I have noticed that for all the early KUBs, their engine seems
modified. I'm referring to all 80XX, 81XX, 82XX, 83XX, 84XX, 85XX
up to around 8550? Their engine, while deccelerating, instead of
shifting down the gears one by one, it automatically switches to
neutral, or at least that was what it sounded like to me...it's
like when u step in the clutch on a manual vehicle kind of thing.
For the later KUBs, the engine is "normal", as in they shift down
one by one. How come the engines of the old KUBs so 'special' that
they are changed? They were not originally like that. And so far I
only managed to catch ONE old KUB still with the original engine
shifting down, SBS8496B. Is there a reason for the fleet wide
engine modification? Every old KUB is like that.
Its not neutral. Its just that the lock-up clutch disengages once
the last gear it was at switches downwards.
For the integrated gearbox retarder to work, the relevant gear
must still be engaged.
I think it has got to do with SBST doing away with the
engine-braking once the bus's mainteinance was fully handed over
from Scania.
I think its a good thing. The engine braking is just irritating
and under most road conditions, and given the bus goes around at
speeds <60km/h, there's really no need for it. It doesnt justify
the added complexity in having to time the clutching in, and the
wearing out of the clutch surface.
