User Manual

WARNING
The service brakes must be used in an
emergency
. The retarder alone might
not stop you fast enough to prevent an
accident. Failure to comply may result
in death, personal injury, equipment or
property damage.
The retarder is NOT intended as the
primary brake for the vehicle, nor is it an
emergency brake. The retarder only helps
the service brakes by using pressure to
slow the drivetrain. Use the service brakes
for quick stops. Do not use the retarder
when operating on road surfaces with poor
traction (such as wet, icy
, or snow covered
roads or gravel). Retarders can cause the
wheels to skid on a slippery surface.
We recommend that you do not use your
engine retarder to slow down when you are
bobtailing or pulling an empty trailer.
WARNING
Using an engine retarder can cause a
wheel
lockup. The trailer is not loading
the tires enough to give the traction
you may need. When you are bobtail
or
unloaded, you can have a serious
accident if your wheels lock suddenly
during braking. You could be killed or
injured. DO NOT use your retarder
when you are driving bobtail or with an
unloaded trailer.
This vehicle may have a transmission
retarder
. Take your foot off the throttle and
operate the retarder switch. When you do
not need full retarder effect, you can apply
it intermittently (off and on) to cause
gradual or partial slowing. Continuous
application of your retarder will cause your
hydraulic fluid to get hotter. Intermittent
application will help prevent overheating.
WARNING
DO NOT rely on your automatic trans-
mission
hydraulic retarder to stop your
vehicle. If your engine shuts down, the
vehicle’s retarder will cease to operate
which may lead to an accident involv-
ing death or personal injury. Always be
ready
to suddenly apply the service
brakes.
NOTE
The exhaust brake and engine brake
are
two types of engine retarders. Re-
fer also to the engine manufacturer’s
Operator Manual and to the Engine
Retarder manual for additional instruc-
tions.
Exhaust Brake
With the exhaust brake switch ON, the
brake automatically creates its braking
ef
fect when you remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal.
The brake switch is located on the
accessory dash panel. It controls whether
the brake is ON (ready to slow the vehicle
down) or OFF (no braking action).
• Do not use the engine retarder
(such as an exhaust brake) to slow
the vehicle down when you are
pulling an empty trailer. See Engine
Brakes for further details.
DRIVING - Retarders
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