Community Forums

garybtt · 02-05-2008, 10:09 AM

This coming friday I will have my transmission reprogrammed to only downshift to 4th gear when on the engine brake, has anyone else done this and how happy are you with the results?

garybtt · 02-05-2008, 10:09 AM

This coming friday I will have my transmission reprogrammed to only downshift to 4th gear when on the engine brake, has anyone else done this and how happy are you with the results?

Pusherman · 02-05-2008, 10:12 AM

Gary, I had mine reprogrammed to shift only down to 4th gear with the engine brake. I love it. Shifting to 2nd is waaaayyy too harsh.

garybtt · 02-05-2008, 12:12 PM

Who did the programming for you?

Pusherman · 02-05-2008, 03:25 PM

Penn Detroit Diesel, our Rochester Allison dealer, on Jefferson Road, just east of I-390.

Took them about 10 minutes. They didn't charge me (I must have caught them on a good day).

I have been back to have them replace my filter @ the 5K mile interval.

Good people.

Note: I had to go to the CAT dealer (Milton CAT) to have my programming for the engine brake changed to the 'Latch' mode. They didn't charge me either. I've been back to them for my oil change and PM.

wagonmaster2 · 02-05-2008, 07:19 PM

Boy Pusherman, do you ever have some great service people. Wish all the FL and Cat shops would be so nice and co-operative. Wouldn't mind paying for maintenance work by a shop like yours. I've been to 3 different FL shops (one an Oasis) and 1 Cat shop, and inverably I end up waiting 3-5 hours after my appointment time before they even start on my coach just to get an hour or two of work done.
Wagonmaster2

chasfm11 · 02-06-2008, 04:34 AM

I guess that I'm mis-understanding the way that the Allison and the exhaust brake work together. I thought that selected gear for the exhaust brake was simply a "target" and that the engine speed would dictate additional downshifts to reach that target. Thus, if you are going 65mph with say an engine speed of 1,600rpms, switching on the exhaust brake would only drop down one gear immediately. I do understand that if you are coasting and the engine rpms are very low, a more abrupt shift could occur when the exhaust brake engages.

I also understand that most of you are running 6 speed Allisons and that they handle these situations differently than my 5 speed.

Just curiosity on my part.

Charlie

Pusherman · 02-06-2008, 05:23 AM

Charlie, you are correct in your assumptions on how the engine brake works with the Allison Transmission. My experience is that when the engine brake engages, it's job is to slow the coach as quickly as possible. Therefore it will shift down, gear by gear, as speed dictates, to the lowest preprogrammed gear. The unit is pre-programmed from the factory to downshift to 2nd gear with the engine brake engaged.

For example, getting off the interstate onto an exit ramp, foot off gas petal, the unit will agressively start shifting down to the preprogrammed gear.

I have found it too agressive, and shifting down to 4th about right for essentially all conditions while slowing.

For those who want more engine brake going down a steep hill, you can manually downshift farther if you choose.

Pusherman · 02-06-2008, 05:29 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wagonmaster2:
Boy Pusherman, do you ever have some great service people. Wish all the FL and Cat shops would be so nice and co-operative. Wouldn't mind paying for maintenance work by a shop like yours. I've been to 3 different FL shops (one an Oasis) and 1 Cat shop, and inverably I end up waiting 3-5 hours after my appointment time before they even start on my coach just to get an hour or two of work done.
Wagonmaster2 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wagonmaster2, I have been extremely happy with my experiences at our local CAT (Milton) dealer, Allison (Penn) and Freightliner (Tracey) here in the Rochester area.

I will tell you that the prior FL dealer was terrible. They went out of business, and Tracey from Syracuse picked it up in Rochester, and I have had only good experiences with them.

Must be all that good snow we get here in the northeast -- makes everyone happy!

garybtt · 02-08-2008, 12:44 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Penn Detroit Diesel </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have an Appointment on Tuesday 2/12 and was quoted about an hours labor, let see what happens.

Ecker · 02-09-2008, 06:04 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pusherman:
Penn Detroit Diesel, our Rochester Allison dealer, on Jefferson Road, just east of I-390.

Took them about 10 minutes. They didn't charge me (I must have caught them on a good day).

I have been back to have them replace my filter @ the 5K mile interval.

Good people.

Note: I had to go to the CAT dealer (Milton CAT) to have my programming for the engine brake changed to the 'Latch' mode. They didn't charge me either. I've been back to them for my oil change and PM. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
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Seeing you have a 2007 it seems probable you did not need a 5k change. I wouldn't be too happy with them if they did the 5K change without knowledge that it's not required.

Pusherman · 02-10-2008, 05:55 AM

My chassis was built in summer 2006, and yes, it did require the 5K mile filter change. I checked on the Allison website with my s/n, and it was built prior to the use of the extended life filter now currently being used.

BTW, the first thing the tech did was put my tranny s/n into the Allison's computer to pull up any info on updates, etc., and to verify whether I needed the 5K filter change or not. It did.

Tom N · 02-10-2008, 06:15 AM

Allison requires that ALL 1000/2000 series transmissions have the Spin-On Control Main Filter changed during the first 8000 km (5000 miles) or 200 hours of service, whichever comes first.

Doesn't amke any difference if Dexron III or TranSynd is used.

-Tom

DriVer · 02-10-2008, 06:50 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
Doesn't make any difference if Dexron III or Transynd is used. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Tom, Perhaps it wouldn't be a critical move but why should an owner choose to contaminate an expensive load of 100% Transynd with 8 to 10 ounces of Dextron III?

We're camping over at Ocala Ranch RV Resort.