Community Forums

DSL417 · 08-18-2015, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

Or driving Hwy 50 through NV. I cussed the 450 like you wouldn't believe.

It is going to Cummins when we get home and get checked, mine lacks in the hills big time!

I don't know what type of grades you encountered...while I didn't like slowing to 35 on the worst grades in the Anthem, I didn't think that was that bad since most RVs and trucks were going 15 or less. I did encounter an 8.5% grade West of big bend NP about 2 miles long with no "run up" space that I slowed to 15, but that was a one time occurrence.

loisjop · 08-18-2015, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

Or driving Hwy 50 through NV. I cussed the 450 like you wouldn't believe.

It is going to Cummins when we get home and get checked, mine lacks in the hills big time!

Chuck, would you like to trade motorhomes before I let mine go? After getting the tranny econo mode programmed last year it rarely shifts down anywhere West of the Rockies. Going over Wolf Creek pass it will get down to 30-35, but that's a very long climb and goes over at about 11000 ft. That's also pulling a full size Dodge Ram. Noel

Cruzer · 08-18-2015, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loisjop

Chuck, would you like to trade motorhomes before I let mine go? After getting the tranny econo mode programmed last year it rarely shifts down anywhere West of the Rockies. Going over Wolf Creek pass it will get down to 30-35, but that's a very long climb and goes over at about 11000 ft. That's also pulling a full size Dodge Ram. Noel

You mean, trade him for the 45A? I think Chuck just might take you up on that.

hogdriver · 08-18-2015, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loisjop

Chuck, would you like to trade motorhomes before I let mine go? After getting the tranny econo mode programmed last year it rarely shifts down anywhere West of the Rockies. Going over Wolf Creek pass it will get down to 30-35, but that's a very long climb and goes over at about 11000 ft. That's also pulling a full size Dodge Ram. Noel

Noel

What did they change regarding your statement that they reprogrammed your Economy Mode?

brobox · 08-18-2015, 09:09 AM

Noel, there will be some work done on this one. My 350 didn't labor as hard as the 450 does. I will pull up your post on the econo mode and take it to the Allison shop in my area. Thanks for the reminder.

loisjop · 08-18-2015, 09:39 AM

Guess I wasn't very clear. As to Marks question I don't have the 45a yet, but that would've been a good trade for Chuck.

Dave, on the 2013 and 2014 Anthem and Aspires, and I suppose other Spartan chassis users with the 3000 tranny, there was about 4 years that Spartan "forgot" to program the econo mode. I know several people had theirs programmed. The results of having it programmed properly is the tranny won't shift down on every incline. It takes the engine pulling down closer to best torque range before it shifts. Probably doesn't help fuel economy much, but sure eliminates a lot of shifting. There was a post that I started a yr ago and I think it was Chuck that got the range of serial numbers that had not been programmed. Noel

loisjop · 08-18-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

Noel, there will be some work done on this one. My 350 didn't labor as hard as the 450 does. I will pull up your post on the econo mode and take it to the Allison shop in my area. Thanks for the reminder.

Chuck, if you remember the post I started a yr ago I think you got the serial numbers of the trannies that hadn't been programmed, but yours was one of the first that had been after we got them to see where they had missed about 4 yrs worth. Noel

brobox · 08-18-2015, 10:02 AM

Noel, If I remember correctly, I think I have the new program now that you mentioned it. I will double check but it is also going into Cummins to have the ECM brought up to date and checked for being doggy on the passes.

rbr · 08-18-2015, 10:21 AM

"Big Mike" O'Neal at the Spartan Chassis Owners School last week said that when climbing we should keep the ISL engine between 1900-2100 rpm and should manually shift as needed to do so. He said you need both torque and HP when climbing and that rpm range is the best combo.

fwiw...

two-niner · 08-18-2015, 10:45 AM

Most flatlanders come west and drive like they are on I-95 in Florida. Then complain of no power or speed.

When in economy mode, the tach and speedometer drops faster than the mind can comprehend. The post on tachometer numbers was spot on. Coming from the west on I-70 up to the Eisenhower Tunnel our little 450 was able to maintain 45 mph.

Momentum is the name of the game...Lose it and it's over to behind the crawling 18 wheelers. Manual shift good!

Cruzer · 08-18-2015, 10:55 AM

Momentum was the biggest issue we had with our 400 ISL. We would climb up to places like the Eisenhower Tunnel with a good run passing a crawling 18 wheeler only to have slow poke pull out in front of us and cause us to lose our momentum and speed. Then it took forever to get past the slower right lane vehicle and get back into that lane again. Meanwhile everyone packs up behind you and gets irritated. Once you lose that momentum you can't get it back until the road levels out or goes downhill. That was one of the joys of driving the Cornerstone. It can actually accelerate!

brobox · 08-18-2015, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by two-niner

Most flatlanders come west and drive like they are on I-95 in Florida. Then complain of no power or speed.

When in economy mode, the tach and speedometer drops faster than the mind can comprehend. The post on tachometer numbers was spot on. Coming from the west on I-70 up to the Eisenhower Tunnel our little 450 was able to maintain 45 mph.

Momentum is the name of the game...Lose it and it's over to behind the crawling 18 wheelers. Manual shift good!

I am not quiet a flat-lander and a very experienced mountain driver. I lived in Denver for 20 years, the entire time owning different RV's and towing boats. "My" 450 did not pull as well as I thought it should and it is also very doggy on standing starts. BTW, econo mode was not used when coming anywhere near pulling a pass.

loisjop · 08-18-2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

I am not quiet a flat-lander and a very experienced mountain driver. I lived in Denver for 20 years, the entire time owning different RV's and towing boats. "My" 450 did not pull as well as I thought it should and it is also very doggy on standing starts. BTW, econo mode was not used when coming anywhere near pulling a pass.

You put something in about econo mode and right away everyone assumes you're trying to climb Pikes Peak while using it.
I have found, for the most part, the Allison is at least as smart when it comes to shifting as most drivers. Noel
BTW this doesn't mean you Chuck.

Cruzer · 08-18-2015, 12:46 PM

Yeah, Chuck's familiar with mountain driving. It sounds like he has a problem and I'd like to see the coach put on a chassis dynamometer to see what kind of numbers turn up. Any decent sized Cummins service center should have one.