I just did the test I mentioned. Full air at 120 PSI and pumped the brakes rather hard and it took 20 actuations before the low air light came on. whether or not the "E" brake come on at that point is another issue but it is a reference point.

Hi Jim and Tere As a new diesel owner myself I found this link to be very informative
http://barthmobile.com/eve/for...=456107333#456107333
You will love the Breakaway. Have Fun.
May God bless you and your family.
Wayne & BJ

Wow, this is great info for a diesel novice driver. Another question, should you put the shift lever in 'N' if the engine goes off? Actually, I don't know if there is a 'N' position.(I'm in TN, Barth is in PA) I know that there's no 'P' position .
Jim

Jim: N&P = same function. There is the possiblity if you turn your diesel off and the tranny is still in gear, you may have trouble shifting back to N. You have to carwl under the coach and readjust the linkage..................

Why do I have a hard time picturing Carl crawling under the coach and readjusting the linkage?

I agree with Jim that this is a great thread. Good discussions.

In aviation, we learned to develop a scan of all the pertinent instruments on the panel as we were in flight. Certainly if there were a sudden loss of oil pressure you would want to know it right away so you could find a huge farm with soft pillows (yeah, right), and so the oil pressure gauge became the most important instrument in the cockpit.

At first a scan, usually done from upper left, across to the right, down and then back to the point of origin was most confusing, and you really didn't know what you had just seen. But by developing it over a series of scans, it really did start to sink in and become more informational. Once you have decided the important gauges in such a scan you can do it as a matter of habit, and you will hopefully be able to react in plenty of time no matter what the malady.

And like Ed said, don't forget the wheel chocks!

Lou

Danny and Susie, yes you can see him crawling under the coach if he continues to loose weight!! He is doing great and looks really good !!
Me,I am trying very very hard.......Betty

quote:

In aviation, we learned to develop a scan of all the pertinent instruments on the panel as we were in flight.

One thing aircraft instrument panels do that vehicles don't is that (usually), the gauges are oriented such that "normal" has the needles at 12 o'clock - makes a scan easier. In addition, flight instruments are arranged in a standard "T" pattern.

Knowing now that the parking brake is automatically engaged when the air pressure goes much below 60psi, what do the tow guys do? I know they have to drop the drive shaft but do most of them know how to disengage the brake?
Jim

The Breakaway (Spartan chassis) does not have FULL air brakes with emergency spring loaded actuators at the rear wheels, so once the drive shaft is removed, the Breakaway will tow. The emergency brake is located at the rear of the transmission.

Professional or big rig towing guys would know how to deal with towing a vehicle with conventional air brakes.

I get it. Thanks