Engine brake - trainer never told me what is it

PackRat has the best definition. To get a little more detailed, each cylinder has an extra exhaust valve and the cam an extra exhaust cam lobe. The forward motion of the truck continues to turn the crankshaft causing the cylinders to go up and down. The compression stroke actually acts like a spring when it's done and pushes down on the cylinder again causing you to gain speed. Now if you let the cylinder compress slowing the truck down, and then vent the cylinder while it is up to take the pressure out, it can't push the cylinder down. So all you got is cylinders compressing and none pushing, thus slowing the truck. The stages is the cylinders opening in pairs as they work in pairs.
The valve stem is telescoping like a power car antenna and is solenoid operated.

There are different manufacturers and some designs even uses a seperate camshaft.

Jake Brakes name come from the manufacturer Jacobs and is almost old as me. They were first designed in 1962 by a man named Clessie Cummins. Sound familiar?

The reason you don't use Jakes in wet/icy conditions is because you are retarding just your drives and the trailer is not braking causing the weight of your trailer to push on your tractor while the drives are trying to slow. You push too hard and you will have your rear end come out from under you. Plus in wet/icy weather you want to use your brakes to help dry the drums off and have all wheels work together when stopping/slowing.

Back in the old days, brake fade was common on mountain grades and the engine brake was invented to help limit the use of your brakes to keep them from overheating. Brake fade still happens today, but it really takes a driver who is inexperienced in tackling a mountain and rides the brakes. Even with ABS, still practice stab braking like you were taught to give the brakes a brief cool down period.

Someone mentioned exhaust brakes which is completely different. That is a valve on the exhaust that closes and causes backpressure on the engine.

 

Wow this is a good Jake / engine brake thread lol, I only use it when of course I'm heavy or just to get some four Wheeler out of my way ( well atleast I use to ) don't do it anymore I just keep a safe distance between me and whoever is in front of me.

 

Really? Is someone expecting to make money on that? What is wrong with baffles? They will not work in a smooth bore either. I don't see the point.