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Another Jake Question
The Jake Brake thread is very interesting. I am learning a lot. But it brings a question to mind.
This is the first bus for me and I love the Jake. I have used it and loved it since day one. Mine has two settings but I never switch it off high. It works with cruise and in any gear. It kicks out only under 900 RPM as others has said.
There is something interesting though. The first four years of ownership the Jake would quit working occasionally. Not often and never when it was engaged. I would be driving along and realize it was not kicking in. I talked to every bus friend I have and mentioned it while having other work completed at Prevost. Everybody was in agreement that it sounded like a loose wire or connection or someting else electrical. I could never get it to duplicate when I had somebody knowledgeable with me. It was very sporadic and rare.
HOWEVER, since I had my air problem diagnosed and finally repaired back in February the Jake has not quit ONE time.
Long story short one of my brake chambers had obviously been leaking some the whole time I have owned the bus and I did not know enough to know it. I have already been sufficiently rebuked for not knowing and following pre trip procedures that would have revealed the problem before I bought the bus. I had it coming and I received it graciously. No need to go into that again. LOL
I know the Jake works but I have no idea how or why it works. Is there any way that my fluctuating air pressure could have anything to do with it? Is the fact that it has NOT quit ONE time since my air pressure has been rock solid while driving a complete coincidence?
DKO
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8 Replies
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The two are not related. The Jake is internal to the engine and is unrelated to the air system.
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Thank you. Must be a total crazy coincidence.
DKO
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It could be as simple as usage of the Jake cleaned up the contacts somewhere in the system. The only reason why I focussed on the electrical side is you indicated the entire Jake quit working and I doubt if the multiple solenoids in the head all decided to quit simultaneously and then resume working.
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You might want to pull the valve cover and inspect the wiring to the JAKE solinoid. You should have 3 connections under the valve cover. I rebuilt and updated my Jakes this past summer.
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If he had an 8V92 I would have suggested that, but for those of us that own XL or XLII coaches with the Series 60 pulling the valve cover is only slightly less painful than root canal work without anesthesia or numbing.
In some cases to do that we have to partially disassemble the bedroom.
If it ain’t broke in this case, don’t try to fix it. And if it quits, start at the switch by the driver and hope it is there.
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Thanks guys. I always appreciate the help.
I am not doubting that it is electrical in nature I was just wondering since I haven’t had any problems since the air repair. The week the air problem was finally fixed was also the week that Prevost Nashville upgraded my engine cradle. Any chance they might have tightened something that was loose in the process of that?
No big matter really. I am just very glad it has been completely operational. I travel at least one day a week and no problems since the last of February is good news for me.
DKO
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I had mine of on my H3. Doesn’t the XL have 3 inches between the cover and the lower deck? The go no go factor is if you have the two piece valve cover. That helps.. You can take the upper cover off with relative ease. The high pressure boost pipe needs to be removed.
FYI>> there is a new rebuild kit for the S60 Jake brakes.. It really does work well and worth the price of the $1280 kit.
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On my XL and now my XLII there is about 1/2 to 1 inch clearance over the valve cover. There is a removable panel above the valve cover, but that is where cabinets or closets are in cross bed configurations. Removal of the panel can entail disassembling cabinetry, stripping carpeting that might be glued in place and all sorts of other gyrations to just get to the cover. Might be easier to pull the engine. (maybe)
The engine cradle repair may in fact have helped or cured a problem if it was associated with the wiring going under the valve cover to the solenoids.
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