| Author |
Message |
L Clinton
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 6:18 pm: | |
I'm sure there is a brilliant reason why the parking/emergency brake cans are on the tag axle of 4501-570. I just don't know it. There is the provision to reduce the air bag pressure on that axle to increase traction on the drive. This would also effectively reduce the pressure on the parking brake. The only thing I can figure is they planned it that way so if you lost air pressure, resulting in the tag brakes locking, you could drag yourself off the road with your own drive axle spinning free.
Any clues?
If this board hasn't the good reason I'll probably change it.
Larry |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 6:48 pm: | |
Cruisers have no other means for parking brakes or emergency brakes. Without those cans on the tag axle there are no brakes at all.
I always thought that funky slip-link tag brake system was kinda screwy at best, It's a wonder that any of the scenicruisers survived so many years on the road with that wierd brake system.
If you change the axle brake cans to maxibrakes then you would have emergency brakes but you will have to re-plumb the brake system for all that to work correctly and install a proper brake treadle valve system and auxillary air supply.
Have fun .... |
pete hyser (4501pete)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 7:53 pm: | |
Larry,
dosnt the air lock nect to the drivers seat lock them up? i seem to remember that when i hit that i got a bad wheel hop with the tag until i stopped...
Pete
BTW Milts in Cohasset ill call you |
kevin schooler (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:18 pm: | |
... does this mean that my tag brakes don't actually do anything when i stomp the pedal?
(this might explain a bit of hair raising, continental divide action i had on my way home...)
-dd |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 8:39 am: | |
Kevin,
If its on a scenicruiser and your tags locked up, The brake assembly is way out of adjustment. There are two adjustments, One for the regular brakes on the tags ( S-Cam ) type and a separate adjuster for the parking brake that uses a slip joint operated by the big red cans.
You could also get wheel hop if the air regulator for the tag axle is bad or the tag is disabled for some reason. |
Juan Navarro (Jnavarro)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 1:46 pm: | |
Larry,
I understand your question, was the parking/emergency brakes on your coach installed by the factory on the tag? if not then they may have been installed by someone else. I agree with you that if you release the air on the suspension bags you reduce the tire friction against the road and the coach may move when you dont want it to.
IMHO the parking brake cans should be on the driven axle.
regards,
Juan'53 PD4104 |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 10:13 pm: | |
Hello.
I would offer the encouragement to update the brakes on your coach.
The Scenicruisers have seen some amazing miles, and some less than amazing owners once Greyhound sold them off. Who really knows what has been done to them and how badly the braking performance may have been compromised?
In keeping with their age, replumbing them for dual circuit service brakes and spring brakes would be a good move. The brake manufacturers love to help out, Bendix in particular, all the info you would need would be available free of charge.
Much of the "cost" can easily be justified as preventive maintenance. None of us have an idea the age of the valving and hoses on our conversions, changing it all out for improved reliability to avoid "side of the road" adventures is a worthy pursuit. So, changing them out for more modern valving and running a bit more hose, and a tank or two where required, doesn't change the equation by much.
An archaic parking brake system attached to an axle that may be unloaded is a liability in light of the information about braking systems that is readily available today, and the relative ease of upgrade to a modern day compliant brake system.
For those intimately knowledgeable about the old brake system on your coach, and you are able to prove a proper and careful maintenance and understanding of it, carry on, it's great that someone is maintaining an historically accurate vehicle.
For those who like the idea of an upgrade, it isn't as hard as you might think!
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
b dumas
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 11:59 pm: | |
could be that way so the bus drivers would not pop a driveline |