How I Use the Jake Brake
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2017
- 38+ year veteran trucker tells how and when he uses the engine brake, Jake Brake.
There are varying opinions regarding when and how the engine brake should be used.
Truth is, there is no right and wrong way to use the engine brake in a big rig.
A few tips about using the jake brake on icy, slippery roads, different strengths/positions of the jake settings.
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This is the guy that needs to be training new drivers
Love that sound. If I am walking across a parking lot and hear that deep rumble I always look around to see what's making the music. And I'm with you, turn it on when you need it.
The worst engine brake I ever drove was in a Freightliner that had a 8V92 Detroit engine. Fortunately I only had it for a couple of weeks running Kelowna to Creston over 3 big hills and 1 major hill. Going forward that engine was great. Turn the Jake on and the only thing that happened was more noise. Sticking your hand out the window to increase wind drag was just about as effective as the Jake.
The Salmo- Creston being the major hill? I ran Calgary to Castlegar for a few years when I was young. Loved the roads and the scenery out there. Drove for Richardson Transport back then, tanker outfit. Dave
You are correct. The east side isn't too bad but from the brake check the west side is 8 km of 8% then another 10 km of 4 - 6%. I run out there all the time still, and I do like it. Even if the Salmo - Creston seems like a career all by itself when you're heavy.
Smart-Trucking.com man I respect truck drivers that drive that route. It's hard enough in a pickup truck. Let along carrying 63,500 KG'S of whatever.
Kryten428 loo
I been driving for 20 years and I am still learning new things from this man
As a driver with 29 years, pulling most every kind of freight around North America, I just want to say thanks for putting in the time making these videos. I'm either refreshing what I always knew, or picking up new ideas.
I like to use my Jake brake only when going down steep hills on black ice while swerving back and fourth to keep the tires warm.
Call us when the pills wear off! Dave
I live half way up a hill.
I can always tell the rookies by them forgetting to shut off the jake on old trucks. The engine fights them.
Occasionally it's a full stop start over for the rock trucks.
I drive a ISX 525 on a heavy haul truck and the jakes work great. it slows me down when weighing 140,000 pounds. I also leave my jakes on all day.
I've been driving for about 24 years. One thing I have learned over the years is that, if you are in the proper gear going down a mountain (even on a 7% grade), you can let the Jake Brake do nearly all of the work (even with a heavy load).
I find the gear I need at the top, then switch back and forth between 3rd, 2nd and 1st stage all the way down the mountain, rarely having to touch my brake pedal. Jake Brakes work best between 1200 and 1800 rpm. .
Using the proper gear is very important in order to have good Jake Brake control.
At 1800 rpm, I will kick in 3rd stage. Let my engine cycle down to 1200 rpm then to 1000 rpm using 2nd and 1st stage.
Then let my rpm's climb to 1800 rpm and then go back to 3rd stage.
This is what Jake Brakes are made for. You can save your brakes on mountain grades by using your engine brake properly.
Agreed! Dave
I got a 16 freightliner with a Detroit engine and a Detroit 12 speed automatic. The Jake in this one is more powerful than the 15 Pete 579 with the standard shift I was on before this one. I've been through the Rockies in Colorado with heavy loads. My first truck was an international cabovet back in 2000 when I started.
We have Isx 565s and the jakes are pretty potent once they get going. I ran our old N14 truck and besides sounding reallly good, it didn't really slow me down much. Plus I was pretty light. I do run my Jake on the on position all day. Helps me keep my shifts smooth as I take more care to keep it from coming on.
Its good to see the old gal back on the road. And I know your enjoying the ride. As with that truck, its a pride of a ride for sure.
I drive local for a construction company, I haul aggregate, asphalt, concrete, etc. I drive transfer, end-dump, belly, mixer, etc. In almost every truck except for our Pete's with the paccar engines (they engage to early on the throttle) and the mixers (don't have them) , I just leave the Jake's brake on all the time unless I'm under 15mph in the yard, etc. I just keep my foot enough on the fuel to keep it from engaging. I was taught not to use the brakes unless you were coming to a complete stop. (under 15mph)
Use that Jake & plan ahead, don't have to use the pedal brakes often except for a final stop/in town/parking lot maneuvers.
The concept is interesting because it really isn't a physical "brake;" moreover cutting power to the engine to convert pad wear into heat energy more efficiently to combat brake fade. It's just engaging a cam that opens the exhaust valve slightly after the power stroke so that the returning force just goes right out the exhaust valve and not into the drivetrain.
I appreciate your videos. Today was my first day of truck driving school. Your videos have helped a lot.
they helped me too, just finiashed / got my license friday. check out red viking trucker as well he is a no nonsense guy with a lot of good insight.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy your future career as a truck driver. They say that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life and that was certainly true for me. Drive safe! Dave
TRue saying. I've been blessed to burn fuel since I was 17 or before. Heading toward 67 and still do it when the need arises. Mostly burn gas in the mowers now!
Same as you, switch always off in the city and when shifting. Mine was very effective and loud...3406 Mechanical Kitty with open exhaust...
I lived and was raised next to a highway penetrator and would hear that noise day and night. It became a comfort sound for me. Reminds me of home. I could see how they are a noise pollutant but with out semis we would not eat. Bless all the drivers and safe journey. AMERICA!
That's how my dad's 92 peterbilt 379 is. Got to shut the jakes of when you stop or it will sit there and spit and spuder. Great video like always keep it safe
Thanks! Dave
I've been driving for over 20 years and jake brakes is one thing I don't recall ever used since I stay on the South side of the USA. I do deal with rain like crazy and so far my only issue is that now my company has gone into "automatic" transmissions and my Volvo was good on flat surfaces, other than that, just unreliable. Sir, I do appreciate how professional your talking is on this video and please keep on driving safely. I do like jake brakes in the morning to wake up with, however, not everyone likes to be up that early to enjoy a cup of coffee.
Thanks for watching Moses!
When a veteran driver talks you listen!
Nothing can equal a well tuned Jacobs brake for control of a truck and it's load. I had one strong Jake on an old Cummins BC 350. back in mid70's .
One thing makes me sick is hearing those cowboy drivers doing a Jake shift thru every gear empty and loaded .It is stupid and ruins a fine truck. I appreciate your fine video
Yup! I hate that too! That and a bunch of other stuff like speed shifting and anything else that abuses equipment! Thank you for watching Banjo! Stay safe!
Much respect for your experience and knowledge. 👍
I love your videos and your lessons tjank very much, from Costa Rica im getting my "cdl " here we get a lot of hills and mountains so we need use to much the jake brake...
There are multiple types of engine brakes. The loud brap is a jake break, which changes the timing on the exhaust valves. The one you mentioned seeming to be not effective and really quiet is an exhaust brake. It serves the same purpose and essentially the same function, but it has a variable valve on the turbo itself. It creates back pressure to slow the pistons as opposed to the jake that releases the pressure from the compression stroke.
There's a third type of engine brake, though more common on gasoline motors, and it changes the timing on the intake valve instead. Creating negative pressure on the intake stroke to slow the piston instead of high pressure on the compression stroke.
Exhaust brakes are cheaper to install and repair, thus more common on fleet trucks.
Thanks for the good video. I complement you on being an articulate and well spoken person, not a "go ahead and" or "um" through the whole talk. You should be out in front speaking for your industry or doing training videos for You Tube posters. :)
Thank you! Dave
That jake sounded INSANE man love it i love the long nose Peterbilts
I leave my jake on most of the time but depending on how heavy I am and the conditions sometimes I'll shut it off upshifting. Usually I just keep my foot on the throttle enough to keep the jake from kicking on but let off to go into the next gear. I know everyone has different preferences but that's what I like. And loud pipes with a strong jake is hard to beat haha
I leave it on when I'm on the highway, but when I get into a town or in traffic and I'm not getting up to speed often I kick it on and off as needed. The computer seems to manage it pretty well beyond that, and that works for me.
yea that's pretty much the same as myself. If I'm in the lower gears I don't have it on because you usually not going at a speed fast enough to honestly need the jake. Your brakes will stop you pretty quickly
Great video! I use my jake all the time in my Pete 379 cat 6-NZ! It’s strong and ur exactly right about nothing like the sound of a straight piped jake!
There's more to this than I thought. Thank you for your intellectual capital and experience.
Ever since I was a kid I loved the sound of the jakes ❤
I'm not a big truck driver but I used to drive a Hino. Yes over the mountains and I was 68' long. The thing I loved about the Hino design aside from the visibility is that on the right side of the steering column just like a turn signal was the exhaust brake AND hazard lights. Pull down like you're signalling right exhaust brake ON. Flip UP like flashing high beams and It's your hazard light toggle. I loved it.
Now I'm driving an International with the switch on the dashboard and I don't like it. It doesn't seem to me to be good engineering to put the switch as a switch on the dash. But I don't know. Hino's design of having it readily accessible on the right side of the steering column seems like brilliant, yet obvious engineering.
I agree! There are handier places for that switch than on the dash. I knew a couple of guys that had them on the gearshift back in the day and that seemed to work well. Dave
Quite often in gridlock it can be used as 4wheeler repellent.
Same thing here when I hear that deep rumble near a road or if I'm in a parking lot and I hear that I know it's a big truck and I can tell it is a peterbilt peterbilts are my fav and my second fav is a kenworth
Jake Brake pro tip....aka something I stumbled upon by luck! You can leave the Jake on without it interfering with shifting simply by turning on your speed control(cruise control) which activates Jake Brake Coast Mode, however the jake will not engage unless your foot is touching the brake pedal. For me, I always have Coast mode on so if I need to stop suddenly, I have the extra stopping power the moment I get on the brake. In a hairy situation, a driver could miss the jake switch. I do often reach up to switch speed control off so I can gradually slow down without needing to tap the brake. Something else to note for anyone reading this that wants to try this feature out, especially if you are a person that likes to set your cruise...which I suspect drivers who commonly use cruise may have already discovered this Jake feature...anyway...If you set your cruise to 65 for example, the Jake will not engage to prevent you from exceeding that speed like it would if you were backing off the hammer with the Jake on. Whether Cat, Detroit, Cummins, or Mercedes powered, nearly every truck I have drove has had this feature.
Safe travels driver you helped me big time
Ive gotten pretty good at shifting with the jake on. But sometimes I just push on the clutch enough to disengage it but not push to where you disengage the clutch
I have seen Peterbilt Steve showing his trucks, and the new CSX comes with 565hp and 2050 pounds of torque. I would think with these numbers you would definitely feel the Jake brakes
I sure hope so. Depends on Cummins, I guess. I look at his videos too! Dave
Excellent tutorial!!
Any lessons on splitting the gears?
Thank you sir for the knowledge...
I find the noise a calming soothing sound. Like the j brake is saying: “it’s ok bud I got you I’m slowing this truck down for you”
The sound of raw horsepower, love it thanks for explanation!
I drive a 2007 Peterbilt 379 with a C15 NXS motor with VVhead Jakes and unless I'm driving in a city, I put the switch on most of the time for most of the day.
Upshifts and downshifts are fairly easy to get with a little practice, as you don't have to pull entirely off the throttle to shift in the 05-07 Pete's (floating that is).
I definitely don't like straight pipes though, I like to hear at the end of the day.
Not me would rather hear those straight pipes
We have a 98 t800 that has two options for Jake brake use depending on your cruise control setting. One choice is having the Jake activate as soon as you let off the accelerator, and the other option activated it only after you are on the brakes. You can even just tap the brake pedal if you just want to coast down with the Jake and not wear your shoes down
You are one lucky/happy trucker...jealous much...I left the trucking job after 10 years in business looking for easier road to retirement...Got in to driver training and testing new drivers...It's easy, but not even close to fun and (challenge) of truck driving..Greetings from New Zealand..
Greetings and thanks for watching! New Zealand is on my bucket list, I've heard it's beautiful there!
Hell yeah, nothing in the world sound more assuring than my set of jakes
I love the roar of jake break
Yeah, me too! Dave
I love listening to your wisdom
one on company truck is muffled, youll most likely see me going downhill with it on until i feel comfortable, then ill turn it off and on to slow me down as needed. in city highways it would probably be on just in case i get an idiot in front trying to brake check me, or something similar. Inside cities, ill turn it on just to slow me down if i need to stop or make turns. all other times, it will remain off until needed.
Computers ya give and take I guess my grandfather a 41yr diesel mechanic was basically forced into early retirement because of computers is a sad tail that all the knowledge of the old school guys is slowing wasting away such a wealth of knowledge and my dad has been a mill-right his whole life and we grew up poor so we depended on thoes skills I still do he'll I've never owned anything newer than a 98 and my biggest mistake like my dad and grandpa STILL say was not going to school for diesel classes and they are not wrong when they said there will always be a need for diesel mechanics so it's cool to see the old schoolers doin these videos because you won't be around forever.
Nothing beats the sound of Jacobs!!
am old school for over 40 years..
I always install a jake brake on-off pedal on the left floor board.. never have to fiddle with dopey toggle switches on the dash
Hey, I like that big toggle switch on the dash! First switch I bought an extender for. Dave
You make great videos
Good show!
I love this guy. He's helped me so much
Nice of you to say Wales! Thanks!
On highway construction its awesome to hear all the trucks come through with the exhaust removed and the Jake brake on. Really appreciate the opportunity to have to repeat what I'm saying all day long.
The best way I can think of to say "thank you" is cruise through the rest area or truck stop at night with my horn on in a similar show of respect and solidarity.
Love that sound
Great videos brother god bless !!!
Great teacher!
Man that’s a comfortable looking seat.
Yeah, it really is. Bostrom wide ride2. Dave
What you need is a jake brake and a brake saver that way when you are in town only use the brake saver every and every body is a happy camper this is what you call a beautiful thing can you dig it
i live in the country side but i got to the city every now and then to see family and they live right next to a freeway that meets one of the city's main roads any it has large intersection and all nigh long you can here the sound of trucks using Jake Brakes and the sound is soothing its music to my ears i fall asleep in minuets.
You are the best truck driver 👍👍👍🏿
Some drivers will use the Jake to drop the engine revs when going uphill- makes for quicker upshifts.
In the 2014 Mack I drive I can not even hear the engine brake and sometimes I can't tell if it is working. I think it is electronically controlled to the speed you set it to Depends on the situation I also turn it off when not needed and when parking. Been driving since 1991 and most of the company trucks did not have engine brakes. So lots of smoking brakes coming down the mountains.
Mr Charles if you have the E7 Mack motor with the jack on .puch the maxi button then you will feel it.every Mack motor with a jack has the maxi button
Its using a muffler on the EB thats all... You let all the compression out of the engine without using the muffler, that's why it sounds that evil... sounds 100% like a straightpiped truck
please ignore my previous comment, after watching the rest of your video the jake brake is known in the uk as the exhaust brake and woorks better the higher the engine is revs
Now that's old school the spinner ha ha
Fidget spinner for truck drivers. :)
Great video 👍
I loved the sound of engine brake of a Detroit Engine its louder than Cummins. Engine brakes saved my life & my career countless times.
Mine too! Wouldn't be without one! Dave
Hi thanks for the great video stay safe buddy
Hey Dave,
Here's one for you, but you may have experienced this yourself. I had a 98 Freightliner Century with a sixty series Detroit for power. I had come to a stop, and the jake almost killed the engine. Just before it died, I stepped on the fuel pedal to bring it back to life, and shut the jake switch off. I put the truck in gear, and started to move backwards! So I put the truck in reverse and it began to move forward! About the same time I got a real bad smell that came into the cab. I looked at my oil pressure gauge and was shocked to see no pressure at all. I immediately shut the truck down and then restarted it, and everything was back to normal.
What happened was when I stepped on the fuel to keep the jake from killing the motor, it started to turn in reverse. I have heard that could happen with a Cat, but found out the hard way it could happen with other engines as well.
That was the first and last time. That sure freaked me out though!
I've heard that can happen, kind of exciting for a moment and if you own the truck it's probably kind of gut wrenching! Dave
Smart-Trucking.com
Absolutely. I was an O/O at that time and at first didn't know what was happening. I'm just glad I had the presence of mind to shut the truck down. Otherwise, it likely would have cost me an engine.
The two-stroke Detroits are known for doing this
I run a 99 379 with a 550 cat turned up 8 inch straight stacks buckets and I always run with my Jake brake on. If you're good at shifting it won't come on
Thanks great video😊
There may have been an issue with that isx you drove, because an isx should have incredible engine braking. Even the ism's engine brakes work really well since they both are using the vg turbo in conjunction to create back pressure.
I never turn my jakes off unless the roads are wet, or a cold engine. I get about 60% more life out of my brake liners, drums, and brake assembly (slack adjusters, S cams, springs). I've had so many people tell me that it will ruin an engine by using the jakes on a constant basis. I call bs on that XD
I had a k100 for a long time and it had the jake controls on the side of the stick with a momentary switch with your palm on the top of the stick you could turn them on instead of reaching for the dash.
Handy as hell, I'll bet! Dave
I learned jakes on Florida wet road be carful . That’s after first rain on dry road.
Retired after 44 yrs. in the saddle and there is one thing that other truck drivers do that really bugs me. It's the Jake use with loud exhaust, barking down through every gear at 4 o'clock in the morning. The public dislikes trucks enough without that rookie nonsense. Have to announce to everyone in every small town you've arrived? Grow up.
studies have shown that a loud jake brake makes less noise than a semi going through your living room...
Not every one is a hard sleeper. I would hear the trucks all the time in Bridgewater MA when I was at my boyfriend's place. Thankfully he moved to a quieter town and area.
Justin Hood that comment is the greatest.
Ron Dye i love the jake brake sound its like miusic to me and yes it has to be loud
Ron Dye tell that to all the Harley's with straight pipes leaving the bar in the middle of the nite cracking through town.
Hey man, I just want to let you know I like your vids and you are one of the very few REAL truckers out there that are doing vids.I am trying to find a good cdl school to go to ask we speak so wish me luck! My main concern is backing up.I appreciate your vids and I learn from them.Thanks!!!
Good luck Victoria! Backing up is kind of like riding a bike. The more you do it the better you get at it. When I was learning I honestly felt the steering wheel spinner helped and that leaning out the window rather than relying totally on the mirrors was a good idea. Don't sweat it, you'll get it. Dave
If it helps, use it!
Thanks!
This hint is probably a bit late, but it might still help you or someone else.
Steer the trailer like a WHEELBARROW. Move the nose of it with the tractor to steer the rear wheels where you want the back to go.
That way if you can back up a 4 wheeler, you can back up ANY combination, just by figuring how to move the FRONT of the trailers to steer the wheels at the back.
With that trick, the only thing to worry about with the tractor is not swinging it wide into something while steering the trailer. works for using the mirrors, works with your head out the door, works any way that is EASIEST for you!
Parallel park for a road test becomes EASY by comparison. Steer the trailer until it nears the curb & it's time to straighten it. Then bring the trailer NOSE in toward the curb to do so. As the drives get near the curb the NOSE of the tractor swings to straighten the drives next to the curb. DONE (except for a pull up to make perfect).
I had a shaker with a smart wheel the jake could be turned on and off with your thumb, I only ever turned it on when needed down big hills, there were days I never used it.
Thats awesome.
We miss out on so much here in the uk. It would be worth going to the states just for some jake brake action
No jake brakes in the UK?
How's it from Zambia Africa, good advice on the Jake brake. I would just wish if some of our steering wheel attendants would not use the Jake brake on the up shift. As you say treat it with respect. Keep driving, keep safe.
I miss driving. Need a Jake on a C15 and an 18spd in my daily
🇨🇦🤘
I really love your truck I don’t like peterbilts I’m more of a kenworth & freightliner guy but I really like your truck because it is clean and simple 👍
Thanks! I do prefer the clean, simple close to factory look with a few modifications, like the pipes. I went through the phase with having a hundred lights and a ton of chrome back in the eighties and just grew out of it after awhile.
Yea I know what you mean
Having too much modifications is sometimes bad because not everyone has the Same likings
Thank you Sir.
I use mine as needed and love the sound from the Jake Brake...Lol
on my new freight cascades, I drove 3 before they found my new one. the 1st ones hit good! thos one doesn't work good. I leave mine on level 3
i only use mine to slow down from 70 since company doesnt want me going over it, other than that, when exiting, hills going down, or slamming the shit out of my brakes from mysteriously fallen off the sky standstill traffic ahead.
There was definitely something wrong with that ISX motor, I have an ISK motor and my Jake brake is very strong
Cool we have a sign on the rd at the 4 way before the rock quaray
very smart man
2012 International Maxforce. Company truck, so cant cry too much, as it pulls decently enough. But the Jake definitely could be better. They have it set so the Jake doesnt "hit" with out tapping the brakes. And in top gear (Eaton10), you dont feel it. You have to be aggressive with the down shift, but then the Jake holds fairly well. Stock exhaust and dpf, but no def.
just learned a valuable lesson
i just got into one of those new volvo mack granites the mack version of the jake doesn't really do a lot except make noise.
I learned on the old mechanical engines the old Ford 9000 had a 400 big cam the jake would really crack it would also stall the engine if you were not careful. Todays trucks will never sound like your old Pete with a Cat, all you hear out of a current model truck is a hissing sound. The days are gone when we had the old 2 stroke detroits I used to drive a truck with 6v92 power. Any new drivers out there learn how to drive without the jake because one day you flick the switch and nothing happens boy are you going to have a surprise.
The ones that make a hissing sound are not Jake brakes they are exhaust brakes. Don't like exhaust brakes.
Thanks I've been always using my Jake brakes you just gotta be careful. Stay safe drivers 🙏 god bless.
Thanks, you too!
On the steering wheel, what are u resting your hand on?
Great videos!
I use mine mainly when loaded. Not as much when empty unless in a hilly area. I do use it in the rain but never in snow. Another thing is that Jake brake is mostly effective when engine is under 1500 rpms.
love them jake sounds
Thanks