beaverpusher
stanwood washington
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I have a friend who is about to purchas a 1990 36' Hawkins motor home with a 3208 cat engine. This thing is in unbelieveable condition at a very good price. He just discovered that it does not have an exhaust brake installed and is considering not buying it for that reason.
Is an exhaust brake really that big a deal? I have to admit this is the first rv I have seen without one or a jake brake or something. Can a person do ok without one?
RV'S and Hot Rods with a little fishing once in a while.
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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EB's are great but his trans may not be configured to work with one.
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the bear II
Torrance CA.
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Yes it's perfectly OK to go without an exhaust brake. The difference is without an exhaust brake your brakes do all of the stopping without an assist from the back pressure created by the exhaust brake. That means on a long downhill or steep downhill the brakes could overheat and you would lose stopping power.
On a downhill run, the exhaust brake works well to hold a MH at a reasonable speed usually without the need to use your brakes.
Your friend must feel the exhaust brake is a necesity for safer travel.
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Check and see if the transmission in it is equipped with has a lock-up torque converter. If it does not a exhaust brake will have virtually no effect. I found about that when I wanted to add one to a Cummins ISB with a Allison AT 542 transmission. That transmission series does not have a lock-up converter. I found B-D made a low stall speed converter I installed. It helped but not nearly as much as if it was a lock-up. If the transmission you are looking at has a lock-up converter you can most likely have a EB added.
Jim
* This post was
edited 01/11/12 11:14am by jauguston *
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beaverpusher
stanwood washington
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jauguston wrote:Check and see if the transmission it is equipped with has a lock-up torque converter. If it does not a exhaust brake will have virtually no effect. I found about that when I wanted to add one to a Cummins ISB with a Allison AT 542 transmission. That transmission series does not have a lock-up converter. I found B-D made a low stall speed converter I installed. It helped but not nearly as much as if it was a lock-up. If the transmission you are looking at has a lock-up converter you can most likely have a EB added.
Jim
Thats good info. Thanks everyone we will look into this. So I assume it is not unusual for rv's to come without these items installed.
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1SG
Cloverdale, OR
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My first DP was a 1991 Hawkins HMC with the CAT 3208 with the Allison 542 and the previous owner had installed a US Gear D-Celerator. It worked fine for me. I dosen't down shift the transmission like todays motorhome exhaust brakes but it does add back pressure when activated and slows the motorhome down. I towed my racecar with my Hawkins and the D-Celerator worked fine on down hill grades to slow the Hawkins and trailer down so I didn't have constently ride my brakes.
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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If you don't have an exhaust brake...
Downshift transmission and use brakes to scrub speed off....do not constantly ride the brakes.
Brake firmly to quickly reduce speed by 10 MPH and then get off the brakes and repeat as necessary.
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Terryallan
Foothills NC
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I wouldn't have a diesel with out one. they should be required on all diesels
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Marv Hoag
Redding, CA
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Terryallan wrote:I wouldn't have a diesel with out one. they should be required on all diesels
My first diesel didn't have one. It had the 6 speed Allison transmission so I added the US gear unit and it worked very well.
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