| Author |
Message |
J.Meyers (208.169.40.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 8:33 pm: | |
I am considering installing an air throttle on our 4107. What are the pros/cons of doing this? Is it worth the time and effort to do this or should I just leave the original throttle linkage? I need some input from you guys that have experience with this, to help me decide which is the best way to go. |
Jim Stacy (32.101.44.80)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 9:04 pm: | |
The good news is fine throttle control with no strong spring to fight and no sticky cable to break and leave you stranded.
The bad news is no throttle control until you have air up. The King cruise control will fix that.
Some say the original cable worked fine for millions of miles, but like automatic transmissions and power steering, those who have changed don't usually go back.
Jim Stacy |
Frank Allen (205.188.193.27)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 4:36 am: | |
When i changed over to Automatic in my 4106 the mech installed a air throttle, i did not ask for it , i can not see the difference in operation except i have to wait on air pressure before it will work, as for the automatic trans it works fine but it is anotherone of those things i would not repeat.
Frank Allen |
Mike Eades (Mike14905) (206.62.202.196)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 9:46 am: | |
I have automatic and air throttle and it does a number of things for me. It stops me from racing a cold engine. All bad and I can't move until everything is right. It makes me check gauges becaus eI am sitting there waiting and looking. This should be part of precheck but some times I ready to leave and I want to go. Slow build up of air is better for the whole system. Bags and all valves work better. I don't run in cold weather so starting and all those problems don't count for me. You don't have to push hard when you are driving. Makes the drive a lot less of a chore. Mike |
FAST FRED (209.26.87.30)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 10:22 am: | |
THE only folks that seem happy with the air throttle are the folks with an automatic tranny.
The mush feeling is why most stick drivers avoid them.
New throttle cables are avilable from US Coach.
Best bet is to get a new one , flush the cable run with diesel and blow out with air.
Then install your new cable in teflon grease , and enjoy the next 2 or 3 million miles.
Keep your old cable as a spair,
or roadside donation for a fellow that does no maint.
FAST FRED |
StarDust (63.14.204.6)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 12:31 pm: | |
Have a 4104 with a 4speed stick I also have the air throttle and think its the best thing made . have no problem shifting with it .
StarDust |
J.Meyers (208.169.40.103)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 6:02 pm: | |
Since our bus is a stick and I am planning on leaving it that way for now.
I have two follow up questions.
Fast Fred described a mush feel to the
throttle. Is there just no back pressure on the pedal or is there an actual delayed throttle response?
What about installing a cruse control later on,
will the air throttle make this easier or does it make a difference?
Thanks to all who responded to my questions.
J. Meyers |
Jim Stacy (32.101.44.99)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 11:50 pm: | |
My air throttle has excellant feel and response, but I must admit I drove one charter bus (I think it was an MC9) that was very sluggish. Every other coach I have driven with an air throttle has been great.
The King cruise control can be used to control the fuel before, and immediately after start up, if desired. Cruise controls work great with an air throttle since they don't bind as a mechanical throttle might, but as Fred says, a well maintained cable throttle will probably out last the owner. Many throttle racks have strong springs on them for whatever reason. The air throttle is consistantly comfortable all day.
I like mine FWIW.
Jim Stacy |
Jim Wilke (152.163.207.176)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 09, 2002 - 9:02 am: | |
I have a 4104 with stick shift & cable throttle. When I got it, no one had serviced the cable in a VERY long time, maybe never. It would only move about 3/4 of it's travel & would stick at full throttle (not good). (Actually, the engine couldn't get to wide open throttle.)
After having removed it, cleaned, lubed & adjusted per DA BOOK, it works great. It gives micrometer fine adjustments of throttle works whether or not there is air pressure and since it is a very ruggedly designed device, will probably not need any attention in my lifetime.
GM worked hand in hand with Greyhound & other fleet buyers to design absolutely the finest, most reliable, most fuel efficient vehicle of it's size with the most interior & bay space.
I am constantly amazed at why folks want to install all kinds of complex, failure prone devices which can stop you in your tracks. Thousands of drivers ran these buses many, many millions of miles with cable throttles & stick shift. Why do we figure we know more than all those engineers equipped with millions of miles of product feedback information?
That said, I should mention that I am not against ADDING items to make life easier if they do not replace the original system. I installed a Rostra cruise control systm last Summer & it is the best thing since sliced bread! Before, due to a diesel engine's natural tendancies, I was always either speeding up of slowing down. The cruise holds it right on the money. However, I did not install the actuator forward & have it pull the throttle pedal & cable. I installed it in the engine compartment. The throttle can be moved there at the governor without moving the cable at all. There is a slotted linkage that permits this. This works great & I'm sure the cruise has less stress on it & a much easier time responding since it doesn't need anywhere near as many pounds of force to work. The only negative at this point is that on flat ground it works perfectly but the Rostra folks have it engineered so that if the vehicle speed is below selected cruise speed by 5 mph for more than a few seconds(like climbing a hill), the system drops out & to reset you have to turn it off , back on & reset the speed. I am sure that this is a safety feature so that if you had an accident, it would release the throttle instead of racing it.
Jim-Bob |