Question:
What are the rules for using the jake brake? Can it be used on slippery roads, rain or snow or ice?
One guy told me he left his on all the time.
Others say don't use it on slippery roads.
What 's everyone's opinion on this?

Answer:
Well, leaving it on all the time is no good.
2) Don't use it while in first gear or reverse----not good for the differential(s).
My personal tip is never to use it except on steep hills with a heavy load, but that's just my preference.

Answer:
The only time you really need or should use the jake is in the hills to supplement the braking effects of the engine from being in the proper gear and using a good braking technique.
As far as using it on wet, snowy or otherwise slippery surfaces, it can be used, but if you are not careful it can cause you problems. You really are better off not using it on slick road conditions and never use it on ice.
Answer:
In slippery conditions, if you have a good bit of weight, you can usually use it at the lowest setting, but be really careful about it.
Never use a jake when bobtailed.
That guy who leaves his on all the time is eventually going to meet his demise on a snowy road someday when he ends up plowing into a bridge abuttment. When I drove trucks that had Jakes, I only turned it on when needed. Some trucks (like Freightliner FLD's) have a double switch where you can leave the jake on low, then throw the second switch for extra braking from the 2 higher settings. That's ok, but not ideal. Macks have 2-position Maxibrakes, and the lowest setting is too powerful to be left on all the time. Luckily, the big rocker switch they use is really easy to turn on.
A Jake is a retarder, not a service brake.
Answer:
My truck has a volvo engine brake, i don't use it at all when it's slippery, but i don't have much weight on anyway.

Answer:
I use my 'Jakes' once I get up to highway speeds........after setting the cruise control.
I also use my Jakes in heavy traffic where the speed limit is 45 mph or above. Every little bit helps to slow ya down when some jackass cuts you off at the last second because he just has to be sitting at the light before you do.
I DO NOT use my Jakes in residential areas, or when the roads are slippery.
Common courtesy dictates how and when I use the Jakes. I know I don't like it when the local pig farmer hauls feed past my place (on a gravel road), and uses his Jake's for no reason.

Answer:
The problem with using a jake-brake during less than ideal traction conditions, is that it applies a braking force to the drive wheels that is controlled by the drive train and engine torque, rather than by the driver. As a result, letting off of the accelerator with the jake engaged can result in the rear wheels locking up and the truck can go into a skid.
However, in my opinion, if the road conditions are so bad that engaging the jake causes the drives to lock up, it’s time to get off of the road.

Answer:
One more thing about using a jake brake.
There are a lot of communites that have placed bans on using jakes. If caught using a jake in these areas you can be hit with some very heavy fines.
Not all restricted areas are on roads leading directly into a town. Some of these areas are on the interstate.
Answer:

You sure would be parked alot then,it's easier to lock a wheel with the jake than with the air brakes, cuz the jake only has braking power on the drives, the air brakes uses all the wheels for braking.
So it's safer to just use air brakes.
Once your air brakes are locking the wheels easily, then maybe it's time to stop. Or just learn to drive on ice and snow and apply brakes more gently and start braking sooner.

Answer:

I-40 going into Albuquerque from both directions is good example.

Answer:
Never turn mine off. Never have any problems.

Answer:
If I were training new drivers, even if the truck had a jake, I would turn it off all the time while the student was driving, especially in the beginning. It is too easy for a driver to get so dependent on the jake brake that they cannot drive without it, and that is a very sad situation. What happens if it fails? What happens if you are in an area that does not allow the use of jake brakes because of noise ordinance? What happens if you go to a company that does not have them in their trucks?
To the drivers who say "use it all the time", shame on you. There are students here and there ARE areas where it is illegal to use jakes and they ARE unsafe in slippery conditions. Those who have been using them all this time and never had a problem in either situation may be lucky, but who wants to try and see how long luck will hold out with so much at stake?
Just try passing a road test with a company safety manager in the shotgun seat, it starts raining, and you don't shut the jake off. FAIL! Or he sees you obviously can't stop the rig without the help of the jake. He asks and you say, "I never drive without the jake brake." A driver like that would not come and work for me.
When on a highway, on dry pavement, in the hills, where jakes are not prohibited, that is what they are for. In city traffic, residential areas, slippery conditions, or other areas where they are banned, leave the jakes off.
Engine retarders are a convenience, but are no substitute for a skilled driver and a good set of brakes.

Answer:
I mainly leave out of Denver on every trip and 2/3 of them are west. Wonderful Rocky Mtns. Monday I will head to Nashville and Northern Miss.
Jakes are wonderful in adverse conditons. They are more steady then your foot will every be on the brake. But some rules need to be followed
Next I seldom use Jake to slow me down. But for hills to assist brakes from overheating.
I just leave the jake on high stage all the time. The way to compensate really is the Rpm's. You want to use the lower RPM range instead going down hill.
Two reasons. One, it puts less torgue to the wheels. Same as using a lower stage on jake brake.
Secondly, if one hears the engine dying, which is tires not turning at ground speed(soon sliding). Hit throttle which stops jake and gets tires to start catching up to speed again quickly. Now you have everything back in motion. And one can establish everything from here again.
Remember there is such a thing as going to slow. Yes, going to slow. The slower one goes the more torgue he will use. And higher chance of loosing traction. Especially if one has a light load. Heavy loads can take more torgue and slower is allowed. This is learnt more by experience.
That is try to go as fast as possible without using brakes or at less then 5 psi. Which is barely touching them. If one is having to add throttle constantly because jake is holding back they most likely have to much torgue and should seek higher speed.
If road is well sanded treat like pavement except leave some upper throttle area for a surprise. Gives room to get control again quickly.
For those flatlanders that use Jake's in storms. I wish you best of luck on the ice which is so prevalent. Why? Because you are using it to slow you down. For Jake to be effective you are using it at high RPM's and if it starts sliding you can not throttle to correct. See Ya Baby. Just easier to use engine only and touch of brake. In fact in winter weather leave some upper throttle to adjust a slide all the time.
Ahhhh that is my advice that has worked for me thru the yrs. Adjust to your personality.
Caution:
Before I forget. Make sure your Jake does not shut engine down if left on. If it does. This is a case for using a lessor stage. Nothing worst then loosing traction with engine brake on and before you compensate. Engine is dead and you either put clutch in or kick out of gear. At same time trying to bring skid under control and start engine again. NIGHTMARE in the Rockies, believe me. Not sure but modern puters may have taken care of this matter.
This has nothing to do with jakes, but think a good place to include it. If you have a light load. Do not decide to load it on the drivers for traction. It leaves your trailer light and it will now easily come around to say HI. You can make drivers a little heavier, but keep tractor and trailer weight fairly even.Dreams my future
charley

Answer:



Let’s clarify, shall we? I’m running a highway tractor (Century w/sleeper, 244” wheelbase), I’m usually running heavy (reefer, which puts weight on drives even when empty) and I drive OTR. To the best of my knowledge, Bikerboy drives a daycab (light), is loaded lightly and drives primarily in the city. In other words, we’re talking apples and oranges.

Driving on the highway, once my brakes are locking easily, I’m in deep, deep crap. Even at reduced highway speeds, due to bad weather, I cannot afford to wait until my brakes are ineffective to get off of the highway. If I’m unable to use my brakes, the odds are superb that I’m going to kill someone; maybe even myself.

You’ve just illustrated one of the problems of getting old; I’m not nearly as smart now as I was when I was your age.
Having grown up in Canada, I started driving in ice & snow some 40 years ago. Admittedly, I’ve been fortunate enough to have spent about half of my adult life living in the southern U.S., where I avoided the white stuff but the converse to that is that I’ve spent the other 20 years in the northern U.S. and in Canada. As a result, I’ve been exposed to driving in many areas which get much more snow, and have considerably less flat area, than does southern Ontario. I’ll grant you that you’ve probably got more experience in a daycab than I do, Bikerboy (since I have none), but I’ll stand by my advice for using a jake brake on the highway.

Answer:
Those " NO JAKE BRAKE " signs should be all down by now. Jacobs Brakes didn't like it. US Marshalls told to enforce the ruling. Whoa is me. Yup, put the brakes on the trucking crapola and haven't looked back.