I live in a mountainous area with some very challenging grades. The downhill runs are complicated by my NV4500 ratios. 3rd gear tops out around 30-35 mph, and 4th gear is a long stretch away. A gear assisted descent results in a 25 mph limit in 3rd, and 4th is too high for any compression braking benefit as I'm going too fast to handle the tight curves. Answer: exhaust brake. Problem: the usual, $$$$$!
I'm going to build my own exhaust brake and have the mechanics of it laid out but a thought struck me. Certain models of exhaust brake call for an upgrade to 60 lbs exhaust valve springs, and stockers are around 30 lbs pressure, so does that mean that my exhaust brake would only require about 30 lbs apply pressure on the butterfly to slow the vehicle by compression? For some reason I was thinking 100's of lbs pressure but now I'm wondering if a relatively light pressure would slow the vehicle? Can't see why I would have to exceed the exhaust valve spring pressure to have compression braking. Thoughts?
I'm going to build my own exhaust brake and have the mechanics of it laid out but a thought struck me. Certain models of exhaust brake call for an upgrade to 60 lbs exhaust valve springs, and stockers are around 30 lbs pressure, so does that mean that my exhaust brake would only require about 30 lbs apply pressure on the butterfly to slow the vehicle by compression? For some reason I was thinking 100's of lbs pressure but now I'm wondering if a relatively light pressure would slow the vehicle? Can't see why I would have to exceed the exhaust valve spring pressure to have compression braking. Thoughts?