Question from a newbie to tag axles

[wmpbauer]

Tag dump generally doesn't need to be held down....it releases the Down Force on the tag so there is little scrubbing and it shifts the pivot point to the dual axle.

It releases for 8 seconds and then begins to refill the pressure....so you have time to achieve your turn. You Don't need to hold the button...hit the tag dump and do your turn. If it takes longer than eight seconds hit the tag down again and continue your turn.

Source, Spartan Chassis.

Pat


Pat Bauer, President
Entegra Coach Owners Association
2013 Aspire DEQ
Ford Edge

[Sky_Boss]

I have a THEORY on why tag air dump is automatic in reverse and not otherwise. I have no facts from engineers to prove it but here it goes....

Could it be that this is to avoid too much weight on the tags if backing up an incline or a sudden incline like a driveway approach? Imagine the tags hitting a 5% grade like the beginning of a driveway and trying to support much of the weight from the drive axle.

IT IS A THEORY.

Of course, that doesn't explain going back down that same incline but maybe the dynamics are a tad different. Just a though.

[hogdriver]

Originally Posted by wmpbauer

Tag dump generally doesn't need to be held down....it releases the Down Force on the tag so there is little scrubbing and it shifts the pivot point to the dual axle.

It releases for 8 seconds and then begins to refill the pressure....so you have time to achieve your turn. You Don't need to hold the button...hit the tag dump and do your turn. If it takes longer than eight seconds hit the tag down again and continue your turn.

Source, Spartan Chassis.

Pat


Pat Bauer, President
Entegra Coach Owners Association
2013 Aspire DEQ
Ford Edge

That makes sense. Hadn't thought of it that way before.

[FreshAir]

A side note pertaining to Tag dumping in reverse. Before buying an Entegra I had the dealer bring a 2014 42' Aspire to my home to test the model for clearance in my driveway which has a downward slope with an angle change in it. In forward it went in fine with adequate clearances. However, when backing out the Aqua-Hot exhaust pipe and the radiator slightly scrapped.

Well at that point the deal was off. So close but no cigar. I decided to give Ted Cook a call as a last resort. When he found out that I could come in forward ok but could not back out he thought it might help if the Tag dump in reverse was disabled. He called Spartan and had them give the dealer a wiring change to add a temporary switch to disable dumping when I put it in reverse to back out. Dealer brought test coach out again with the switch installed.

Well! Did that ever make a difference. No driveway problem now with clearance when the Tag has air while in reverse. Ted said he had herd of this before and it was worth a try. He also said for me, with my situation, it would probably be fine to permanently leave the Tag reverse dump disabled.

Ted made it possible to put the deal back together and I ordered a 2016 Entegra. As most of you know, the 2016's now come with an "Auto/Off/Man" dump sw. Thank's Ted.

Pat

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by wmpbauer

Tag dump generally doesn't need to be held down....it releases the Down Force on the tag so there is little scrubbing and it shifts the pivot point to the dual axle.

It releases for 8 seconds and then begins to refill the pressure....so you have time to achieve your turn. You Don't need to hold the button...hit the tag dump and do your turn. If it takes longer than eight seconds hit the tag down again and continue your turn.

Source, Spartan Chassis.

Pat


Pat Bauer, President
Entegra Coach Owners Association
2013 Aspire DEQ
Ford Edge

Originally Posted by FreshAir

As most of you know, the 2016's now come with an "Auto/Off/Man" dump sw. Thank's Ted.

Pat

The dump on our Freightliner chassis stays on when activated as long as we are below 8 mph. It also came with an Off/Auto/Dump switch.