Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 28, 2025 ...

Retarder

October 03, 2013, 09:52:47 am

I've read the thread on the Retarder not working when one removes pressure from the accelerator pedal, but I think my problem is slightly different and want to see if anyone can shed insight on it. My retarder was working until recently. When I would use the joystick, there was a definite braking effect. That's not happening now. If I start to decelerate, taking my foot off of the accelerator, the retarder light comes on and I feel like there is a braking effect in operation, not just reduced acceleration with no foot on the accelerator. However the joystick lever seems to do absolutely nothing. Could one part be working and the other not work? Is it possible that when the Cummins fellows worked on my engine that they changed something in the transmission? OR, maybe more likely, when I had to get towed because of engine failure, that either the tow operator who disconnected the transmission or the tech who reconnected it did not properly reconnect the Retarder operation? Who is the right kind of repair person to look at this for me? An engine shop? A transmission shop? Should I find someone that specifically works on Allison transmissions or is this a general kind of problem?  Thanks, in advance, for thoughts and suggestions!

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Re: Retarder

Reply #1 – October 03, 2013, 12:16:45 pm

I'm not sure I fully understand what you are saying is the problem.

Turning the Retarder switch on allows two things:  1.  Stepping on the brake pedal will apply the retarder, % depending on foot pressure. 2.  Pulling the lever back, with your foot on the fuel feed, is NOT going to apply the retarder.  Taking your foot off of the fuel, with the retarder lever in any rearward position, WILL apply the retarder.  That is the way it is supposed to work.

When I get into the coach after being absent for a while, it takes a bit to get used to that.  When going downhill with the retarder on, I tend to forget that I can speed up a little by using my left hand...instead, I touch the fuel pedal, which completely removes the retarder.  Letting go of the fuel feed instantly re-applies the retarder.  Makes for a bit of jerkiness until I get back used to driving it again. 

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Re: Retarder

Reply #2 – October 03, 2013, 09:47:11 pm

Sounds like the connecter for the joystick is not connecting. My understanding of your issue is that the joystick is not even causing the retard light to illuminate.

We had the joystick added to our 1997 U295. It was not original equipment. It hooks to the system with a wiring harness. If the stick is not plugged to the harness, I would expect the symptoms you are experiencing.

You might try opening the control panel and check connectors. That's a relatively low risk operation. On our coach, the panel comes out if you remove about six tiny screws.

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