Use of the retarder

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Use of the retarder

March 28, 2011, 06:30:10 pm

We have been advised by those we trust and respect to not use our retarder when the roads are wet.

We have been advised by those we trust and respect to go ahead and use our retarder when the roads are wet.

We do not use our retarder on loose gravel, sand, ice or snow. Actually , we never drive on those surfaces, but if we did the retarder would be off.

What do you do?

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #1 – March 28, 2011, 06:37:59 pm

I don't drive when roads are wet, on gravel, sand, ice, snow....only time I drive below 60 degrees is to get to someplace warmer...full timing is GREAT. Along with no schedule.

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #2 – March 28, 2011, 06:47:44 pm

George, the retarder issue on snow and ice is simple.... DO NOT USE IT....

The wet roads issue is harder to gauge. If it has been raining a while I still leave mine on but use the brake pedal instead of the joystick. I have also used the joystick too and have not had an issue. I think if you are going fast enough to hydroplane than you have an issue anyway and I usually slow down in the rain so it is not as big an issue skidding. I have seen many a trip where cars spin out but the FT is pretty steady and surefooted.

As to sand, if you are on sand and enough of it you are not going anywhere probably... it will be stuck, if you are on gravel roads, and I travel one every day, I am usually going so slow that the Retarder is not going to work or be enough of a help.

So the real question is rain. That is a personal decision I think. I know I have heard it both ways too. I have put 300K miles on my three FT and driven in heavy rain including a couple hurricanes. I was leaving and it was coming in faster..... oh no.... the wind was harder to deal with than the wet and the retarder. So, if you can not drive that is the best answer. I have driven in the snow but the last trip home this month, I hit snow at the TN VA line. It was about 3 inches and I pulled into the welcome area and spent the night. Why move..... if you do not have to. I was very comfy and the aquahot kept me toasty warm and I was the only rig in there that night....

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #3 – March 28, 2011, 07:03:00 pm

Quote from: George Stoltz – March 28, 2011, 06:30:10 pm

We have been advised by those we trust and respect to not use our retarder when the roads are wet.

We have been advised by those we trust and respect to go ahead and use our retarder when the roads are wet.

We do not use our retarder on loose gravel, sand, ice or snow. Actually , we never drive on those surfaces, but if we did the retarder would be off.

What do you do?

We were taught in "Cop Driving School" if you want the rear end of a vehicle to swing past the front, lock up the rear brakes. You've seen it on TV when the cops hit the emergency brake to make a powered U turn in a great chase scene. That's one reason most cops turn off the ABS on their patrol cars whenever possible. They are trained to use the controlled slide to make their vehicles more maneuverable. The shortest stopping distance occurs when using both front and rear brakes. In fact most vehicles proportion their braking system with the majority of power on the front brakes to attain the shortest stopping distance.

Do you have ABS braking? If so, I definitely would avoid using the Retarder on wet roads. However with conventional braking it depends on how slippery the road is. Just like with the cop car a bicycle or motorcycle, when the rear tires break traction, the rear end can move laterally causing one to loose steering control. To me its a circumstance call, if the road surface could be slippery, turn off the retarder. If you have ABS, for sure turn off the retarder. If the road surface has good traction, the retarder set on a lower setting may help stopping a vehicle with conventional brakes. It could prevent locking up the tires in an emergency stop.

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #4 – March 28, 2011, 07:14:12 pm

If it's rainy on my shift, the FT is in manual control mode. No cruise, no retarder, and I slow down as weather conditions dictate.

Seems I usually get the road construction/cattle chute and rainy segments of our travels

But we try not to travel during bad weather or at night.

Michelle

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #5 – March 28, 2011, 07:17:59 pm

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – March 28, 2011, 07:14:12 pm

If it's my shift, the FT is in manual control mode. No cruise, no retarder, and I slow down as weather conditions dictate.

Seems I usually get the road construction/cattle chute and rainy segments of our travels But we try not to travel during bad weather or at night.

Michelle

Somehow Peggy seems to get those driving conditions as well. I really don't do it on purpose, it just seems to happen. She too seems to avoid using mechanical assistance like the cruse control.

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #6 – March 28, 2011, 07:21:36 pm

Quote from: George Stoltz – March 28, 2011, 06:30:10 pm

We have been advised by those we trust and respect to not use our retarder when the roads are wet.

We have been advised by those we trust and respect to go ahead and use our retarder when the roads are wet.

We do not use our retarder on loose gravel, sand, ice or snow. Actually , we never drive on those surfaces, but if we did the retarder would be off.

What do you do?

DO NOT USE A RETARDER WHILE DRIVING ON WET, ICY, OR SLIPPERY ROADS. DOING SO CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL.

IN COLD WEATHER, TURN THE RETARDER OFF WHEN APPROACHING BRIDGE DECKS, ON-RAMPS, OR EXIT RAMPS.

DURING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, TURN THE RETARDER OFF USING THE MASTER CONTROL (ON/OFF) SWITCH LEVER.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE RETARDER.

IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT RETARDERS

The master control (ON/OFF) switch is usually accompanied by a light which indicates the system is activated. Periodically check to verify the retarder is functioning by activating the master control switch at closed throttle only. Throttle activation automatically deactivates the retarder.

The retarder is not a replacement for your brakes. However, it can be used to slow down or maintain motorcoach speed during most highway operations. Retarders help to extend brake life and prevent brake fade.

Remember that the retarder only brakes the drive axle and cannot detect slippery roads or other environmental hazards. It is possible for the rear of the motorcoach to lose traction on wet, icy, or slippery roads when the retarder is applied. Do not use the retarder during such conditions.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/outreach/bus/safety-technologies.htm#8

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #7 – March 28, 2011, 08:00:17 pm

Quote from: Kent Speers – March 28, 2011, 07:17:59 pm

She too seems to avoid using mechanical assistance like the cruse control.

oops - this made me realize my post was poorly worded. I do use the cruise and retarder if it's dry out, just not if it's wet. I went back and edited my post.

I find myself reaching for the (nonexistant) retarder joystick in my car for days after an RV trip

-M

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #8 – March 30, 2011, 05:56:12 am

I turn the cruise off in the rain but leave the retarder on. I figure if I use the brake pedal it uses all the brakes and the transmission to stop me. No problems ith it yet in all kinds of wet. Snow and ice are different bu I have never had it break traction ever and I have a lot of miles done in rain.

I went to the same type of driving school as Kent. You get a thrill the first time you do a J turn after a few more it is old hat and after a few year it is standard thought about what to do. The coach in the snow is much different than the rain. We are very sure footed in snow but you can still feel a bit of traction loss as you drive. In the rain I have not felt that unles I was going way too fast. I think your speed has way mire to do with stability than the retarder.

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Use of the retarder

March 28, 2011, 06:30:10 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #1 – March 28, 2011, 06:37:59 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #2 – March 28, 2011, 06:47:44 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #3 – March 28, 2011, 07:03:00 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #4 – March 28, 2011, 07:14:12 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #5 – March 28, 2011, 07:17:59 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #6 – March 28, 2011, 07:21:36 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #7 – March 28, 2011, 08:00:17 pm

Re: Use of the retarder

Reply #8 – March 30, 2011, 05:56:12 am

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