Braking Conundrum

Why would I care how to adjust them. That's why I have my coach serviced by professionals.

slickest1 wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:

slickest1 wrote:
OK, you can live in your bubble!!

I have near 80 years, I learned to drive truck on a 1954 Brockway And every morning we had a virtual ritual of doing things that are now automated.
If Canada requires you to know all this, that's all well and good, we don't.

That is very obvious!

What ever Slick, you go for it.Tell us how to adjust the "S" cams and slack adjusters on the disk brake airbrake systems

Tom/Barb wrote:

slickest1 wrote:
OK, you can live in your bubble!!

I have near 80 years, I learned to drive truck on a 1954 Brockway And every morning we had a virtual ritual of doing things that are now automated.
If Canada requires you to know all this, that's all well and good, we don't.

That is very obvious!

I thought my post might recreate some interest and it did. Tom and Barb posted a nice theory story about how the system works but I didn't see a chart for the various size brake chambers and their allowable stroke . If you don't know the values and the procedure for checking your particular stroke travel which most likely are different from front and rear axle , then you can't possibly understand the concerns of those who know what some of us are referring to.
Another personal observation on my own truck which is equipped with Meritor auto slacks was that EP2 grease was too heavy and they wouldn't adjust automatically. Meritors require EP1.
No you aren't required to cross the scales in Canada with a Motor Home but that is no exemption from having an unsafe vehicle whether you know it or not. California and Florida are two states that I know of that do not require an air brake endorsement and they are legal to drive in Canada if they are legal in the state they are licensed in. However as mentioned that is no excuse anywhere for an unsafe vehicle.
I wouldn't be too surprised if many of the ridiculous comments are coming from people who don't own an air brake vehicle such as "All you need to know is mash the brake peddle"
I'm not sure what that would do for you if you lost air pressure at 60 mph in an emergency stop or brakes out of adjustment.
The OP asked a question and I hope some of the somewhat vague answers created enough interest to answer for himself.
We can't put a two day course of classroom and hands on practical training on
here.
Incidentally the practical part of the test is to be performed once each day the vehicle takes to the road and a written form completed and signed by driver.
Many truckers sign the book and go as well and that is why they get in trouble at the scale or road side check
In ending If you don't know you can't check and you can't check if you don't know.
Good Luck and Merry Christmas to all.

slickest1 wrote:

If you don't think a DP operator should know the basics of what they are driving then why do commercial drivers need that?.

Because they are hauling about 100,000 pounds more than we do, all day every day, in a much more complicated vehicle.

slickest1 wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
All you need to know about airbrakes.

Now that is good info for the OP to read over !!!

The training received in reading that, was probably more training than required to mash the pedal. :)

slickest1 wrote:
From what I read on your link to the combine forum was they were pulled into a scale in CALIFORNIA and the TRUCK and TRAILER they were hauling a combine on had a brake inspection and 1 brake was out of adjustment.

You only read the top response - Post 16 refers to the 6 pack, and it was in Canada -

#16
@Todd:

We're trained to do a six-pack, and a 4-in-1, here in Canada.

The 4-in-1 is a leak-test. You make a full brake application for 1 minute and watch that you don't loose more than 4psi air pressure.

The six-pack is done right after, and it's basically six brake applications of a minimum of 90psi, to adjust the slack adjusters.

They actually adjust during the application process - not once they're pushed up against the drums...

Just figured I'd put in my $0.02

-Christian

Evidently the rules are NOT the same on both sides of the border. I can't find anything referring to performing a 6-pack in the US other than Bud Light. Again, you Northern folks shouldn't use a Northern term as a means to measure our intelligence on air brakes if no one here has ever heard of it.

Tom/Barb wrote:
All you need to know about airbrakes.

Now that is good info for the OP to read over !!!

From what I read on your link to the combine forum was they were pulled into a scale in CALIFORNIA and the TRUCK and TRAILER they were hauling a combine on had a brake inspection and 1 brake was out of adjustment.

The rules are the same for the trucking industry on both sides of the border.
Yes the rules for Motorhomes are different in Canada and you are required to have an air endorsement on your drivers licence and your licence will be appropriate for the weight of your RV. You don't require a full CDL.
My wife inquired about getting certified and it was a 7 hr course at a commercial driving school for $200. The term 6 pack adjustment may be confusing but if you google air brake adjustment I am sure you will get an answer.

If you don't think a DP operator should know the basics of what they are driving then why do commercial drivers need that?

I have read many posts on here of people asking questions that have absolutely no knowledge of what they are driving and some of the answers they get are even more frightening.