Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

For all the old truckers out there,'brake saver"?

rcrxmike_2
Our Western Star doesn't have an engine brake, per se', but a little lever, and a 'Manual/Auto Switch' labled 'Brake Saver'. with the engine off,when you pull down on the lever, there's gurgling sound in the engine. (Cat 3406b). there are no valves or flaps in the exhaust path. I'm under the understanding that it's not a jake, but maybe more an illusion that it's slowing down when activated.....

Anyone have a take on this? Ever heard of one?
0

Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • pabooger
    Brakes??? Since when did you ever worry about brakes????[:D]
    0
  • pabooger
    http://www.zafr.com/trucktcom/retarder.htm
    0
  • fishkiller41
    Looks like an "Engine Hydraulic Retarder".(Caterpillar)

    Jeff
    0
  • Horse Plains Drifter
    It's a retarder. It's a Caterpillar thing. It's like a torque converter in reverse. The retarder is behind the flywheel, between it and the back of the engine block. There should be some oil lines coming out of the flywheel housing. There is a drive turbine(set of fins)on the back side of the flywheel and a stationary set of fins made into the flywheel housing. The lever you pull down operates an air valve that sends engine oil into the housing where the fins are. This causes the rotating fins(flywheel) th pump oil into the stationary fins. Since the stationary fins(flywheel housing) can't turn, drag is put on the flywheel causing the engine to now absorb power instead of produce power. When you release the control lever, all the oil runs back into the engine oil pan so there is no drag on the retarder when you don't want it. Just a bit of oil circulates through the retarder to lube the seals.

    Your engine will take three or four more gallons of oil than a non retarder engine, it will also have a larger oil cooler. The crankshaft and starter nose are also different than non retarder engines. On long downgrades the oil can get pretty hot, but they work good.
    0
  • rcrxmike_2
    ok, it has an electric switch too. and about a 1" + oil line from the trans to oil pan. I'll look it over when I get to the shop in a bit....thanks, guys!
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity