Banks brake help please.

[Onawave]

New to diesel as in just bought the truck yesterday. It's a 2001 7.3 6 speed with 78000 miles on it. There is a Banks Brake installed on it (have no clue what other mods are on it yet, dealership didn't know).

My question is, there is a Banks on/off switch on the dash along with these gauges. There is no paper work on how, or when to use this device. I get the idea it's for towing heavy loads down steep grades. But, when to turn it off (via the on/off switch).

I will be towing our 15,000 pound 5th wheel, and there are a few steep hills here in Oregon. I have read good and bad things about this system. Should I just leave it off, and gear down when going down steep hills? Any help please.. thank you.

[jesilvas]

The issue with it is back pressure. You may cause too much.
I'd be worried about where the egt probe is

I made my Samsung SGH-I997 send this.

[Onawave]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

The issue with it is back pressure. You may cause too much.
I'd be worried about where the egt probe is

I made my Samsung SGH-I997 send this.

Thank you Jesilvas .. So since I don't know my way around this truck or diesels work.. just leave it off, and don't use it? I wouldn't know what to look for on these gauges when to use it, when to not. I have towed this 15th wheel with my GMC gasser truck and just always used the trailer brakes to keep me slow.

[jesilvas]

Unless you had a gauge monitoring back pressure, I wouldn't use it. Especially if the gas motor kept it slowed down. The extra compression in the diesel will take care of you.

I made my Samsung SGH-I997 send this.

[buckles24]

Hey Onawave! I dont know anything about the Banks Brake but check out the Cascade Coal Rollers. We are the local chapter here in the NW. Maybe someone in the chapter might be able to help.
http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/cascade-coal-rollers/
CCR Chat Thread

[SuperCrutyPS]

I've never used one, but check this for reference. It may tell you more about it. There is a video with a guy, from Oregon, talking about it on his 7.3L. Just tossing out.

Banks Power | 99-03 Ford - 7.3L Power Stroke>>Banks Brake®

[smotrs]

It shouldn't really do anything until you take your foot off the accelerator and the clutch is engaged. At which point if the switch is on it will begin using the exhaust back pressure to slow you down. You have a EGT gauge to help monitor the temps while driving as well as when the brake is activated. Keep the temps within normal and you should be fine.

[Onawave]

Originally Posted by SuperCrutyPS

I've never used one, but check this for reference. It may tell you more about it. There is a video with a guy, from Oregon, talking about it on his 7.3L. Just tossing out.

Banks Power | 99-03 Ford - 7.3L Power Stroke>>Banks Brake®

Thank you.. Im not sure I go down steep enough grades to use this.. but it's a nice bling to have on I guess.

[Onawave]

Originally Posted by smotrs

It shouldn't really do anything until you take your foot off the accelerator and the clutch is engaged. At which point if the switch is on it will begin using the exhaust back pressure to slow you down. You have a EGT gauge to help monitor the temps while driving as well as when the brake is activated. Keep the temps within normal and you should be fine.

My GMC was an automatic. When going down hills I would put it in 3rd, and use the trailer brakes (not the truck brakes) to keep me at a slow speed. Until I get really, really comfortable with this.. I think I will just do the same. Although.. it may temp me from time to time. If that happens..

Flip to switch to "ON" before starting the grade, and keep an eye on the temps? Thanks!

[Arizona_SVO]

I have a very similar setup with my 01 with 79,000 on it - it has a Western Diesel (out of business now) exhaust brake on it with the on-off switch and what I have found in some research and experience is pretty simple.

If yours works the same way mine does (uses the stock EBPV as an exhaust brake when activated) then the original instructions said I could use mine all the time - and this would save on brakes. It did this by monitoring the throttle input and when the throttle was set to idle (as in deceleration), it would activate the braking. The problem with this is when using cruise control, the throttle input is not used since your foot is not actually moving the pedal and thus, when using cruise, the system must be turned off or it would activate when you didn't want it. I normally run mine off.

I *do* use it when I am towing and preventing the whole thing from speeding up on long mountain grades - I coast to reduce exhaust temps, my foot is obviously off the throttle so they do not go back up, and I activate the brake if necessary.

So yes, I agree with the posts above - Flip to on before starting the grade and keep an eye on the temps and you should be fine.

Nice setup btw.