80.COM and look for truck parts electric and you’ll see dash accessory’s and they have everything you need. Rocker switch covers, toggle switches and extenders.
It will sure give you ideas to maybe put it in the top left corner of the dash where you can easily get at it. You can probably find it locally but they have it.
We wear out the I15 corridor and I didn’t like to run with the jake engaged all the time when you get north of Vegas. This type of setup would work well.
Later
bv
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I’d think a good place for the Jake control would be with the cruise-control switches. Ours are under my left hand.
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As long as we’re on the subject (sort of), I have a retarder on my coach and would like to have the emergency flashers activate and stay on ONLY when I am in position 6 (full retard).
Pretty sure I could do this with a relay if I knew if/where it would be possible to pick up a signal.
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That’s the difference between a driver and a tourist on cruise control.
Later
bv
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Joel – Why would you want to do that? Nothing worse than following a Motorhome with the brake lights on/off/on/off because of throttle position activating the Jake.
John – I put a floor foot button on a Foretravel I had and it worked great. Back in the day some of the big trucks had them.
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Tom … if the brake lights are tied to #6/high setting on the retarder, I don’t think there would be much on/off/on of the brake lights.
When I press the DECEL button on the cruise system, the brake lights apparently go on. I use that when I’ve got the retarder FULL ON.
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That’s a lot of monkey F%#*g around.
Just wire a brake light switch off the pedal.
Later
bv
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Bernie and Tom, thanks for the ideas. I will look into both.
Merry Christmas!
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The brake lights on my ’88 did not come on when the Jake engaged and I don’t believe they do on my ’98 either. I see others posting similar era coaches do. I always have my Jake engaged on high and was given that suggestion by a mechanic who had been working on Detroit’s most of his career.
Anyone have a reason why you would not want to do this? I get the retarder settings (transmission) needing to be changed but why not stick to High Jake any time you are driving? I do occassionally change to Low Jake on a long, not so steep, grade but only rarely.
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A lot of us have removed the relay in the rear electric box so the Jake or retarder will not activate the brake lights.
It is very annoying to folks we pass to pull back into the lane, and when we let off the gas the Jake or retarder kicks back in to slow us to the cruise control speed which in turn makes the people we passed think we are applying the brakes. It especially pisses them off if we do not allow ample room before pulling in.
I have to look at my coach to remember the relay number, but it is listed on the diagram that lists breakers, relays and terminals.
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Jon,
In the XLII the relay is in the rear engine relay box above the engine as you said. On the H3, the relay is located in the compartment in front of the passenger side engine door. Mine has chassis batteries in that compartment as well as some controls. Funny they would locate them in different places.
Not sure about the octoplex coaches. I’ve look at them trying to find the relay, but they are a different beast.
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