V8 jake question

I don't know why they never used Jakes but I've got a Brakesaver on my 3408 and the only thing that plays up is the diaphragm that costs about $60 and is easy enough to change. It doesn't leak oil but that's because of careful assembly and using Loctite 515. The O rings aren't that expensive. I changed the diaphragm on mine a few weeks ago.
If you set the max actuating air pressure at 60 psi it will work as good as a Jake but that's only for short stops. If you're going down a long grade you set the pressure at around 40-50 psi on the handpiece, any higher and the Brakesaver oil temp goes in the red.
It sounds a bit like a locomotive on the dynamics when you're using the Brakesaver at full air pressure, especially when you've got the Horton on which you're supposed to do anyway.

 

I did away with my Brakesaver in the early 90's. it wasn't due to poor operation, it was simply preference. I just like a jake better, Ozdriver probably knows more then most on the Brakesaver because he operates it daily. Most drivers nowadays don't even know what a Brakesaver or throttle lock is. I found that my truck operated best at 35-40 psi on the Brakesaver. I could use it whenever and however without anything overheating. Also operated with no oil leakage. I think that when you keep jacking up the pressure and the heat it thins the oil, making leaks inevitable.

 

I think the recommended max pressure is about 40 psi, I'd have to look it up. Any higher and you get much better braking but you know you're going to have to replace diaphragms in the control module more often. I've found the only way to do that properly is to take the module right off, about a 4 hour job start to finish. You can do it quicker without taking off the module.
TBH, I've never had problems with oil leaks, last time I resealed the flywheel housing I got the Brakesaver itself overhauled at CAT, didn't really need it, cost $1100 I think it was, I just gave them the Brakesaver and they replaced all seals, they've got the special tools I don't have.

 

I never had a brake saver. I did install a jake on my 3406. It worked but it didn't seem to work as well as on the old 855 Cummins. It's didn't bother me much though. I had been so use to not having one. Someone once told me exhaust brakes worked better on cats, but I don't know if that's true or not.

 

Does anyone know if it’s easy to install Jakes on a 3406b model cat? I bought a truck and the guy gave me Jakes but I have no idea if it will be difficult to do.
The truck has a retarded or brakesaver... but I’d rather have the Jakes on it

 

It's not bad at all. Remove the head bolts where Jake studs sit. Remove oil feed plugs in rocker arm start. Install oil tunes. Place b washer on studs. Install Jake head install A washer on top of Jake then nut. Torque it and set jakes per specs

 

If the Jake is complete with the correct cross tops and the extended head bolts it is a Saturday afternoon job, but I would rebuild the Jake while it's off; not very hard or expensive but they work much better fresh. Save the wiring for last in case you run out of time, they will just sit there and not bother anything if they are not hooked up. If you are planning on removing the retarder at the same time you are in for a major project, I would leave the retarder alone and have both; you will never need the foot brake again on a downgrade if you have both

 

Look at the firing order, then figure out how you would pass an oil signal from a Jake head on one bank to one on the other to control the brake on the next hole in the firing order.

 

When using the old Brake Savior under oil compression, you kept an eye on several gauges related to oil temp, oil pressure and also on the engine coolant temp. If you stood on the engine jake long enough to heat the oil and the engine coolant begins to take some of the heat as the engine pressure begins to fall 5 points it's time to take two gears, then shut off jake until engine oil temp return to normal.

Im writing this from sometime deep back in the 80's and I hope I wrote this right. In them old iron trucks all the gauges tell you a story. When 'she' starts to get sickly or not well or over hot you will know exactly what is happening and do what is possible to eliminate, mitigate the problem or get to safe shop.

I miss this part of trucking. These computer things have been nice, but they turned me into a brain dead mush always wondering what is next....