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Clutch Brake Question

Discussion in 'Kenworth Forum' started by bigessfour, Jun 28, 2019.

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  1. Jun 28, 2019 #1
    bigessfour

    bigessfour Bobtail Member

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    Mar 17, 2018
    Lamar, Colorado
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    I drive an 06 Kenworth T-600, CAT C-13 Engine with an Eaton Fuller 10 speed transmission. Current mileage is just over 900K miles. I've been driving the truck for 2 years.

    The transmission shifts great after getting it into first. I press in on the clutch, not typically all the way to the floor when starting out. Shifting from 2-10 is smooth as glass. My boss jumped in the truck to move it the other day and when he saw me, he jumped my ### because he claimed the clutch brake was out. He claimed he could not get the truck into gear at all without shutting off the engine and putting it into gear, then restarting it. I've never ever had this happen to me. I've read just about everything I can find on the interweb, but there is no real explanation of how to know when a clutch brake is out. Can you guys offer me some level headed explanation of how to know for sure when a clutch brake is out? What causes it to go out? How I could possibly be driving it to cause it to go out? He's just gonna yell, and I'm not gonna learn anything. Thanks for your help.
     
    bigessfour, Jun 28, 2019
    bigessfour, Jun 28, 2019
    #1
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  3. Jun 28, 2019 #2
    Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    Clutch engages when you press the clutch to the floor. It feels like a sponge, and the gear goes in smooth, from a dead stop though. It’s only meant to engage from a complete stop when your trying to put it in gear. That’s it’s purpose.
     
    Diesel Dave, Jun 28, 2019
    Diesel Dave, Jun 28, 2019
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  4. Jun 28, 2019 #3
    Doublewiggle32

    Doublewiggle32 Light Load Member

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    Were you able to put it in gear at a stop without grinding? If so I'd say it's fine.
     
    Doublewiggle32, Jun 28, 2019
    Doublewiggle32, Jun 28, 2019
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  5. Jun 28, 2019 #4
    Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    I have a habit of putting it in gear before a complete stop. Grinding gears or slamming them is not in my vocabulary.
     
    Diesel Dave, Jun 28, 2019
    Diesel Dave, Jun 28, 2019
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  7. Jun 28, 2019 #5
    Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    When you push the clutch all the way down to the floor only at the dead stop, you'll feel the clutch brake like the other person said it's like a sponge.

    What that does is it stops the transmission from turning and you can put the truck right in gear. This is only to be used when you are at a complete dead stop, never when the truck is moving at all ever.

    If you push the clutch all the way down to the floor and you go to put the transmission in gear and it grinds and it doesn't want to go in, then the clutch brake is not working. If you push the clutch all the way down to the floor and you are able to put the transmission in gear without any grinding or anything else, then the clutch brake is working.

    It's that simple. But if you use the clutch to shift, only push the pedal far enough to disengage the clutch. You can damage the transmission if you push the clutch to the floor while the truck is moving.

    Only use the clutch brake when you are at a complete and total dead stop.
     
    Dino soar, Jun 28, 2019
    Dino soar, Jun 28, 2019
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  8. Jun 28, 2019 #6
    Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    Btw, clutch brake can be adjusted just like your clutch.
     
    Diesel Dave, Jun 28, 2019
    Diesel Dave, Jun 28, 2019
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  9. Jun 29, 2019 #7
    Goodysnap

    Goodysnap Road Train Member

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    The clutch brake should be operational after a clutch is properly adjusted.

    To the OP....

    It is possible that the clutch can malfunction intermittently causing slight drag and for the clutch brake to act ineffective. It's actually quite common when a disc dampening spring starts to dislodge from a broken spring or disc. Have the adjustment and brake squeeze check by a qualified individual, and keep a feel for it to happen again. What hour boss felt may have been real. If it happens again and the brake checks good its clutch replacement time.
     
    Goodysnap, Jun 29, 2019
    Goodysnap, Jun 29, 2019
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  10. Jun 29, 2019 #8
    bigessfour

    bigessfour Bobtail Member

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    Lamar, Colorado
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    Thanks for all of your answers. In my history with the truck, I may have never driven it with an operational clutch brake. It's an old beat up grain truck that has been abused. He has had the clutch brake replaced two times, I'm not going to say I am the best super trucker out there, It does grind a touch, but it's not impossible to get into first gear. In my mind, that is the way it's always driven, and I am having a hard time understanding what's going on.
     
    bigessfour, Jun 29, 2019
    bigessfour, Jun 29, 2019
    #8
  11. Jul 21, 2019 #9
    Bean Jr.

    Bean Jr. Road Train Member

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    You're not using the clutch brake if you don't floorboard the clutch at a dead stop.
     
    Bean Jr., Jul 21, 2019
    Bean Jr., Jul 21, 2019
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  12. Jul 29, 2019 #10
    starmac

    starmac Road Train Member

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    There is no adjustment on any clutch brake that I have ever seen, you adjust the clutch to spec for the brake to work.
    Engaging the clutch brake one time while the truck is not at a dead stop breaks the tit off of it and ruins it.
    It may try to grab a little without it, but it will need replacing.
     
    starmac, Jul 29, 2019
    starmac, Jul 29, 2019
    #10
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