I need some help with a question for you mechanical truckers out there. If my clutch brake is out does it present any type of danger?? I'm still at the stage where I know how to change alternators, my own tires, well, an air bag, those type things. Learning as fast as I can but can't get my mind around this clutch brake.

My clutch is in great condition, but the brake itself is out. When I finished up my season last year, I had to use the module control box to flip into lower gears back and forth every single time I needed to take off or back up. Believe me that's alot when you're loading and unloading, hauling locally. From rumor here, I don't think it's been repaired and I start back to work anytime from this weekend through next week......

My only concern is if it presents any danger so I'll know how I'm going to handle this when I show up for work. If it's just a matter of someone having to haul me back in, I'll deal with that lol.

Thanks,
Tude

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"Tude"

" A good attitude will get you through almost anything"

In inoperative clutch brake presents a mechanical huindrance, but there is absolutely no danger from it not working properly. All it is is a small disk on the transmission input shaft that is stopped (in theory)when the clutch is fully depressed. Even if the brake were to shatter and fall off of the shaft, the parts would be small enough to preovide no problems. It may be a pain in the fanny, but it's no danger.

Thank you Burky! That really takes a load off my mind.

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"Tude"

" A good attitude will get you through almost anything"

The truck I'm training in now has a clutch brake that doesn't work and a failing clutch to boot.

Lol, learning how to double-clutch this monster will make getting behind the wheel of one that actually works seem easy.

It's not too bad of a problem really, just have to make my shifts perfect and super-fast. Although getting it into gear when stopped results in the "can't find 'em, grind 'em" effect.

I feel for ya, if I didn't have extra gears to switch lower in, mine would not go in gear at all.

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"Tude"

" A good attitude will get you through almost anything"

There are a few things you can do. I found I could snap it into gear but if you can't do that, assuming the truck will restart, shut it off, depress the clutch pedal , put the transmission in gear, and restart it.

Clutch brakes don't get fixed at many places.

The clutch break is not used when you are shifting gears on the go, weather or not you double clutch or float them. You should only be depressing the clutch about an inch to shift gears on the go. The clutch break is only used when the truck has stopped moving and you need to put it back in gear, like at a red light.

The speed of your shift is dependent on how fast the engine drops RPM's. Your shifting speed will always be the same. If you try to put the truck back in gear with the RPM's either to high or low you will grind them.

On the truck I drive, I have a CAT C-15 with an Eaton-Fuller 10 speed overdrive. The engine must drop 500 RPM's between gears, doesn't matter if I go up or down, the drop is still 500 RPM's.

Mark

GRIND IT, TILL YOU FIND IT!!!

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The clutch brake does not cost that much if you can find a mechanic to help you install it. The Midland BK-313 two piece clutch brake can be installed without removing the clutch and was the choice for the last shop I worked in. Unlike the one piece brakes, this one is easy to install and costs in the $30-$40 range. The trick is finding a mechanic who has done it before to help you. Changing it was about a 3 hour or so job on our Macks.

That's not bad for repairs! I'll keep that in mind if it ever goes out in our truck. The one I'm driving that's needing repaired is not mine and is up to the company to fix it. I can deal as long as it's safe. The panel for my PTO lets me drop it down to shift, but that has to be hard on the truck. The thing can jump at times when it's switched back over. So here I sit on the scales, ready to take off, switch it over and there's a slight jump/clank that's embarrassing lol!!

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"Tude"

" A good attitude will get you through almost anything"