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08-06-2014, 06:12 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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Berkshire shift pattern
I just purchased a 2014 Berkshire 390 FL. Has the 360 engine and 6 speed Allison
It seems to me that it stays in 5 th gear too long. I have to be going 57 Mph for it to shift to 6 th. Ever if you ease out of the gas it will not shift up. Once it is in 6 th if you drop to 57 mph it will go back to 5 th.
I'm sure it has to do with lugging the motor. And maybe by not lugging it gets better fuel milage? I run lots of two lane roads and run just under the 57 mph To look down at 55 mph and continue to see 5 th gear doesn't seem right.
Has anyone else notice this. Or maybe had their transmission re-programmed ? Thanks
And yes I'm very happy with the Berkshire!!
Russell
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08-06-2014, 06:17 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Island (Nassau County), NY
Posts: 4,352
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Russel,
Check to see if there is a little red light in the right upper corner of the Allison shift control. If so, press the mode button to turn it off and see if that solves your problem. Also, make sure your engine brake is not on. That will cause it to down shift also.
Tom
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Tom and Margaret
2014 Berkshire 390bh-60
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08-06-2014, 06:56 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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Berkshire shift pattern
Ok. The mode button is off ( not lite up). I was running with the engine brake on some of the time. But it will not shift up. I understand that as soon as I let off the gas it will shift down with brake on. I just felt that it should run in 6 th gear sooner??
Russell
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08-06-2014, 07:10 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 58
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On my 2008 berkshire, with the mode light on it would shift into 6th around 60 mph. With mode off, it would go into 6th until 65 mph
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2008 Berkshire 390TS
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08-06-2014, 07:28 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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Ok. I haven't tried it with light on?? I'll try that. Thanks.
Russell
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08-06-2014, 08:13 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Michigan/Fort Myers
Posts: 3,927
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With economy mode on the transmission takes a less aggressive shift pattern. The mode on will allow the transmission to shift to 6th at around 60-65. Try to keep your RPMs at 1600-1700. If you are on a trip with not a lot if hills the economy mode works great. I don't use it as much as I did when I first got my MH. I talked to a Allison rep and was told to keep the RPMs up to handle hills and mountains better. He recommended down shifting as you get to the base of a climb. I was shifting to late and losing momentum. I found that works well so that's why I don't use the Econ
Mode as much as it down shifts faster.
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08-06-2014, 09:02 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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Berkshire shift pattern
Ya. I had similar transmission before. But it would get into 6 th a lot sooner. I never used the Econ button.
Russell
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08-06-2014, 10:57 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Charleston County SC
Posts: 767
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The 6th gear is truly just an overdrive gear. Your best and most economical speed is when you sre around 1600 rpm Let the transmission do it thing. What you describe seems very normal on my opinion.
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08-06-2014, 12:28 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Cut Off, La.
Posts: 1,830
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Mine has pretty much the same shift pattern. But I really don't think you will save much on fuel whether in 5th or 6th gear at that speed. Like stated above that 6th gear is there for speeds above 60ish and is basically an overdrive gear.
2013 Berkshire 390 BH
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2013 Berkshire 390BH
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08-06-2014, 10:21 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Home is where I park it
Posts: 1,503
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Best MPG will happen at the SLOWEST you can go while staying in 6th gear. As soon as it drops to 5th, your mileage goes down.
The mode button set to ECON allows you to get into 6th gear at a lower speed than when not set to ECON.
I keep mine on ECON all the time, keep my speed at around 58-62 MPH and consistently get 11+ miles per gallon. On complete flatlands (like going across Kansas, for example) and not pushing a headwind, I've gotten right at 13.
In fact, when I picked up the coach, the ECON mode would not work. FL replaced the shifter box and that's when I noticed my MPG increase by around 10%.
Boowho??
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08-07-2014, 05:06 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Dallas TX
Posts: 1,675
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Although I did not check exactly what the speeds were,, I thought I did detect that with the engine brake on it took longer to shift into 6th.
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Dan
2014 Berkshire 390RB-60
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08-07-2014, 06:03 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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Thanks to all. It drops about 200 RPM when it goes to 6 th. I run a lot of two lanes so I see 55 MPH some. I'll try the mode button. I just need it to shift a couple mile sooner. It has all kinds of power in 6 th so I feel that in no way is it lugging it. On my last coach I just never used the mode button? It had the smaller Allison.
Russell
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08-16-2014, 09:18 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Central WA
Posts: 103
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An update for owners of newer vehicles-no red LED. Rather the window that shows what gear you are in simply says "Mode". I almost called Allison for a new shifter control panel. Also I dislike the placement of the shifter control panel. At the present time I have to take my eyes off the road to find the mode switch. Perhaps with more miles it will become second nature.
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Dan
2015 Entegra Anthem 450HP-1250ft lbs of torque
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Roadmaster Falcon 2 All Terrain
SMI Air Force 1
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08-17-2014, 05:04 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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I agree on where the shifter is. On my previous coach. (Not FR). The shifter was quite a bit further forward. This one is almost behind me. Of course I'm vertically challenged and have my seat way forward !!
Russell
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09-24-2014, 08:27 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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Ok just did a 400 mile trip. Transmission shifts to 6th gear at about 57 or 58 mph.
With the mode button on (red light on). Transmission will shift into 6 th at 54 MPH.
I'm good with that. I like the 55 mph roads.
Russell
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09-24-2014, 10:58 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Home is where I park it
Posts: 1,503
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CAT-RN
I agree on where the shifter is. On my previous coach. (Not FR). The shifter was quite a bit further forward. This one is almost behind me. Of course I'm vertically challenged and have my seat way forward !!
Russell
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Worse than it's location...... howcum to go forward in the coach you press the REAR-most button and press the FRONT-most button to go backward in the coach? Is that bass-ackwards or what??
How dumb is that??
Boowho??
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09-25-2014, 05:40 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7,363
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boowho
Worse than it's location...... howcum to go forward in the coach you press the REAR-most button and press the FRONT-most button to go backward in the coach? Is that bass-ackwards or what??
How dumb is that??
Boowho??
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Only backward to us!! But see we are not engineers???
Russell
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09-25-2014, 07:54 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Home is where I park it
Posts: 1,503
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CAT-RN
Only backward to us!! But see we are not engineers???
Russell
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Ya know..... I wouldn't be surprised if it were dictated by yet another damn federal govt regulation (from the fed DOT, maybe).
Boowho??
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09-25-2014, 08:05 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Keller, Texas
Posts: 6,090
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boowho
Worse than it's location...... howcum to go forward in the coach you press the REAR-most button and press the FRONT-most button to go backward in the coach? Is that bass-ackwards or what??
How dumb is that??
Boowho??
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How come you have to click "Start" to shut down some computers?
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