Pre-Operating Check: U320
Check under coach, remove wheel chocks
Check tires, awnings, slides in
Disconnect utilities (turn off breaker, loads)
Adjust ride height.
Check fluid levels, then Crank (in N, Park Brake on, no accelerator)
Do not try the starter for more than 30 seconds at a time. Two minutes between attempts. Boost ON. If no oil pressure in 15 seconds, shut down immediately.
May gradually apply accelerator to warm engine (900 – 1000 rpm). Engine needs to warm before applying a load.
Can also warm by transmission in “N” and use cruise buttons to run up rpm. Keith Davis says not over 1200.
Instructions say to not low idle (750 rpm) more than ten minutes when park though Cummins and Keith say that will not harm this model engine. Key is keep engine temperature above 160 degrees to avoid carbon building up in engine.
2. Let the air fill to about 125 psi as engine warms up.
3. Run air brake test procedures. (Holds pressure and alarm function)
4.Set HWH level to “travel”, transmission to Drive and take off Air Brake to drive. Cruise control is not recommended used in rain.
5. RPM – torque – acceleration
Do not accelerate at full throttle below the peak torque 1200 rpm for more than 30 seconds (at less time, this is permitted). The engine is designed to allow full throttle above peak torque rpm
The engine/transmission should adjust automatically to a lower gear even if trying to accelerate at full throttle below peak torque.
M11 torque is peak 1450 at 1200 rpm but still 1300 at 1800 rpm. Best performance at 1700 – 2000 rpm, with best economy and performance at 1700 – 1800. Max power (hp) is at 1800 rpm though torque is down to 1300. (Sec. 27 of FT Manual)
6. Voltmeter dash, engine batteries – should be charge of 13 – 14v at highway cruise. Continuous of 12.5 or less is malfunction requiring immediate attention.
7. Oil pressure – minimum: 10 psi at low idle; 30 psi at rated speed
Regulated oil pressure – 75 psi
8. Engine Temperature. If overheating begins, reduce the power output by using less accelerator or shifting to a lower gear or both.
9. Transmission.
a. Temperature normal 160 – 220 deg. May shift to lower gear to speed the engine so circulation increases and stop the rise
If temperature should exceed 230 degrees, stop and shift to neutral. Accelerate the engine to 1200 – 1500 RPM, temperature should return to normal in 2 – 3 minutes
b. Mode setting. Transmission will default upon starting to the Performance Mode. Alternative is Economy Mode.
10. Check transmission oil level after it warms up (160 – 220 deg range after driving). Shift through all drive ranges to fill clutches. Park level, Shift to N, idle two minutes. Read dip stick, ok between HOT RUN – REF ADD marks.
Alternative: Rather than dip stick, can check electronically. After park and idle, in N, simultaneously press the UP and DOWN arrow buttons on shifter. Oil level displays in two minutes (counts down 8, 7, ….) then read outs are:
OL – 50/59 rpm too low/high; 70/79 temp too low/high.
OL-OK – level good; LO -01 one quart low, LO-02 two quarts low; HI – 01 one quart high (FT Manual 13-2)
11. Retarder – can use for help in normal braking and braking in mountains. Keep it in the first three positions unless emergency; use the brake some.
Cannot use retarder and cruise at same time. Caution if raining.
Retarder in zero position only activates when touch the brake. In the first position, it activates upon let off the accelerator. I tend to stay in zero set.
12. Before stopping the engine, operate at low load for 3 – 5 minutes, then at low idle for 30 seconds in N.
13. In neutral, set parking brake, turn key OFF.
CAUTION: Do not turn Generator ON or OFF while it is under full load. (Reduce all loads, e.g. AC off, before turn gen on or off). Exercise the generator under full load at least 30 minutes per month.
14. Chock wheels.