[Bill]

I usually turn my Jake off too. As long as it’s on (at least on mine) every time I take pressure off of the accelerator the Jake kicks in. I turn it on every time I’m coming up to a stop and any time I feel there may be a need to stop quickly. If you leave the Jake on and you’ve got the cruise set, the Jake kicks in every time your speed exceeds where you have it set and your brake lights come on every time the Jake kicks in. We had a retarder on the last bus and I do prefer it over the Jake although the Jake does preform well.

[Archived]

Jon,

I don’t see any impact on our safety from the way I’ve been using the Jake for the last 15 years. Even though this coach is heavier, it still drives the same as the old coach, althought smoother and quieter, which is what we expected. I’m less concerned about the actual fuel consumption than I am about wasting fuel, which is what happens if you don’t let the coach coast when braking is not needed. I also monitor fuel consumption on all our vehicles, and I know what impact wind and road conditions have on mileage. The DD printout showed lifetime average on our coach at 6.29 MPG, so definitely thirstier than the last coach! Of course a big impact is the idle time–500+ hours!

I am well aware on how (not) to use the Jake in slippery condition–we had our coach on icy roads a couple of times. BTW, I believe the Jake provides a lot more braking than 50%. Our Cat had 88% of rated power available for braking, and I suspect the Series 60 will be in the same ballpark.

P.S. It’s all your fault that we went for a coach with OTR AC!

[Per]

Fuel use and the jake are non issues, the jake turns your motor into an air compressor.

There is a fine line when letting off the throttle with the Jake on, you can coast without triggering the Jake. In 6th gear with the Jake on and cruise, you barely even notice the Jake if the cruise backs off the throttle to maintain the target speed. My Jake engages in any gear except 1st, as it should be.

Don’t ever tell a trucker you turn off your Jake, he’ll have coffee squirting out his nose.

[Archived]

Tom,

Japanese eat their sushi with their fingers, I eat it with chopsticks, and I’ve eaten it that way for longer than a lot of Japanese. I like it my way, and it works probably better. I don’t really care how Japanese eat sushi, I like to eat it my way, and it works great.

[Per]

Dean you can pull the relay in the back engine electric compartment I think it’s relay 76 but check that out, and the brake lights won’t come on when the jake comes on.

[Archived]

This is a discussion worth having because it highlights the differences between the Jake and retarder.

I’ve had both. Both do their job, but as is being discussed both have shortcomings. The debate about a Jake coming on while on cruise control should not be happening because on my jake equipped coach, the jake was disabled when the cruise was engaged. I left the jake on full and as was pointed out, on cruise the coach just freewheeled going down a grade. If I hit the brakes for any reason, because of a down hill grade or the need to stop the brake application released the cruise, and in doing so engaged the jake so in that respect it functioned exactly like my retarder with the stalk in the zero position but the master switch on.

If your jake is engaged with the cruise on, you should see if it can be programmed to function only when the cruise is off.

[Greg]

I am not sure of what model year the ABS and Jake or retarder started communicating with each other, but it made a big difference on slippery roads. It should shut off the Jake if it detects wheel slippage. I think it will also do the same with the retarder, but I can not find anything so far that confirms it.

[Jim/Chris]

Well, we are taking the coach to Prevost this morning. That will be the first long trip in the coach, so I’ll let you know how it works. Probably end up leaving it there for a while, after Prevost fixes (most of) the air leaks, we’ll take it over to Marathon–looks like we need a new refrigerator plus some other things. Would love to take it over to Jeff’s, but after the Ft Worth visit, we probably won’t be able to afford the fuel going to Jeff’s!

[Peter]

Dean,

I e-mailed you this week, did you get it?

[Archived]

No problem on your chop sticks Per, but I’m sure trying to understand your claim of better fuel usage by not using the Jake. I would love to better understand the facts of this money saving tip.

[Thomas]

You don’t have to worry about fuel savings because after having prevost fix all the air leaks and it will still leak after , you will have no money for fuel , the cost to drive to Jeff’s in fuel with the jake on will look like peanuts compared to the prevosts bill (but after at Jeff’s it will be all fixed and not leak )

[Archived]

Peter beat me to it. You don’t have enough money to get Prevost to fix all the leaks.

Your best bet is to at random pick two kids and pay for their entire college education. You will still have leaks, but at least you will feel good in how you used your money.

If you can find the Jake kicks out when on cruise control you will not only deal with the loss of fuel efficiency, you will be able to have it in “standby” to provide braking assistance when needed.

[Alain]

Tom,

If the Jake brake is on (the brake itself, not the switch) when it is not needed, you lose momentum. Lost momentum will have to be made up by earlier application of the throttle, thus added fuel use. If you always travel with cruise on, it will be irrevelant.

I’m less concerned with all the air leaks than trying to keep the aux air up for more than 5 minutes.

[Archived]

Tom,

I haven’t received any email. I emailed you the day before yesterday. Did you get it?

Dean

[Archived]

You have something bad going on with your e-mail address Dean, call me.