Morning all, I have posted about the roadranger 13 speed in my 1972 Brockway, and want to say thanks for all the help there. I have a tag in the truck with a switch talking about the clutch brake? COuld someone educate me on this. If the switch is in the off position, will truck operate normally? I'll get a picture of the warning tag up later today. Thanks again

stephen

 

I'll tell you what I can. As I understand it the clutch brake slows or stops the input shaft on the transmission. Stopping or slowing the input shaft allows you to shift a little faster on some trucks. My 85 Mack has a clutch brake but it's not electrically powered. If your truck has a switch, I would assume the clutch brake operates electrically, much like electric trailer brakes, and may be of the most use when shifting without the clutch.

 

Not exactly, yes it does stop the input shaft from turning, but it is only for putting thew transmision in gear when at a stop. It is a 4"-5' disc that slips over the input shaft. It has two tabs on it that ride in groves on the shaft, it has friction material on either side, similar to a cluth or brake linings. when the pedal is pressed all the way to the floor it moves the throughout bearing back toward the transmission smashing the disc between the T/O bearing and the front plate on the trans. case.

 

Totallyrad is correct on what the clutch brake does. It's mostly supposed to be used to get the tranny in gear when stopped, not for shifting, although I use it for that when on a steep hill and so does everyone else I know. I have never seen or heard of an electrically operated one. They are supposed to be, as I understand it, adjusted to be in operation in the last inch or so of clutch pedal travel. I would like to see your picture of the switch.

 

I have used the ones with the switch usually on the gear shifter. I would not use it for shifting. If you have a jake use it for the quick shift.

 

this is what an eaton clutch brake looks like...........and the worst invention ever........the eaton solo self adjusting clutch.

 

There is nothing wrong with those self adjusting clutches as long as you never drive the truck or only use them to hold the shop floor down. I've had 2 and both lasted about 200k before they stopped working or the springs broke.

 

Cant complain about those clutches. We have 65 trucks with mainly drivers just out of school and delivery to outbacks and ruby tuesdays and such. Have trucks reaching 550000 now and most still have original clutch. Our drivers dont know what 1st and 2nd gear are for.

 

Here is a pic of the clutch brake switch, it is the somewhat yellow one below and to the right of the clutch brake warning label.

 

I know companies that will fire you if they catch you doing that.

 

I have one of those solo clutches and the first one lasted 30,000 miles when something flew apart. I asked the dealer if it was something I could have done and the answer was" We see a lot of these flying apart, I doubt it was something you did". That being said the new one seems ok.
The brake is as far as what I was told for stopping the input shaft when the truck is at a stop and trying to slip the tranny into a gear, makes getting in alot easier..

 

thats exactly what its for nothing else. you will tear it right out if you stab it too hard while you're driving. cause that little disk will not stop anything while your transfering power. you'll just rip it to shreds. the beauty of non syncronized transmissions.

 

As a young man we had a Chevy C65 with a RT 613 Eaton trans. It had a button on the shift stick that was the clutch brake but had air lines going to it. How it worked I don't know but when you went to put it in gear at a dead stop it would grind but if you pushed in the button it wouldn't grind. I never had it apart so not sure how it worked.

 

Does this truck have a PTO on it?

 

Just use it when you are putting the truck in gear from a dead stop. Leave it off the rest of the time. The modern trucks got away from the switch in favor of putting it on the clutch pedal. The very bottom of the pedal travel activates the clutch brake.