Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 14, 2025 ...

Re: Retarder Bracket Failure

Reply #25 – December 07, 2022, 10:52:02 am

Reviving this topic.
I had found, also my actuator just hanging by the air line and the 12 volt wires. It seems, after the new, heavier brackets were installed, the actuator was installed- but cross- threaded. It never was installed properly. Now it is. We leave Saturday and will see if it works as designed.

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Re: Retarder Bracket Failure

Reply #26 – December 07, 2022, 11:21:33 am

Makes me wonder why that particular bracket is so troublesome.  Is it because there is too much weight hanging on the bracket?    Does the bracket mounting position subject it to excessive vibration?  Are the bracket mounting bolts too few or too small?  Doesn't seem like rocket science skill level would be required to design a bracket that won't fall apart...

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Re: Retarder Bracket Failure

Reply #27 – December 07, 2022, 11:53:04 am

A 2000 coach would have the earlier bracket. The original one's didn't have a needed gusset as the weight hanging 90 deg. with just a weld holding was not good  enough. Search all the posts showing  the issue. I was able to fix mine before any issue but it was going to fail eventually.

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Re: Retarder Bracket Failure

Reply #28 – December 07, 2022, 04:28:47 pm

I took mine off before it failed and it was only welded on one side and the wrong side so I welded
it properly and also did what Chuck did and welded in a gusset.

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