| Author |
Message |
Hank MC9 (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 5:31 am: | |
Has anyone had any experience (good or bad) with driveline retarders? Thinking this might be an option for braking power versus an engine brake.
Thanks in advance for your input. |
Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach) (204.245.228.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 9:45 am: | |
I have three mini buses, one with a Telma unit in it. I can tell you it more than pays for itself.
In one bus I routinely have to reline the front brakes every 8-10K miles with a new set of calipers and rotors every third set of pads. Rear brakes need new lining about every 30K miles.
In the bus with the Telma unit the front linings look almost brand new after almost 50K miles.
I can see several advantages the Telma unit has over other types of retarders.
The Telma will work in reverse as well as forward. It works silently, a real plus for those communities in which engine braking is not allowed. The heat that is generated is quickly dissipated and will not cook a transmission.
Will it work in every application? Probably not since it does go in the driveline. If you have an extremely short driveline you may not be able to fit one in.
Is it worth the cost? Any future mini-bus I purchase will have a Telma unit installed into it.
While my experience is positive I am sure some others will have a difference of opinion.
As to whether a Telma unit is better than an engine brake, only you can really make that decision.
Good luck and take care.
Mark O. |
H3 Jim (68.107.60.182)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 8:23 pm: | |
I am told that in full sized buses, that a tranimssion retarder can add significantly to the heat load in the tranny. If it is not used properly, it can greatly shorten teh life of teh transmission. Use of synthetic trans oil helps as it has higher heat tolerance. |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.99.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 8:30 pm: | |
But the Question was in reference to "Driveline Retarders", not transmission retarders.
If anything a driveline retarder would take load off the transmission, depending on configuration.
Gary |
Jeff Miller (205.217.70.139)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 06, 2003 - 9:46 pm: | |
I had a Jacobs EL on my previous BlueBird, it worked very well. It is a unit similar to the Telma unit, some information on the Jacobs website. |
Hank MC9 (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 7:50 am: | |
Thanks to all for the valuable information about retarders. I appreciate your replies. |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.164.175.39)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 5:17 pm: | |
I'm a retarded (retired) firefighter and one of our old American LaFrance Ladder Trucks had a driveline retarder mounted on the driveline. Worked great.
All one had to do was lightly apply the service air brakes until the tail lights came on, then the retarder would like magic slow the entire 46,000 pound ladder truck.
These things usually required a driveshaft of sufficent length for the retarder to physically fit on the driveline. Do NOT know if one would fit on a rear engined coach. Good luck. |